Wiles Supports our Troops!

 We had a great visit last night with some of my favorite people.  Chris, Amanda and family.  Sure was nice to have all of them at the house.  Next time I hope they stay longer so we can do some "outside stuff" together.  A great bunch of folks, for sure! 
 

My Buddy Wiles, wearing his ARMY ball-cap.  Nick would be proud!
This kid is tougher than a Buffalo.  Never cries!  Future Army recruit??
Sure wish he could have been fishing with me tonight.



Best one of the night. Over 24".  Only caught 2 though.
Hopefully more this weekend.   



Murray Sunrise.  I hope you enjoy it.



A Cormorant on the docks at Lake Murray

 

Thank God for Lake Murray!!

  Great night on Lake Murray! I left at 6 and was back home by 8.  Saw some beautiful skies as a storm rolled in. And caught a few fish as a bonus!
 

This doesn't do tonight's sky justice.
It was absolutely gorgeous tonight!!!




Ever wonder why they call 'em Stripers?
Caught 4 of these as I watched the beautiful skies roll in!
 PERFECT!

  

He clearly has "small-fish" complex!
WHAT was he thinking??



As these clouds got closer, and as the lightning started flashing,
I figured it was time to quit holding a graphite rod up in the air and get off the lake!





Endorsements

Hey!  This stuff works.  I tried it on an 18 hour drive to Oklahoma and again on a 10 hour drive to Ohio.

Officially, one day I got 8 hours of energy. Another day, I only got 5 hours of energy. So the label is misleading.  It should say 6.65-hour Energy......JUST KIDDING!! I normally get a rubber neck after a few hours of driving. Not so, after 5-hour Energy!  This stuff kept me alert and driving. 

Slinky Undone!

The recent trip to Ohio was a LOT of FUN. I needed the R & R, for sure!  Something about being IN nature seems to keep me sane. I was wound up tighter than a Slinky before I left.

Below are a few pics from the trip.  As you might notice, there aren't a lot of fish photos.  Welllllll, that's because.......I didn't catch many fish.  But hey! Who wants to see a bunch of fish anyway? The good news for you?...that didn't stop me from pushing the button on my camera!

This sums up my stress level during the trip!



The New River was muddy but I eventually found this clear feeder stream.
....a lucky find! It prevented the dreaded fishing shutout. 

  

I caught 4 smallmouth in 1 small area of the stream above.
.....a GREAT morning before the drive to Ohio.




A sandy beach on the shores of Lake Erie.
Look!  I'm taller than a lighthouse!!

 


One of the great things about kayaking is that 
you can get very close to mother nature. 

 



....just before she decided I was too close and went airborne. 
How is this for "god's camo"?
This great blue heron blends in well.

  

You stay there, I'll stay here.....OK? 
If you zoom in you can see part of another
snake in the gap between the boulders.

 

They don't let jet skiers get this close!
That is brother Jim and a white heron on Lake Erie.



 See Waldo (Jim again) in the Lilly Pads?
Does this look like a good idea to you?
Did you see Mr. Snake in an earlier photo?

 
Well that's about enough to put y'all to sleep.  I will post more about my family and a few other "goodies" regarding the trip at another time.  Stay tuned!   





"Pet Lamps"

I just had a great idea!  When your favorite pet dies, you can turn the little gem into a lamp and enjoy him/her forever!  What an enlightening thought!! 

Actually, I am not that mean.  Hunter just had some surgery on his.......well......."man parts" and this device keeps him from licking his.....ahhhh.........."wounds".  

Wouldn't this floor lamp brighten any family room?

I wonder where I should mount the switch......

ARTNR

 "Always Remember The New River" ....that's what I told myself when I left it last September.  Although I only had a couple days on the river, I had an AWESOME time. The trip is branded in my memory forever.  It was soooooo good, that I am headed back in a couple days, fishing a different stretch of water.  Hopefully I'll catch a few more smallmouth bass like the one pictured below.

My real destination is Ohio, but I plan to spend another night on the "New" as I work my way north.  I will camp one night along the river, fish the next morning, then pack up and hit the road.  The next few days will be spent fishing different waterways in Ohio with my brother, Jim.  I hope to post some good pictures and video when I return. So, stay tuned.... and I hope you miss me while I am gone.  XOXO! 

The fishing was good but the stops along the river were spectacular.

Nice smallmouth bass from the New River in Virginia. September 2010
Pflueger reel, Fenwick rod, Berkley PowerBait

City Slickers II

Well, here's another DUH sign. This Deer is a bit skinny.  He certainly hasn't been in my yard eating sunflowers!  This guy looks more like a Greyhound to me.  And one more thing....the rack is RONG! The tallest tines are generally in the back, shortest in the front.  And does this Buck have a beak? Maybe it's a GreyDeerPecker Xing Sign..........Hmmmm?