I have to admit I had no clue what to expect, but my first hard water trip was just way to much fun. The fishing was great, but the complete trip was what made the memory. I had many babysitters on this trip who went out of their way to make sure I was doing things correctly, and helping me with rods, bait, advice, etc.
Saturday was the best day, and I got to see Ohmaha(Josh) pull a Reggie Jackson World Series moment as he pulled WE after WE out of the same hole, including one that he shared with a young boy so he could get the experience also. I thought that was a very classy move, until he walked half a mile down the ice to pick up minnows for everybody else. That was classier. And Yolk Sac(Dave), on his first ice trip also, who shared the hole to begin with what may have been the classiest move.
Add to that day Chief Todd, dragging all his propane cooking gear out in the middle of a lake to home cook us another great meal of clam/crappie chowder, perfectly seasoned pork chop sandwiches, and all the fixings.
My moment to remember was Friday evening when Nate, in the middle of a thunderstorm, moved me to a hut that Justin and Jarred(sp) were fishing, and I got to use the Aqua-Vu camera to see a huge BG slowly swim in from the distance, and grab my jig. It was definitely a "Jaws" moment, and one I'll never forget. I had a completely successful trip at that moment.
Just as a public service announcement type thing, never ever get between Sprkplug(Tony) and his fish. He may be one of the most intense fisherman I have ever seen. I've got a pic somewhere of him hunkered over Friday evening in the middle of the pond by himself in total concentration. There's a reason he catches so many fish.
Bruce may post more pics of other fish, as he repeatedly stopped fishing to take pics of everybody's fish.
Finally, the Herman family including Chef Todd, are some of the kindest and most sharing people I have ever met. Everything was handled to a tee, and I would make that long drive again in a heartbeat. I've never felt so welcomed before.
TJ, you did a great job setting this all up.
