Life Changes Update and D.C. this weekend

A few weeks ago I posted that I would be trying to make some life changes starting on March 14th. So far I am on my 3rd smokeless day. It hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. The first day was definately the hardest. I had to keep convincing myself that I did not need a cigarette. I still feel a little lost without stepping outside every few hours.

I haven't gotten the boat all the way ready like I had wanted. I have excercised some but need to start a routine of running every night. I had wanted to spend more quality time with the family. I don't think you can do both quality family time and quitting smoking. I have been a little edgy so far. I have to keep working at it.

I was hoping to be out fishing every weekend once ice out came. I have had dreams of casting a red eye shad out of the boat once this weekend hits, but I will have to hold off for another week. Christina's Mom and Sister with her 8 children are driving out from Kansas to visit this weekend. They are talking about driving to Washington, D.C. I took Friday off work so I could go too. I've never really wanted to go to D.C. but my wife has been trying to get me to go for years. I like road trips and I'm sure D.C. will be fun for a couple days.

My First Fish of the Year

I made it out to Delaware lake today. After a long winter the ice is finally off most of the lakes and ponds in the area and I was able to pick up my first fish of the year. I found a slow spot in the river dumping into Delaware and popped a jig under a bobber in about 1 to 2 foot of water. I ended up catching about 10 crappie, 3 of which were well over 9 inches. I had 2 that touched 9 inches but it was close so they got to swim another day.


It started out nice today with it reaching close to 50 degrees, the last week has been great with temperatures around 55-70. I caught my 10 fish then it started blowing from the North and got chilly really fast. The fish were affected by it and I couldn't get any more bites once the cold wind hit.

You could tell the lake just finished with ice out as there were dead shad everywhere around the banks. The birds will eat good for a while.

9 Days Till Spring

Spring is close. Most of our snow is now melted and it is supposed to be up to 65 degrees today. After not getting over freezing for the whole month of February that is a welcome change.

As I was driving to work this morning I noticed the rivers were all out of their banks. Hopefully that will help to melt the ice off the lakes. I am going to drive to a couple of the lakes this weekend to see if there is any open water. Last week at Deer Creek there was a really small open patch near the boat ramp by the dam.

I hope there are some decent sized open areas. I would love to cast somewhere other than the front yard. Once the rivers receed a bit I am sure the saugeye will be stacked up below the dams. It should make some really good fishing in about a week or two. I'm ready to get that skunk off my back for the year.

Mizike's last weekend in Ohio

This was my last weekend with Mizike. He took Saturday off work so we could get one last day in together. Friday night we got started early at Joe's crab shack. Then made our way back to the house where we continued drinking. We eventually had a bragging rights forever poker game that was between Mizike, Kimber, Christina and myself once the kids had gone to bed.

I ended up with all the chips and this is my first brag. We ended up drinking way too much. Somewhere in the middle of the morning we decided it would be a good idea to start a fire behind the house. We ended up waking up a few neighbors as we might have had the fire going pretty good.

The next day was rough but we managed to get out to fish as it was the first decent day of the year. We went below the dam at Deer Creek. There were about 70 other anglers out trying their luck as well and nobody was catching anything. I should have looked at Big Indiana Bass's blog and seen that he has been fishing rivers. We definately would have tried that.

Mizikes last weekend was at least a decent weekend. He mentioned that he is glad he doesn't have to drink like that again for some time. At least until his bachelor party weekend at Lake Gibson, OK. We are going to try to get everybody together for a weekend at Mizike's relatives cabin on the lake.

TRB Awards Banquet

Twin Rivers Bassmasters had their club awards banquet this Saturday at Gordy's in Columbus. The food, company and atmosphere were all good. I was able to see who all the top dogs were from last year. I guess this is going to be some tough competition this year.

We all decided to get in on a pool for the Classic. Ken had made up slips with all the boaters names on them. We each put some money in the pool and drew 3 names. The top 3 placed boaters got money along with the points champ overall and the points loser overall and the big bass.

I drew Russ Lane, Alton Jones and Kevin Worth. I knew Alton did not make the cut but had a good shot with having Russ Lane to make a little money. Unfortunately Russ did not finish in the top 3 even though it was looking like he might in the live blog on b.a.s.s. on Sunday. He did catch the big bass the final day and got me my money back plus a little. Christina drew 36th 37th and 38th place and sewed up worst team for most of her money back.

During the draw everybody was calling for KVD. If he is in the top 5 on the last day the odds are good that he will ultimately be victorious after the last day.

Our next meeting is March 1st. Hopefully after that meeting I will be able to fish with a couple members so I can be voted on to join the club. I think there is a high level of comradery and competetiveness. It will be fun to battle the fish with these guys this year.

Leo's 4th Birthday

Leo turned 4 last Tuesday the 16th. We had been asking him what he wanted for his birthday all the week prior. All he wanted was a birthday party with Mizike, Kimber, Christina (my wife), Gavin, and me.

I got off work, picked Christina up at her work and then headed to the babysitter's to pick up Leo and Gavin. We then picked up Kimber at home and called Mizike to take some time off work to come to Chuckee Cheese. It was also Kimber's birthday.

We played some games and had fun winning tickets. Leo got to pick out what he wanted with the tickets as we got ready to leave. He got some pretty neat toys that he will play with.

When we got home we had some cake and Leo got to open his presents. He got some Monster Trucks and a ramp for them, and a new spiderman fishing pole with a light up handle when you push the button.

This will be his 3rd pole and he is only 4. The first scooby doo pole was lost over the side of the boat this spring. He had gotten a full size spiderman pole after that. He could not cast it quite as well with its longer length. It got tore up pretty good at Kentucky lake battling giant shellcracker sunfish and largemouth bass. The reel eventually busted off the handle and it would not cast any longer. The last trip out with it I would have to loosen the drag, pull line out of it and thow the bait out in the water. Thats a lot of work when you have a 3 year old that wants to reel all the time.

I used his pole a couple of times and I think the scooby pole had more casting distance and accuracy. I used it about as much as some of my other poles in the spring last year. When it came time for a new pole I considered a zebco combo, but I think this pole is more set up to keep Leo interested in fishing this year.

This weekend we spent quite a bit of time in the yard and organizing his tackle box. He cast his rubber fish plug, and I practiced flipping to the base of the tree in the front yard. The neighbors must think I am losing it sometimes. One of them asked if I was fishing for snow fish. I doubt she'll make the regional cut in the FLW BFL this year! I was fishing for snow BASS.

Time For Some Life Changes

With the conclusion of the Bassmaster Classic and a 3rd KVD classic championship, I am ready to make some life changes and to get out on the water. Problem is that we are still getting snow and cold.

I am figuring that the weather pattern we have been getting will start to change mid March. We have been getting a good snow once a week for the whole month of February so far. The time changes on March 14th so that is the day I have been making big plans for.

My first plan is to finish getting the boat ready for fishing by that date and be ready to get out to fish. I will get it organized and all of my tackle stowed, garage organized and cleaned so I will be able to get the boat out and in easily.

My second plan is to stop smoking by that date. I am working on cutting back now. I have been chewing a lot of gum to try to take away the urge to smoke. I have been smoking for 13 years off and on now. I had chewed for longer than that and have gone nearly a year without chewing. That lead me to smoke a little more but I think quitting smoking will be easier than quitting chewing. It is scary how after a year I could still pick up a can of chew and start the habit all over again. I still think about it often. Not quite as much as I used to.

My third plan is to start excercising, mainly running. I have gotten lazy in the last several years and my weight and appearance are showing it. I am the heaviest I have ever been at close to 235 pounds. It might be more I haven't actually weighed myself. I started excerscising a bit the other night and my belly weighs a lot. I could hardly do sit ups or push ups.

I would also like to spend more quality time with my family. I spend time with them but there is a lot I could do to make it more quality time.

There are things that will help me accomplish all of this. I have ambition to change finally for myself and for my wife and kids. My wife is on board with wanting to make changes too. The weather will be getting better and the evenings will be light longer. Mizike and his fiance will be leaving. That will help with my smoking, not having somebody mentioning going outside to smoke all the time. I am also finally getting energy from not doing rotating shifts. It has taken over a year to start to feel normal again.



See that belly. It needs to go!