We've been talking about a letterhead fishing event and finally somebody took me up on it. Fellow letterhead Eric (Chuck) Elmgren , striper, sign maker, walldog and a major hunter gatherer answer the call.
He drove down a couple Fridays ago from Chicago to fish with me. I finished a semi and off we went to fish a lake just outside Pontiac. On Saturday we fished the Vermilion River. It was more fun than humanly possible. So we decided to include others if they're willing and we don't care where we fish as long as it's freshwater and we can have a few beers. Around here we have nicknamed a fishing "man-vacation" as a ... macation.
Here's a couple shots:
Posted by Sonny Franks (Member # 588) on :
You always seem to catch some big'uns Bill. Are you using live bait, plastic worms or spinners?
Posted by W. R. Pickett (Member # 3842) on :
...Are they dinner?
Posted by Jon Jantz (Member # 6137) on :
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. It's hard to trust fish pictures on a forum full of Photoshop experts......
that said.... VERY NICE, BILL!!
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
oh man am I hungry and they aren't even orange
[ August 27, 2009, 11:02 AM: Message edited by: Joey Madden ]
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
Yeah, Jon, you notice how he holds it REAL close to the camera and then steps back a bit....hehehehe And Billy, yes they WERE dinner! We had fish, potatoes, fresh corn on the cob , slice tomatoes from the garden and ended it off with a nice crispy apple crisp. I love to cook "country" food and I think Eric will be back. Posted by Bill Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
Sonny, the bass go for spinner and buzz baits and an occasional small bluegill on weedless hooks. They can get big from eating all those bluegills and a baitcast reel on a medium medium rod with a 12 lb line can yank 'em thru the weeds.
Catfish will take it all. I had an enormous one go for a spinner, but usually red wiggler worms and some fish them with liver. I only eat the smaller cats.
Waxworms on slip bobbers for the bluegill and we're not sure about the crappie, but I'd say slip bobbers and minnows. Some folks have had success with small jigs with tubes.
Posted by jack wills (Member # 521) on :
Bill,
Yers is spose'd ta ketch & relees dem bass fishes.
Jus kiddin' man. I miss hittin' them lakes back there. Pulled them squawkers in all the time. Never ate em' just gave them to the neighbor.
Jack
Posted by Eric Elmgren (Member # 11536) on :
a great fisherman and a great host.
Thanks, Amigo
Posted by Norman Biss (Member # 335) on :
Here'a a real fish...A Big Eye Tuna caught in the Bay of Islands New Zealand. I'm 2nd from right and fellow Letterhead Tom Smith is on my left. The weight of 120.2kg (265lbs)was a near world record.
[ August 27, 2009, 10:43 PM: Message edited by: Barb. Shortreed ]
Posted by Tom & Kathy Durham (Member # 776) on :
I find it quite humorous that you guys dressed to kill! Bill, with his offical fish fry shirt and Eric there to shoot the fish if all else fails. Oh well as long as there was beer!
Posted by Eric Elmgren (Member # 11536) on :
Nice fish Norman, now how you gonna get him into those little cans?
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Welcome aboard Eric.......Tom already commented on your shirt, lol......later my friend...(how's the "kid?")
Posted by Bob Kaschak (Member # 3146) on :
That looks like an awesome time.
If I could drag myself away from life for a while I'll even bring some Saranac Beer along!
Peace, Bob
Posted by John Deaton (Member # 925) on :
Man, bet you guys had fun. I havent fished one time this summer, and I sure do miss it. Jane made me drool talking about the cookins too. mmmmmm.....
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
Nice Sardine Norman,lol. now this is a TUNA! Thats a friend of mine standing next to an almost 900 pound Bluefin Tuna caught just 5 minutes from my house....Now that's a fish! and no it is'nt photoshoped.
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Posted by Eric Elmgren (Member # 11536) on :
Neil, is that guy a letterhead?
Posted by Bill Diaz (Member # 2549) on :
I don't think that bad boy would fit on my fillet table, Neil, ... ha, ha, ha, ha!
Look at the size of that pole. Mercy!!!!!!!! I've never been deep sea fishing, but it's all a matter of time. As long as you can drink beer too ....
Tom, you should have been with us when the boys and I went to visit Eric and Ron at their second shop in Wilmington, IL. Talk about a bunch of hunters. 2 steps into their shop there was a hoist hanging from the rafters that they used to hang their prey to be cleaned. The blood stained floor beneath was evidence that several animals probably turkey and deer had been gutted at that spot.
Eric was going to teach me jug fishing for catfish until he saw the size of a few of them circling below the dock. Then he said, NAH, I think we can skip on the jug fishing.
Posted by Jane Diaz (Member # 595) on :
I'm sorry but if something that big bit on my line, I'd throw in the pole. 900 pounds! Why wouldn't the fish pull you in, pole and all! That's almost 1/2 ton of tuna cans...I'll pass on that trip!
Posted by Eric Elmgren (Member # 11536) on :
Bill:
When I worked for someone else, they would never let me clean fish in the sink or hang and skin and butcher deer in the office, just one of the advantages of being self-employed.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
That is a former partner of mine, Rober Schamper, when we used to build log homes, that was a long time ago, but that fish was caught about 3 years ago... Bluefin used to be plentyfull here, but they were almost wiped out... but are now making a comeback of sorts... funny thing, back in the 60's and 70's it was up to the person who caught it to get rid of it, they used to be dumped. But now, that fish was packed in ice, and on a jet to a Japanese fish market with in 24 hours and sold close to 20 grand! They bid on them there... but unfortunaely my friend was only a guest on the boat, he did actually catch it, but the owner of the boat is the one who got the money.
Posted by Norman Biss (Member # 335) on :
Ouch Neil..!! You win. But I would like to know what type of tuna and size of line. Oh and Eric, we had it smoked and it was delicious.
Posted by Neil D. Butler (Member # 661) on :
It's a Blue Fin Tuna Norman, I have several freinds who used to fish these back in the 60's and 70's, Look at this monster caught off Nova Scotia.
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