Vacation

I usually only post during the steelhead season, but I thought I would share some of the pics from my trip. The weather was a downer, I only wore shore shorts 3 days out of the 11 I was there. The other days it was either jeans or a rain suit. But we made the best of it.
 
The boys job was to catch some fish to eat. He did a great job of that. He is what fishing is all about. I found myself many times just watching him and a tear would come to my eye. He would sit there and enjoy life. When fishing was slow he would be just as happy as when fishing was hot and heavy. One day when the sun was going down the temp was dropping just as fast. He said to me, "Daddy, I am cold. But I dont want to go in yet, I want to fish alittle bit longer." He is going to make a good steelheader.
 

 

 

 
The girl spent most of her time either at the pool, beach, playground, or around somewhere. But she did like to go out on the boat. Most of the time she just liked throwing the fish back or throwing the keepers in the live well. She did enjoy opening the live well and tell the fish "I am going to eat you" Here is a shot of one of her fish that ended up in her belly.
 

 

 
This year marked the first trip to Canada for number three. It will be the first of many for her. She spent most of the time pushing some teeth through. So she had a fever runny nose and pretty much miserable. But she did have some happy moments.
 

 
The wife was kept busy by the little one but she did find some time to get out. Her catches were nothing to brag about, few small bass and pan fish, but she did end up having a musky follow. Here is a shot of her deweeding her vamp and taking it all in.
 

 
As for me fish was slow but I enjoyed myself. I didnt get the time on the water I wanted but was still able to fish my share. Water temp was down and the weeds are at least 2 weeks behind normal. We didnt find many fish at all on the flats. Here is a pic for MikeG, a smallmouth I picked up while bouncing a jig for panfish with the boy. I think he took a pretty good pic.

 
All our musky were in 9-11' weed edges. I threw different bucktails my entire trip with a few jerks and cranks mixed in. There wasnt 1 hot bait but the double tens produced the best for me. First trip out I lost a mid 40" at the boat. Hit in close jumped and got tangled in the line. Laid on top, as the boat got closer she got some energy and jumped hitting the boat and coming undone. I am just happy she didnt land on my feet. Had many follows a few smaller fish to net, including a 40" that was an absolute blast to fight. The pic sucks. We got much better shots with dads camera but I dont have those pics yet, but here is a glimpse.

 
This is the fish of the trip. This fish was on my last day of the trip. She hit a Bucher Tinseltail. For those of you who know the size of a no.10 blade, look at the char blade on the fishes head.

 
She tapped and missed it the first time she hit but I kept burning the reel. As the bucktail came into site this huge pig was hot on its tail. An unbelievable site to watch this fish chase down its prey. As I am yelling to my father to "LOOK AT THIS BEAST!" over and over, I watch her mouth open and take the bait. I dont feel anything because she is swimming right at me but I see it in her mouth. I wait and see her turn to swim off. Now there was some pressure and I stick her hard with everything I got. The battle was at the boat and this pig didnt want to move. No jumps or hard runs just a few hard dives that I handled just fine. A swing and a miss on the first net job but the next one was money. My biggest ever to hand. It came in at 51" on the button.
 

 
I always said the first 50" is going on the wall. Now that I had it in my hand, it just didnt feel right to put it on the wall. The fish revived strongly and swam back into the depths.
 
 
 
In conclusion I had a great trip. I caught the biggest freshwater fish of my life. I spent quality time with my parents. I watched a new generation of a fisherman begin. Saw my young daughter enjoying her youth. Saw my baby girl sitting up strong all on her own. I watched my wife doing a wonderful job of being a mother. I would like to thank all of them for giving me a wonderful trip. I will leave you with these parting shots. The first of a sunrise, the second a rainbow after a mid afternoon shower, a sunset, a moonrise, and finally one happy dog (for KJ).
 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

Looks like a successful trip for all. Great pics and story. WTG on the musky,shes a beauty. Love the kids shots. I see many future family fishing days. Just awesome.

Great pictures, times a family will always remember.  Well the little one might need the pictures and stories.  Nice

Do I happen to see Genedier Island somewhere in that sunrise photo?  Or is it just my imagination?  Wow swinger, seems you're getting a little sappy in your "older" age!  Just kidding dude!  The kids are precious and the muskie shots are class A.  Looks like an awesome trip!  I need to get back up to those Kawarthas where my roots began.  Great thread!
 
I didn't realize that was a 50" until later...thats quite an accomplishment...CONGRATS DUDE!!

Paul

 "Wow swinger, seems you're getting a little sappy in your "older" age!"
 
Really. You ( Swinger ), always came off as sort of a Schmuck to me.  But this thread tells a much different story. Family, fish, ( and food ), the best things in life. Enjoy them all, as it seems you do.

He's just doing his "Tippy Toe" impression.

sweet pics.
 
O'Doyle Rules!

AWESOME, Thats what its about. Family baby !!!!!

ORIGINAL: razmatazz05

sweet pics.

O'Doyle Rules!

 
Nice!

Oh yeah,


O'doyle rules!!!!!!!!!!

Very nice pics!!! It's nice to see at least somebody is posting something useful!

That's a dandy Musky.
Looks like some excellent Quality time with the family...

I am happy everyone is enjoying the thread. Thanks to all for the positive feed back. To KJ, I know its not the right rod, but it does take 2 hands to cast out them double 10's. I am starting to get the itch to go swinging though. Paul, I know you know the water, but actually the island you speak of is in the moonrise shot. Its been acouple years, it may be time to revisit the area. But I think you will do well wherever you pull your plugs. I am not going to spot burn but the big girl came from just north of where you used to camp. In 11' of water casting the edge. Spoon, "family, fish, and food" yes I do enjoy them all. I got a picture for you in the camera, I cant download it yet because the wife got her ipod hooked up now. When she's done I'll post it for you. You have seen the family and fish, but not the food. Loomis, the dog isnt mine its my parents dog. His name is Cooper. Named after an old school underground musky bait called the cooper spoon. My grandfather got his biggest on it. Many people think the dog is a pit but its actually a fiest. To all who think I am getting sappy or soft. No I am not. I am just happy right now. Come steel time I will get frustrated with idiots low holing me in runs, bait guys littering the streams with gutted fish and spent spawn sacs, and guys bragging of how many they got. That will bring the salt back to my words. Till then, let the good times roll. Enjoy!

Here you go Spoonchucker. One chicken was done with a rosemary based rub and the other was done with some heat, some good hungarian paprika and cayenne based. I put some apple wood chips in and let them spin. Very good!
 

oh man... drippin