Outdoorsmen have to take the good with the bad
Expectations run high in the minds of outdoorsmen, especially the day before a season opens. Sometimes these high hopes can be shattered by the following days’ weather conditions.
This past Sunday was one of those days for my hunting crew, The Quack Assassins. We live to waterfowl hunt, and enjoy bringing family and friends along for the experience. It was just one of those days you keep repeating, these days are what makes the good ones that much better.
Hopes were running high, as with every first day of September goose season. We were unable to locate birds the night before, which tells you where to set up in the morning. Typically, geese return to the field you saw them in the previous evening. We had concerns that the birds may not show up, but had hopes other hunters would push them in our direction.
We met at my place at 5 a.m., and headed to a green field to set up. On the way through the field, my friend Jared Meek's son Evan commented that his legs were soaked. We had walked less than 80 yards, and the wet grass had already drenched our legs. We set up as quickly as possible, due to hoards of mosquitoes’ relentless mobbing. We lit our thermal bug repellents and got into our layout blinds, which cover your entire body. Without this system, we would be run out of the field before the birds started to fly.
The sun began to rise, and it looked to be the beginning of a good hunt. As the minutes turned into hours without even hearing anything, our expectations began to dwindle. The typical conversation on days like these tends to revolve around two topics: The first is where the target species could be, and if and when they will show up. The second is reminiscing upon the successful hunts of the past. We enjoyed the morning with many stories laughs and jokes until it became apparent that we were wasting our time.
Just before throwing in the towel, I received a message from my buddy, Jim Root. He wanted to know if I felt like heading out to do some fishing in the evening. After the morning’s struggle, a change of pace was exactly what I needed. We met at 5 p.m. to find a glassy lake with no traffic or competition. We packed up the boat, and motored out to begin fishing. Only seconds after dropping anchor, I hooked a nice smallmouth bass on the first cast. By this time, the recreational boaters began to circle the lake like a pack of hungry wolves.
We moved in toward shore to avoid the traffic, and dropped anchor again. I immediately saw a bunch of perch just below the boat in the weeds. I opted to switch to a small jig, and begun to catch or get a bite nearly every cast. That was until so many boaters hit the water, that the wakes were threatening to submerse our small vessel. I spent the next two hours attempting to fish, but mostly maneuvering the boat into oncoming wakes to prevent being drowned out or capsized. By the time the sun set and the boaters were docked for the night, the fish had stopped biting. Jim and I caught nearly 30 fish, and went home happy considering the conditions.
Jared called not long after I arrived home to plan the next morning’s activities. Being that the a.m. goose hunt was so uneventful, we decided to hit the lake to try and get into the pan fish again. Evan only had two days left before school started, so putting him through another slow hunt was not a good idea. We met at 6 a.m. and headed to where the perch had been the day before. It was instant action – a mixed bag of bluegills and perch. We were catching them left and right, when the clouds moved in and it begun to pour. It wasn't a total bust, Evan caught the biggest bluegill and perch of the day. Even at such a young age, he has learned to take the experience as it comes rather than complain, and just laugh it off.
We were soaked by the time distant thunder sent us into shore. It was still an enjoyable outing, even under such unfavorable conditions. Good job being such a trooper Evan, and congratulations on your catch.
Take example from this child, and learn to take the good with the bad. Good wishes, and don't let poor conditions get you down.
Questions or comments about this article may be emailed to Sheldon at sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com or jsheldones@gmail.com.
This past Sunday was one of those days for my hunting crew, The Quack Assassins. We live to waterfowl hunt, and enjoy bringing family and friends along for the experience. It was just one of those days you keep repeating, these days are what makes the good ones that much better.
Hopes were running high, as with every first day of September goose season. We were unable to locate birds the night before, which tells you where to set up in the morning. Typically, geese return to the field you saw them in the previous evening. We had concerns that the birds may not show up, but had hopes other hunters would push them in our direction.
We met at my place at 5 a.m., and headed to a green field to set up. On the way through the field, my friend Jared Meek's son Evan commented that his legs were soaked. We had walked less than 80 yards, and the wet grass had already drenched our legs. We set up as quickly as possible, due to hoards of mosquitoes’ relentless mobbing. We lit our thermal bug repellents and got into our layout blinds, which cover your entire body. Without this system, we would be run out of the field before the birds started to fly.
The sun began to rise, and it looked to be the beginning of a good hunt. As the minutes turned into hours without even hearing anything, our expectations began to dwindle. The typical conversation on days like these tends to revolve around two topics: The first is where the target species could be, and if and when they will show up. The second is reminiscing upon the successful hunts of the past. We enjoyed the morning with many stories laughs and jokes until it became apparent that we were wasting our time.
Just before throwing in the towel, I received a message from my buddy, Jim Root. He wanted to know if I felt like heading out to do some fishing in the evening. After the morning’s struggle, a change of pace was exactly what I needed. We met at 5 p.m. to find a glassy lake with no traffic or competition. We packed up the boat, and motored out to begin fishing. Only seconds after dropping anchor, I hooked a nice smallmouth bass on the first cast. By this time, the recreational boaters began to circle the lake like a pack of hungry wolves.
We moved in toward shore to avoid the traffic, and dropped anchor again. I immediately saw a bunch of perch just below the boat in the weeds. I opted to switch to a small jig, and begun to catch or get a bite nearly every cast. That was until so many boaters hit the water, that the wakes were threatening to submerse our small vessel. I spent the next two hours attempting to fish, but mostly maneuvering the boat into oncoming wakes to prevent being drowned out or capsized. By the time the sun set and the boaters were docked for the night, the fish had stopped biting. Jim and I caught nearly 30 fish, and went home happy considering the conditions.
Jared called not long after I arrived home to plan the next morning’s activities. Being that the a.m. goose hunt was so uneventful, we decided to hit the lake to try and get into the pan fish again. Evan only had two days left before school started, so putting him through another slow hunt was not a good idea. We met at 6 a.m. and headed to where the perch had been the day before. It was instant action – a mixed bag of bluegills and perch. We were catching them left and right, when the clouds moved in and it begun to pour. It wasn't a total bust, Evan caught the biggest bluegill and perch of the day. Even at such a young age, he has learned to take the experience as it comes rather than complain, and just laugh it off.
We were soaked by the time distant thunder sent us into shore. It was still an enjoyable outing, even under such unfavorable conditions. Good job being such a trooper Evan, and congratulations on your catch.
Take example from this child, and learn to take the good with the bad. Good wishes, and don't let poor conditions get you down.
Questions or comments about this article may be emailed to Sheldon at sheldonsoutdoorbusiness@hotmail.com or jsheldones@gmail.com.
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