BilletHead

Ollie I have only seen the shelter dry twice and that was the last two summers when the lake was pumped low for irrigation. Ruthead, depends on the type of kayak you have. We have not fell out of ours yet and I doubt you could flip it but fall out maybe. Flysmallie Ronnie, All I thought was what a dummy I am for not doing the fly swap. What do you think I could of done with your popper? Went back and fought the wind with Mrs. BilletHead on her day off. Most of the bass were up in the moss. You know all the pictures like Al does showing bass coming out of the water for dragon flys? Well we got to see it happen in real life. The bass would come straight up clearing the water chasing dragon flys. IT was awesome to see it up close. More pictures from today. Most of the fish came from top water but a few on buggers. I lost a nice one on a black meat whistle. Came back with curls on the end of my tippet, my bad knot dumb butt kind of curl.

I have always wanted a stake out pole for our kayaks. Seen different types for sale but I am a do it your self kind of guy if I can do it. On another kayak forum I see where a guy had used a fiberglass electric fence post to do his. Here is my take on one and I used it today and I LIKE IT. Material list: 6' long by 1/2" diameter electric fence post. Had MFA farm supply order mine. $ 3.97 what a bargain. A short piece of 1" PVC, 2 slip on couplings threaded on one end and 2 threaded plugs. Silicone caulking and PVC glue. Section of small pool noodle Easy assembly. Cut yourself a handle section of the 1" PVC. Glue the couplings on each end. Silicone the threaded plugs and screw in tight. Drill one end plug so the fence post goes in tight. Silicone the hole and insert the post all the way through until it buts up to the other end of the handle. Another thing I did was to drill through the handle and insert a brass rod through the handle and fence post inside. Then took a rasp and file to round off the sides of the threaded plug to match the couplings. Took some rubber electrical tape and wrapped the handle too for a grip. Cut a section of pool noodle and slipped it up the fence post to the bottom of the handle, pushed it onto the handle some. Here are a couple of photos of it in use this morning. So much easier to use than an anchor where you can in shallow water. Use in the ring in the anchor trolley so you can adjust back and forth in wind or current to keep you fishing in the right direction. I also ran it down through the scupper holes for and aft dong the same thing where I could. If anyone wants other close up photos or has any questions ask away, BilletHead

Another pond report. This is by far my most favorite pond to fish. A little history about the place. It was a family pond with a shelter house, trees, fire pit and a nice peninsula that ran about 60 feet out from the shelter. A few years back a farmer who started working the ground built up the dam so the pond would catch more water so he use it for irrigation. This more than tripled the size of the place and flooded the shelter and killed the trees. Put approx. two foot of water in the shelter plus put the trees way out in the water. Just some of the tree trunks left and when the lake got low the owner pushed what branches were left out of the water, bummer I think but he was cleaning up things I suppose. The peninsula is still there and another hump I found out in the middle. Not much cover now for fry to hide but I think those that survive grow to nice size especially the bluegill. They have to so the bass can't eat some of them. Since farm ground surrounds the water early run off turned the place to muddy water. Now that grass has grown and the soil is not yet turned because late beans will be planted it finally cleared up. I could see one to one and a half foot deep today. Now to fishing, launched the kayak and paddled out. Early the pond was still and a large popper was tied on. Then the fiasco ensued. Bass after bass hammered the popper. Frisky too as they cleared the water many times before coming to my hand and then released. I caught several from in and around the shelter. Pretty funny getting the hit and then having to work the fish from around the posts with the fly rod. Soon the wind came up and the top water bite slowed. I changed to a streamer, then a sex dungeon to catch a few more. Sun was starting to get pretty intense, shorts and barefoot in the yak. Started to get pretty red so it was time to quit. The bass size was nice with nothing under 14" up to one over 16". I know there are some over 5lbs in there because in the last two years I have released many. I guess they were hiding today? Some pictures for you all of a few fish, the shelter and todays flys. The flys are a bit fuzzy but you get the idea, BilletHead

Went over to Mom's to do some son will you do these things morning. Took the fly rods , they go everywhere I go just in case. Long story short some koi ended up in mom's pond with her channel cat, bass and bluegill. After getting things done the Mrs. gets her rod ready and I give her a hopper to tie on. Seeing some koi working she put one in the spot and this little beauty took it. The fight was on and we got it to the bank. This is a small one compared to some of them in there. Too bad she got one in just an orange wrapper. Some of the fish are black and orange, white with black and white and orange. I let it go although mom wants some of them out. She would let someone catch or throw net them if they are wanted by anyone. They are real smart and if you get one that will be the only one caught for a while.

Good looking child you have there. Enjoy every minute with him. They grow up faster than you think. BilletHead JR. is 32 now and it seems like not too long ago we got him fishing and hunting, BilletHead

Thanks Duane. Yes Ness it is a two headed critter. If you watch them long enough one end will eat and the other poop. Problem is if you look too long you get dizzy will all the stripes! Marty

While messing in the garden this today Mrs. BilletHead spied this caterpillar. We have some of the red milkweed. Transplanted a bunch in places here at home. I know a noxious weed to many but a butterfly haven to the monarch caterpillar and to all other butterflies feeding on the flowers nectar. We also have pale purple prairie coneflowers and generic purple coneflowers. Later on this summer there will be hundreds of butterflies in swarms around here. BilletHead

By all means yes, sent from the BilletHead's house. Marty

Nick, By all means standing in a kayak is a doable. We (wife and I) fish a bunch of flat water. Ponds, lakes, slower rivers and more. We both fly fish and we can do it sitting in a bit if a higher seat and standing up. Our kayaks are diablos (Adios model) http://www.diablopaddlesports.com/our_products The kayak vs the canoe debate will go on and on as we all have our thoughts on what we want to use. YOU should pick what fits your needs and budget. My back is shot and has been for some time. I cannot sit long or stand to long. I am like a jumping jack up and down to feel the best. If you get the right craft you can stand and be very ,very stable. I will dig up some photos to post here today of us standing in ours.. We are pleased with our choice and it fits what we like to do. Wish I lived closer to you as I would let you try a paddle around and stand up to give you and idea of what it is like, BilletHead

Yes she would as I have known her to fight back and she carries. You don't mess with Mrs. BilletHead

You know Duane all the time I was doing my part I was thinking of your rock duck blind pill box! Scott I have my new blackberry patch started right next to it, I am sure I could surprise some critter even if it is Pat picking in the future. Actually my little food plot is a mere forty yards away from the door. BilletHead

Had this thing in the ground for a little less than a year. Got tired of just the concrete color. So I asked the Mrs. if she would like to paint it. Yes for sure. Ok what do you want it to look like? I don't care was her response. We have seen them all colors from looking like a spotted cow to bright, so bright they looked too conspicuous for our taste. How about a camo effect. Yes she said that will work. She did the two color under paint and I with spray paint and a handful of pampas grass. Also she went ahead and did the inside with the tan. I still need to do some evening up on the dirt all the way around now that all the backfill has settled. It wasn't my intent to hide from mini bunker buster missiles shot from drones but just blending in some. Will plant something when I figure what we want. Vincent Van BilletHead

JD and Ness glad to hear your hard work is paying off. I was so bummed with the plants we started because they were so late and crappy looking. Now they are nice and robust growing well. Worked up a spot this morning and planted some thorn less blackberries. Ness we have a asparagus patch not in good soil. Some of the plants are five or more years old. We get some but not too much. I really need to add nitrogen I suppose to help them. Good thing is we are finding bookoos wild asparagus now. Will be grilling a mess today or tomorrow, BilletHead

Everything planted now in the tubs and raised beds. Once those frosts were over and could uncover things went crazy growing inches by the day. Last picking of lettuce cleaning up the crop yielded 7 gallons of fresh greens. Neighbors and friends were treated, that's what we do in the boonies where we live. Replanted in their place some squash. Took some pictures today of the growing and other progress. Some of the tub plantings of Brussel Sprouts, four types of peppers and assorted tomatoes. Squash patch Large tomato bed before supports. Big bed with supports of fence posts and cut to size hog panels. BilletHead

After the bad lousy weather the last few days we needed a pond fix. Windy, windy unstable weather. I had watched this stuff for the last two days. News coverage was unreal. Knowing we here were in the middle of the bad stuff for two days. Watched the coverage about Moore on the TV as I had the computer on tracking the storms as they headed this way. As it got closer I covered the garden plants with buckets and everything else I could. Soon the Mrs. got home from work, then we got the tornado warning. Birdwatcher gave me a text to head for cover just as we hit the shelter. First time we had to get in the thing and a sigh of relief when I shut the door. We could hear the wind and hail hit the door. Soon it was over and out we came to just some branches and green leaves all over the yard. Back into the house to the TV and storm coverage. May the good lord bless the storm victims we thought. After a restless night we awoke to an overcast day with no wind, still as it could be and the Mrs. says lets grab the rods and hit a pond. No argument here and we did. I started with a stealth bomber in black while Pat tied on a little dinny accardo popper. She went down one side of the pond and I the other. Literally every cast a hit. She was catching bass and green sunfish and bluegill. Me just bass then a bass took my bomber, I tied on a green one the same size. The bombers I threw measured 3.5 inches long. I knew it was too much for the gills and missed bites. Some of the bass and most of them were the same size. This pond needs some kept out both bass and gills to get room for growth potential. One of the bluegill who bit off more than he could chew. Mrs. BilletHead in action. She was having so much fun I changed to a smaller fly and the bluegill fest really took off. We doubled up several times. Fished for three hours with nonstop action. What a hoot! BilletHead

Aye Captain Ducky you will make quite the leader of the pirate fleet! Congrads my friend. It is something to be proud of for sure. Marty

I think this is not as far fetched as one would think. I am thinking like above and escapee from Pomme down into Truman and then back up river into the Osage arm and then into the Sac up to Caplinger. I know the concrete and tree in the photo like blue79 mentioned. Talked to locals and they said it happened. Congrads to the young man who caught it. Chances are it will never happen again. BilletHead

I was there Wednesday morning and caught some crappie. What time did this happen? Pretty cool, I need to check my sources about this. I think I even seen this guy while I was leaving there. I would love to know this fishes history, BilletHead

Congrads Duane! That is one good looking baby and I am so glad the child doesn't look like you Marty and Pat

BilletHead Jr. and his family up for the weekend and the two of the grandkids helped grandma pick. A homegrown meal, wild /harvested type except for the Vidalia onions and salad dressing. Deer burgers, fresh lettuce and spinach salad with sautéed morels. Kind of funny watching city kids tasting stuff right out of the dirt. I had them picking and eating in the same move. First time eating morels too but they did. We have a small patch of asparagus not doing too good and they thought it was gross raw! BilletHead

I will be looking buddy!

Thanks Duane for the tip. Many moons ago turkey hunting I found one in a cedar grove but only one. So this morning the Mrs. and I hit the same grove. 25 was the score and one of these is my largest to date. The cows had stomped some into oblivion but 25 came out of the woods unscathed. I will look here in future seasons a bit earlier. BilletHead Jr. and his family are here until this afternoon and they will get a taste of the find. We have fed them wild turkey with noodles and mashed taters. Today it will be deer burgers, sautéed morels and a lettuce salad from our garden. BilletHead The way some of the ones we left show this may be the end?

I have dehydrated chanterelles and hen of the woods. Never morels yet because have not found the mother load like the Morel King Duane. Rehydrate and use like fresh and also you can grind up and use for flavoring in gravy, stews and soups. A few weeks back I made a cream gravy to put on venison. Hens, some thyme, heavy cream, a bit of cheap red wine and some broth. Reduced the mix until thick. Yum-o Marty

Luckycraft it is a Binelli but the Vinci model. Both the wife and I have one. Yes they are a sweet gun. You have a day left to get that bird! BilletHead

Outstanding Duane! I will check our measly patch this afternoon.. You give a guy hope. Marty PS under your avatar please upgrade and add "The Morel King"