BilletHead

Tho1mas we actually thought about picking a few leaves off of the starts as we put them out. . BilletHead

Yep funny story on that one Ham. The Mrs. and I went goofing off one afternoon. Took the cast net and threw it into a couple drainage ditches near a river. We could see fish in clouds swimming around. One cast netted hundreds of little silvery carpish looking minnows. We had a bucket and tossed in a dozen or so. I was going to put them in the little garden pond. Note the bucket was just half full of water. I actually thought they were just common carp. So the drive home and at home all the little fishes had jumped from the open topped bucket onto the black bed liner. Most were dried up but there were two still squirming. Threw them into the pond. One survived and grew and I am sure the other got eaten bu the channel cat. Soon watching it grow the quill showed up. Thus a river fish is now landlocked in a garden pond. With the clear water he is really black on the back to blend in the black liner. He comes to the top to feed on floating pellets but it very wary going back to the bottom if you move too much during the feeding frenzy. Caught a koi on your list yet? BilletHead

Well Ham I have a practice garden pond you can try in:) I have in there a koi pushing 18", channel cat pushing 20" hybrid bluegill 8" and a quillback close to that 8" mark. It would be like a captive audience. I have a little and I mean little quad bamboo tenkara a friend made me. Maybe a three footer.All these fish when they were smaller have been harassed by this rod. All these fish were between an inch and eight inches when introduced to the pond. BilletHead

Well then the BilletHead's garden update. Lettuce in beds under plexaglas covers. Opening them up on warm days to get fresh air. Planted a couple rows of seeds too under there. Peppers up to four inches and tomatoes getting up to seven inches plus under lights in the house. Jesters don't fret about getting things started so early. You have plenty of time. Some of us get really stupid and start too early. My average last frost here is April 15th. Can you imagine what kind of a mess I will have in six weeks? As ness says I am trying to keep lights close to not have leggy thin stemmed plants. When it is time to go outside I will plant two thirds of the tomato plant underground. BilletHead

" Undesirable Rough Fish" Never really agreed with such a statement. If you are a fisherman it is the fight and fooling the quarry. I know of days such fish made me very happy when my intended target species failed to make the day. Especially fun on the fly rod. Sometimes I even go after these fish making them intentional targets. They for sure fight better than most game fish. Go get a common carp or grass carp on your tenkara Ham BilletHead

Jesters. One good thing about those peppers though. They will produce until a frost where other plants will over with sooner.

If I remember right I forgot to get my sample bottle last time we visited. . This would be another good hobby to have and I dont need one. All hail the brewmaster Ness. BilletHead

Jesters that will work fine. Mine started that way but as I amended the soil over the years I have added height to the sides making them deeper. BilletHead

That will work Ham! BilletHead

Have a great time Ham! Time with Dad is precious. How I miss mine and am happy for you. Be safe, BilletHead

Peeping here for four days now. They will be slowing down in the next few days though. We have daffodils coming up too and crocus blooming. BilletHead

Something new to me and more shuttlecocks, Lets talk articulation. So I have made many streamers with one articulation. Like the action a lot. Been looking at the fish spines since they came out. Waited until last week and broke down last Saturday and bought three sizes. 10,15 and 20mm sizes. I had seen a pattern for a worm/sluggo/fluke tie. Did three. A black and purple using UV seal-X blend and another purple (Jungle Juice mix from the old backcountry outfitters) Size #2 B10 hook. They came out right at five inches. Did a bait fish too using the fabric paint for a head to attach eyes to. Took an hour off to hit a pond to see what kind of action they had. A bit windy and water real cold but went to a shallow end where the dark vegetative bottom would be a bit warmer.Tied on the black one and with hip boots on stepped into the water. Instantly could feel the cold. Started fan casting into six inches to three feet deep. Twitch pause and repeat like using a jerk bait. Several casts later a good tap on the pause. One to hand. Small but the first of the season. In twenty minutes had five to hand. Felt good. Hits were hard, Four on the black and one on the purple with black head. Threw out the bait fish too. All had the most amazing action. No foul ups on the casting either. Depending on the strip speed the things will wiggle, dart and dive. The profile would slim down a bit on the strip and on the pause fluff back out with the material looking like it was breathing. I will be tying more for sure and I know Mrs. BilletHead will want her own. I have only found one draw back about having a spouse who enjoys the same sports I do. She has to have her own rods, reels, fly's, waders, vests, etc, etc, etc. Fringe benefits are great though . So photos now. The first fish, little one but made me happy. Oh and I thought I would share this. I took him out of the water, laid him on the grass and took his photo. He told me it was ok and he did not even feel the hook pierce his jaw or me unhook him. I told him thank you and turned him loose and he waved his fin good by to me. The others I unhooked in the water. They all were pretty quiet but one who said ouch when I did a strip set. Guess some fish feel it and some do not, The new batch of articulated flies. So with four sections including the hook, then a non slip mono loop attaching to the tippet there is four sections that move independently there is much movement, And last the cumulative bunch of shuttlecocks, BilletHead

Mrs BilletHead carries the plates back to the kitchen and I put up the TV trays . Ness can you find one for proper internet forum behavior ? BilletHead

Oh Mitch I don't know if I should send a congratulation or sympathy card. I will start by congratulations and I will keep that light on for you. BilletHead

Yes long trip but there is light at the end of the tunnel. I promise I have seen it. Being a grandparent isn't too bad. You can send them home when you are done messing with them . BilletHead is on the other end of that tunnel.

hahahahahahah Yes know the feeling well. This will be the norm for awhile Mitch. Then someday it will happen. Admittance that the parents may of knew all along how it really is. BilletHead Jr. was that way once. Then real adulthood happened and eyes opened up. One day in this new adulthood he says. Gosh Dad I feel like I am turning into you:) And so Jr. has a teen age daughter. Sounds like your daughter . When things happen I just tell him paybacks are heck! hahahahahhah . Thing is we just went through it once with him but he has three to go through. Good luck buddy! BilletHead

Smoked meat looking good and Paleo there bud, So for my Valentine today it was a grilled ribeye topped with cowboy butter, baked tater and salad. Pretty simple and simply scrumptious. BilletHead

Love it Chief! So sweet of you to cook like that for your valentine:) Got to prove to her it was a good investment. BilletHead

A pretty good sammich! Hard,Genoa and pepperoni salami under the broiler. Add smoky Gouda cheese and broil a bit more. Top with shredded lettuce, pickled yellow banana peppers, red onion and a good Italian dressing. Serve with a heaping side of Red Hot Riplets, BilletHead

looking good! Did you do any body work to the pan? It was cows that played kick ball wit the pan. Throw some potatoes into the water in the pan as you cook the meat. BilletHead

Whew, Good thing as I was getting static from the peanut gallery as I was trying to tape the box shut . The peanut gallery will be happy ! BilletHead

I am thinking if your convictions are that strong you are in the wrong place and have the wrong hobby. We are on top of the food chain , our eyes are looking forward prey have their eyes on the side of there pretty faces. We hunt, we kill and consume. Fish are lucky and some get to swim away. No good steward of the land would purposely torture a fish or try to not make a quick humane shot on any other quarry. We have been given dominion over critters. There are more important issues at hand so I suppose we should go back to the issue at hand. Illegal giggers, not all giggers, BilletHead

My wife understands but doesn't when she has to work and I go without her . Trythisonemv, clousers,clousers,clousers and maybe an ASP streamer works for me, BilletHead

Ness was it more than potato chip crumbs when it arrived? BilletHead

Pfft!