This week has been absolutley crazy! With the horrible weather throughout the midwest, and trying to get everything ready to go for New Orleans, this has been a very intense week of preparation. My Dad and I left for Flippin Arkansas to pick up my new Triton at 5 a.m. wednesday morning. For those of you in a much more fortunate part of the country, let me fill you in on the weather situation Wednesday morning...The 2 days prior, we got pounded by sub-zero temperatures, 20-40 MPH winds, and almost a foot of snow! When we left Wednesday, we were greeted by temperatures in the -10 to -20 degree range! And the wind was howling on top of that! The roads got really nasty as we drove south through Missouri on our way to Arkansas. I am really glad we decided to take my hunting truck, as I have some big off-road tires on it that handled the snow really well.
I was excited to pick up the boat, but I wasn't excited about having to put some time on the engine before we headed to New Orleans. We drove from Flippin to Bull Shoals, and dropped the boat in. I put about a half hour on the engine in 15 degree weather and 20 MPH winds, needless to say it was miserable! We then drove back on icy, snowy roads with a boat in tow, and got home at about 11p.m. Now that is dedication right there! I am thankful to be back home safe and sound!
Today (Saturday) I am getting ready to pick up the boat from the wrap shop. I was lucky to get it in and out as quickly as I did. My hat is off to the guys out there at Sign Here who really helped me out! I am really excited about my wrap, it will be the sharpest looking rig I have ever had, so thanks alot guys! After I pick up the boat, I am heading to the shop and am going to work on getting everything loaded up. I have my new W&M rods all rigged up with my new Gamma line. I have my package from War Eagle full of my favorite jigs and spinnerbaits, and I have my package of Tightlines soft plastics to load in there. On top of all of that, we spent Friday night at Bass Pro in Olathe, and we literally closed the store down! So, I have my work cut out for me this afternoon!
I am really excited to get on the road. It will be a big relief once we finally leave, and have all of the pressure of preparation behind us. I haven't caught a bass since October, so I am so ready to get a line wet and set the hook on some Louisiana bass!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wrapping Up the Off-Season
We are coming down to the wire now that the month of January is almost past. We plan on heading down to New Orleans on February 6th. I still have a whole lot left to do before then, so this entire next week is going to be super busy. Let's see now, a couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to head out to western Kansas with some friends and neighbors of mine to do some pheasant hunting. I grew up pheasant hunting, so it was really a treat to get out and spend time with good friends and shoot a few birds. It wasn't a spectacular hunt by any means, but that is typical of a late season rooster hunt. I took off last weekend to the farm to take my tree stands down, and decided last minute that I would try and fill my last deer tag. Shot a nice fat, mature doe at about 4 p.m. last Sunday. It sure is gratifying to have filled all of my tags this season, even though I didn't shoot a buck.
During my spare time lately I have been organizing tackle and doing whatever kind of preparation I can do before we head south for the classic. I received all of my new rods and reels from Wright & McGill, and I am pumped to use them this season. I am also really excited to now have Rick Clunn on our W&M team! He will definitely bring a boat load of notoriety and experience to the table.
I also got my new truck this past month, and got it wrapped. It is a new Toyota Tundra, and Fulton really stepped it up and got it wrapped for me. It looks great, and will match the boat perfectly! Fulton worked with Tightlines, my boat wrap sponsor, to put together a wrap that would compliment the boat. I am really excited about it.
I have been doing my homework for the classic, and I am really pumped and am motivated to do well again this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the conditions will set up right for me. As long as there are no major weather changes, or heavy rains the fishing should be great. I am expecting/hoping the bite will be a pre-spawn slug fest. I plan on spending a day or 2 on the Atchafalaya Basin to get my groove back, because unlike alot of the other anglers on tour, I haven't had the opportunity to get on the water everyday or a few times a week. All the water around me is covered in ice right now, and still will be when I leave for the classic next week! So getting out ahead of time down there will definitely help me shake the dust off and get back into the groove of things.
That's all for now, but I will definitely plan on checking back in before I leave for New Orleans!
During my spare time lately I have been organizing tackle and doing whatever kind of preparation I can do before we head south for the classic. I received all of my new rods and reels from Wright & McGill, and I am pumped to use them this season. I am also really excited to now have Rick Clunn on our W&M team! He will definitely bring a boat load of notoriety and experience to the table.
I also got my new truck this past month, and got it wrapped. It is a new Toyota Tundra, and Fulton really stepped it up and got it wrapped for me. It looks great, and will match the boat perfectly! Fulton worked with Tightlines, my boat wrap sponsor, to put together a wrap that would compliment the boat. I am really excited about it.
I have been doing my homework for the classic, and I am really pumped and am motivated to do well again this year. I am keeping my fingers crossed that the conditions will set up right for me. As long as there are no major weather changes, or heavy rains the fishing should be great. I am expecting/hoping the bite will be a pre-spawn slug fest. I plan on spending a day or 2 on the Atchafalaya Basin to get my groove back, because unlike alot of the other anglers on tour, I haven't had the opportunity to get on the water everyday or a few times a week. All the water around me is covered in ice right now, and still will be when I leave for the classic next week! So getting out ahead of time down there will definitely help me shake the dust off and get back into the groove of things.
That's all for now, but I will definitely plan on checking back in before I leave for New Orleans!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Closing One Chapter, Starting A New Chapter
Well, this deer season has been a real cat and mouse type of season. I never got my buck tag filled, which is alright I guess. I consider myself a good hunter, and don't need to put a buck on the ground every season. I took a few good does this season, and that is fine. I got to hunt the entire season, and feel fortunate to have been able to spend as much time in the stand as I did. Just the other night I was out to try and shoot a doe, and had a nice shooter buck come in within bow range! I guess that's just the way it goes sometimes though! Last Saturday I went out for the first day of doe season and got set up by 3:15, and had a doe dead on the ground at 3:45. I still have 2 more tags to fill, so I am going to do my best to get that taken care of this weekend.
Next weekend I am going out to Hill City with some friends to do a little pheasant hunting. I have been looking forward to this for a while. If we are lucky there will be some snow on the ground, and those late season pheasants will be holed up nice and tight in the grass. I'll definitely try and get some pictures of the hunt!
Right now I am starting to think about fishing a whole lot more. Production will start on my new boat this week, and my truck wrap will be all done next week. I am really excited about the way the weather is shaping up for the Classic. Right now New Orleans is on the dry side, which is going to make the fishing that much better. Right now the worst thing that could happen for the fishing down there is if a huge rainstorm blew through and dumped a bunch of rain into the delta. I think if it stays dry, we will be in for some good fishing.
We leave for New Orleans on February 6th, which is really coming up fast. There is still alot left to do, but I can't wait to get down there and get after my 10th Classic!
Next weekend I am going out to Hill City with some friends to do a little pheasant hunting. I have been looking forward to this for a while. If we are lucky there will be some snow on the ground, and those late season pheasants will be holed up nice and tight in the grass. I'll definitely try and get some pictures of the hunt!
Right now I am starting to think about fishing a whole lot more. Production will start on my new boat this week, and my truck wrap will be all done next week. I am really excited about the way the weather is shaping up for the Classic. Right now New Orleans is on the dry side, which is going to make the fishing that much better. Right now the worst thing that could happen for the fishing down there is if a huge rainstorm blew through and dumped a bunch of rain into the delta. I think if it stays dry, we will be in for some good fishing.
We leave for New Orleans on February 6th, which is really coming up fast. There is still alot left to do, but I can't wait to get down there and get after my 10th Classic!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Deercember, I mean December Update
Deer season is coming down to the wire, and it makes me feel like I am in a tournament. I am persistent and optimistic, and have seen some big boys out. I have put more hours in a tree stand this year than I ever have before. I would guess about 150 hours total! Regardless, I love doing it, and it is one of the best ways to learn about and enjoy mother nature.
So far, I think the weather has been my worst enemy. It hasn't really got too cold yet, and there is no snow on the ground. If the temps would drop down into the 20s consistently, those deer would be hitting the food fields hard, and I might have a little bit better chance. I think right now they are still recuperating from the rut, and here before too long they will start moving again and working in more predictable patterns. I do enjoy hunting the late season, but this season has been so strange and strung out that the late season hunting strategies are not yet effective. What makes it worse is that it seems like everyone else has shot a good buck but me... I mean, I've got more picture messages of good bucks this season than ever before! Come one guys, stop rubbing it in!
Now I am really getting ready for the 2011 fishing season, and next week will be announcing a new sponsor! We are about 2 months away from the Classic, and I can't wait. My boat will be all ready in mid-january, and I plan on getting down to New Orleans a little early so I can go hit some other water ways, like the Atchafalaya Basin, to get myself geared up for the big tournament.
Now it's Christmas time, and I think I have just about all of my shopping done. I can't wait to spend Christmas day with the family, and I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for a white Christmas, so that maybe I can go kill a big buck in the snow the day after Christmas!
So far, I think the weather has been my worst enemy. It hasn't really got too cold yet, and there is no snow on the ground. If the temps would drop down into the 20s consistently, those deer would be hitting the food fields hard, and I might have a little bit better chance. I think right now they are still recuperating from the rut, and here before too long they will start moving again and working in more predictable patterns. I do enjoy hunting the late season, but this season has been so strange and strung out that the late season hunting strategies are not yet effective. What makes it worse is that it seems like everyone else has shot a good buck but me... I mean, I've got more picture messages of good bucks this season than ever before! Come one guys, stop rubbing it in!
Now I am really getting ready for the 2011 fishing season, and next week will be announcing a new sponsor! We are about 2 months away from the Classic, and I can't wait. My boat will be all ready in mid-january, and I plan on getting down to New Orleans a little early so I can go hit some other water ways, like the Atchafalaya Basin, to get myself geared up for the big tournament.
Now it's Christmas time, and I think I have just about all of my shopping done. I can't wait to spend Christmas day with the family, and I'm going to keep my fingers crossed for a white Christmas, so that maybe I can go kill a big buck in the snow the day after Christmas!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
I am Thankful for...Patience!
What a cool last couple of weeks it has been. We had so much fun in Florida, and it was such a neat experience for me. Bobbi and a team of other women comprised mostly of bass pro wives ran a relay race across the state of Florida...that's 200 miles! I am so proud of my wife, and was so pumped to be a part of her race and to be there to cheer her on! The race started at 6 a.m. on Friday the 19th and ended at 6 p.m. on Saturday the 20th. Bassmaster.com will have a feature on the event, so if you want to know more about it check it out on there.
As far as deer hunting goes, I am still 0 for 0 on big bucks! I know they're around, and I believe that my patience and persistence will eventually pay off. I just got some pictures of a real nice buck on my trail cam I have set up in LQ, so I am looking forward to running into him sometime soon. The Florida trip gave me an opportunity to take some time off from hunting. I have been hitting the woods so hard lately that I think I really needed a little breather. I approach my deer hunting in the same way that I approach a tournament. Stick with a game plan, be patient, and if what you thought was going to work out doens't then don't be afraid to make adjustments. Unlike most bow hunters, I absolutely love hunting the late season. The last few weeks of December have provided some of my best hunting experiences. So, I am staying optimistic, and am just trying to enjoy the time I get to spend outdoors. It is getting to be the time of year where I need to start redirecting my focus to the upcoming season...and the classic! I'm nowhere close to hanging my bow up yet, but I am going to be spending more time preparing for what's to come. We'll call it my happy balance between bassin and bowhunting!
Thanksgiving was good for us this year. Pretty uneventful, but did get to spend some quality family time at home, and I am always thankful for that!
As far as deer hunting goes, I am still 0 for 0 on big bucks! I know they're around, and I believe that my patience and persistence will eventually pay off. I just got some pictures of a real nice buck on my trail cam I have set up in LQ, so I am looking forward to running into him sometime soon. The Florida trip gave me an opportunity to take some time off from hunting. I have been hitting the woods so hard lately that I think I really needed a little breather. I approach my deer hunting in the same way that I approach a tournament. Stick with a game plan, be patient, and if what you thought was going to work out doens't then don't be afraid to make adjustments. Unlike most bow hunters, I absolutely love hunting the late season. The last few weeks of December have provided some of my best hunting experiences. So, I am staying optimistic, and am just trying to enjoy the time I get to spend outdoors. It is getting to be the time of year where I need to start redirecting my focus to the upcoming season...and the classic! I'm nowhere close to hanging my bow up yet, but I am going to be spending more time preparing for what's to come. We'll call it my happy balance between bassin and bowhunting!
Thanksgiving was good for us this year. Pretty uneventful, but did get to spend some quality family time at home, and I am always thankful for that!
Saturday, November 13, 2010
November News
I've been hunting a whole lot this month, but still haven't put one on the ground. Seen a few good ones, but haven't had the shots. To take a buck here at Lake Quivira you have to earn it, so to speak. We have implemented an "earn a buck" program, where in order to shoot a buck you must first harvest 5 does. I need to shoot 2 does this season before I can shoot a buck, and even the does are giving me nothing to work with! Oh well, I live for this time of year, and I just know that sooner or later I'm going to cross paths with the right critters.
BASS just recently announced that there will be a classic berth for the winner of the College Bass Championship starting in 2012. I hope my guys at KSU get to work so that they can have a shot at being a part of it! Alot of the elite series anglers have mixed emotions about this sort of stuff, but in all honesty this is the best way to grow and perpetuate the sport and its industry.
Next week I am going to be rooting for Bobbi and several other fisherman's wives as they relay race across Florida. These girls have been preparing for this for a long time, and I am really excited to show my support for them. I think it will be pretty cool to switch rolls, Bobbi the competitor and me her support. We will be back in time for Thanksgiving, and back in time to get in on the tail end of the rut!
BASS just recently announced that there will be a classic berth for the winner of the College Bass Championship starting in 2012. I hope my guys at KSU get to work so that they can have a shot at being a part of it! Alot of the elite series anglers have mixed emotions about this sort of stuff, but in all honesty this is the best way to grow and perpetuate the sport and its industry.
Next week I am going to be rooting for Bobbi and several other fisherman's wives as they relay race across Florida. These girls have been preparing for this for a long time, and I am really excited to show my support for them. I think it will be pretty cool to switch rolls, Bobbi the competitor and me her support. We will be back in time for Thanksgiving, and back in time to get in on the tail end of the rut!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Autumn Update
Wow! I've been so wrapped up in deer hunting that I have completely spaced out my blog! I just got home from being in the stand all day. No bucks on the ground yet, but I did see a couple of shooters, just no shots. That's the way it goes though. I didn't really want to be done with the season anyway, because I just got started!
I got my boat from last year's elite season sold! Which is a big relief for me. I took the wrap off the boat and truck by myself, which I haven't done before. I sold the boat down in Louisiana, with the help of some friends down there. Now I'm making room for my new boat, and working on new sponsorship opportunities. I got to get all of the companies that will be on the new wrap figured out, which is always some work but fun all at the same time.
Been crappie fishing quite a bit lately. Have caught 250 out on LQ since the last blog post. These fish are just stacked up and ready to eat!
Let's see, since the last post we had halloween with the kids, which is always fun watching them on a sugar rush...
BASS was officially sold to the Jerry McKinnis group, which ultimately I think is a good thing. The Elite tournaments and the Classic will still air on ESPN, but now it will all be done under new "management".
I got my boat from last year's elite season sold! Which is a big relief for me. I took the wrap off the boat and truck by myself, which I haven't done before. I sold the boat down in Louisiana, with the help of some friends down there. Now I'm making room for my new boat, and working on new sponsorship opportunities. I got to get all of the companies that will be on the new wrap figured out, which is always some work but fun all at the same time.
Been crappie fishing quite a bit lately. Have caught 250 out on LQ since the last blog post. These fish are just stacked up and ready to eat!
Let's see, since the last post we had halloween with the kids, which is always fun watching them on a sugar rush...
BASS was officially sold to the Jerry McKinnis group, which ultimately I think is a good thing. The Elite tournaments and the Classic will still air on ESPN, but now it will all be done under new "management".
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