First fish of the year, the 'Mid, and a groove in my stripping finger

March 12th. That's as long as I can remember that it has taken me to catch my first fish of the year. This time last year I had already caught a Lohontan or three and several bass, one on top! This has been one of the wettest winters Northern Nevada has seen with plenty of cold temps in between. I went up to my home pond a couple of times, only to find it frozen still. Now that its finally thawed there's a steady stream of snow melt pouring in, who knows when it will be ready. The Truckee is WAY high, and usually muddy. That being said, this is going to be an epic year! The river and ponds will be FULL for the first time in years,

For now its all about The 'Mid, The Big Salty, Pyramid Lake. The land of giant Lahontan Cutthrout Trout. 

Sunday morning found me meeting my buddy Zach at the lake. He picked the beach, and I was there at six in the morning, we were not alone. There were already two other trucks with a few fisherman in each. We picked our spots, set up our ladders, and started stripping buggers and beetles.  Zach scored first with a nice fish on a beetle, I hooked another but couldn't land it. Zach caught another nice fish, again on the beetle but it slowed down after that. He switched to an indicator and midge set-up and quickly caught two more.  

I started to get a little down, what with Zach landing four and me only hooking one. The sun was up and bright by this time so I switched from a black bugger to a white one.  As they say, bright day, bright fly. After a few casts I hooked another fish, wait for it...I landed the first fish of 2017!!!!! a nice Lahontan! The white bugger was on fire with a couple more hooked, and a couple more landed.  I kept after it despite getting a bite, setting the hook like a madman, falling off my laddder and filling my waders. There's no better feeling than falling off your your ladder in front of at least seven guys. Trust me, you won't soon forget it. "Do you even set hooks, Bro?" Zach had to go shortly after, but I stayed for awhile and caught a few more. After wearing a pretty good groove in my finger I decided to call it quits. I ended the day with ten hooked and six landed. All six on the white Complex Twist Bugger, definitely my best day at the 'Mid.

Sunrise

First fish of 2017

A nice one of Zach's

Battle scarred warrior

The ladder line

Wearing a groove

Celebration

Chukar camp 2016

24950. Thats how many steps my phone says I took yesterday. 24950 steps doesn't begin to do what we did justice. 24950 steps for three birds. Ridiculous. 8316.666666 steps per bird. Even more ridiculous.

That's what a succesfull chukar hunt requires. a lot of walking up hills. A lot of sneaking up on birds and a lot of dissapointment. In the end we had a great trip, with a total of five chukar, and two quail. I can't wait until next year.

2016/2017 Duck opener.

It was a good opener this year. We had a total of ten Gadwalls come into the decoys. We shot seven, and recovered six. The Boy didn't get a shot off, but without waders he had to stay too far back in the tules. Hopefully he'll get a a few this year.

A little shed hunting

After a couple of years of talking about it, I decided to finally do a little shed hunting. I hiked to a few spots, and found this one in deep. My first shed ever! I was completely stoked.  It was a little mouse chewed but I really didn't care.  

The next day I took the Wife and the Boy up to find some more. It was super cold and windy so we didn't last long. On the way back to the truck the Wife found one. Another three point. Awesome!

We all went out again on Sunday, and after much hiking I almost stepped on a real nice, fresh, brown antler! It's at least twice as big as the rest. What an awesome find! I can see this becoming a real addiction.  I'm going back tomorrow to look for the other side. Wish me luck!

The Wife's

A great rabbit hunt at a new spot.

I went shooting with a couple of friends at new spot last week, and noticed a ton of rabbit tracks in the snow. I took the Boy and my daughter's boyfriend there today for a quick hunt. We saw a TON of jacks, and as many cottontails. They were all pretty sketchy and quick to run, but I managed to get two. This spot has a lot of potential, and I can't wait to get back. 

A great hunt.

Had a great cottontail and Jackrabbit hunt the other day. I walked just over five miles, and ended up with two cottontails and a jack. All three head shots, no meat wasted. The rabbits will be stuffed saddles, and the Jack will be hare stew. I can't wait

Scott Rea's stuffed cottontail saddle.

I was able to get a couple of bunnies the other day, and decided to make Scott Rea's stuffed rabbit saddles. They turned out amazing. If you get a chance, watch some of Scott's videos, and give some of his recipes a try! You won't be disappointed.

A beautiful pair of tails

Food in the snow.

Rabbit legs.

The loins.

Mushroom and rabbit meat stuffing.

Wrapped up.

Finished.

Another success this morning

Got my third bunny this morning.

Skunked.

Only saw four ducks, and a beautiful sunrise. Never fired a shot. Not a bad morning with friends, and family.

More gadwalls

Sunday morning came pretty early at four a.m. Got down to our spot, and had all the dekes out by six. We had a total of nine gadwalls into the decoys, I wish we were better shots sometimes. Ended up with a pair, one drake, one hen.

First ducks of 2015/2016

11-1-15

I was able to get out with the Old Man for our first duck hunt of the year yesterday. We had the decoys out, and were ready to go just before shoot time. The ducks were a little late to the party, but they showed up at about 6:15. The first ones to come were a pair of mallards, they blew right by the decoys, and landed around the corner of the tules from us. 

Just as I was thinking of walking over to them to take a shot, a group of gadwalls came right into the dekes. We knocked down four of them! Unfortunately, one swam into the tules, and one landed deep inside of them. As I was out picking them up, another group came in. One more down! Now we've got five birds down, and I only have one in hand. I saw where number five fell, and walked right to it. Two in hand. I was searching for the one that swam into the tules when four mallards flew in, I tried to fire at one, and got a click. Dammit!!!!! Forgot to chamber a new round. I was totally exposed, and they left in a hurry. 

I couldn't find the duck in the tules so I went to find the other two. I found one by following a feather trail, and finally gave up on the other one. When I got back to my hiding spot on the other side of the hole, the duck was right there. She must of swam across while I wasn't watching. Awesome! Four in hand, one still in the bush. 

There were only a couple more ducks flying, and they weren't interested in us, so we called it quits. I decided to go look for the last duck in the tules now that the sun was up. I actually fond her, all the way up on dry land, just sitting there. Five birds in hand. None lost!!! 

Five birds, on public land, in the middle of a drought. I'll take it!

A couple of rabbits.

Got out to get a couple of rabbits the other day. Used the backs, bellies, and ribs to make some stock. Dishes to come.