Started this thread to tell a few jokes and have some fun and  laughs- recently went over 50,000 views--good- in this idiotic year we need to enjoy some fun, humor and laugh a bit more.

  Despite the numerous brushes with my own demise, last year wasn't so bad for me.  By the time I had fought out of the initial malaise and pain  of my initial cancer (and having skirted death three times) I managed to get out in the Hudson and catch some good smallmouth and had my best year in awhile. 5 over 20" is a good year for me.  Travel restrictions were annoying, as the ponds and lakes I usually fish in Vermont for trout were out of bounds .  I eventually did a number of day trips to the coast  and fished legal federal lands to get by the parking restrictions up and down the coast. Some of the best trips ever.  By June, my favorite beach and camping was open with many restriction in place, so we actually  got to enjoy a four day trip.  I was fortunate to have had a long term , high end house renovation that I worked on for very understanding and supportive customers.  
   Overall, I took from this year some important facts. I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for my wife and the fortitude and love that she used to sit in snowbanks reading a book while I fished  the SR carried over into the care I needed to stay around.  The fact  that my best friend who commands the Vt. National Guard,  shut down a joint live firing exercise with the Canadians to rush to the hospital when I first was diagnosed, or on numerous days this year, three guys who can kick azz and take names told me they loved me. I was speechless at many points this year.  I've never seen myself as a good person, I just did what I thought was expected or right.  Little did I know that I managed to effect people around me in positive ways and earned a deep respect from them.  Going forward it has given me greater resolve to return the gifts given me. I give monthly to charities for kids, but it has become too little. Sometime soon, I may change careers, or find a way to volunteer with disabled kids.  I'm not sure how long I'll get to be around, but It's worth the effort to do as much as I can while it's possible. 
    Here's to a better year for all, with dreams realized, freedom capitalized on, and healing and happiness for those that have been held back or driven down. Catch the big ones, but realize the joy of just being on the water, folks. 

Best post yet---

Also the 'crush deer cam' from Iowa--

Nice pic of a fat hen Ho from the river today on the facebook forum

It was brutal with winds today.
All good. We eat fresh fish tomorrow.

On my week long adventure of ice fishing, some of the time got short due to a contractor project I took on. It's all in the best interest of making things handicap accessible for my sister. We have to do all hygiene for her.
I've got a great friend that loves working for me and we have been doing vast improvements on our place.
Sis had a hard time getting into the tub / shower so we made her bathroom accessible.
It was fun stuff and now I'm free to fish again.

Well, I never really understood nuisance permits. I know what they are but not the logic behind them outside of fall winter hunting season.
If you do start popping deer in the warmer temperatures and plan on keeping them for food, the shooter and processor better have a plan in place prior. There are not hrs to spare, its literally an hour or less before bacteria and spoilage sets in after cut open.
My question would be why dosen't the farmer allow more hunters or why aren't nuisance permits mandated to the hunters that are allowed during season mandatory for the hunters to fill those quotas. Typically, there is a quota, not just shot everything in site.
I get what the farmer is trying to accomplish but it seems like backwards conservation.

Just so you're aware, in spring if you shoot and harvest a pregnant doe, when dressing you may get 2 or 3 for 1. It's actually a mess.

Went to a local stream for trout this AM- Used the right fly and caught a real nice brookie and let it go- oops not a good job of that. It went belly up in the pool I was working and I tried to reach in and retrieve it- never let game go to waste.
Then the dying trout and I were both belly up in the pool.
Wet-- and cold too.
Unfortunately the trout slipped away in the rapids below as I crawled to the banks of the pool.
Some days are both a reward and a risk- more so when your old and dopy--------

Lost over 20 lbs with that fiasco a few weeks back-not right yet.
Second shot this weekend and planning on the Sr for Steel in a few weeks- this was a good reminder that am gettin too old for much wading and to be more cautious.

Gonna be a couple of more weeks but intend to get up for  a few days of Steel- albeit a bit late in the season but fishing is fishing and I intend to do it.
In good years have some old spots that used to hold a few till early May-soooo in this kinda year perhaps a few fish will still be around the third week or so of April.
Been a long time without the SR in front of me and look forward to it very much.
Think early to mid Sept/oct of 19 was the last time up before the BS hit that winter at hadda live like a hermit for well over a year.
Darn-- for a while there it was 70 to 80 days a year in Pulaski spread over year round-- miss it.

The fish are wet already and that sounds like fun stuff rg. Hope you have a tug on the line

With ever worsening weather patterns for my trip to SR this week I decided what the heck I'm going '
Soo out to the truck this morning packing up-
Out of my fishing vest slides my long lost- often searched for- Movado watch.
No matter what, the trip has already paid for itself with this favored item being found.-
now for that tug--

Thanks Rich- weather reports indicate a 'splashdown' is likely what its gonna be- at least they dropped the lightning and snow squall reports this AM.
It changes almost hourly for up there soooo ya never know---sun???