Perchmaster February 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm Reply First off nice pics. You know your not suppose to store your auger in the upright position in a hole? Nice looking lake trout I will say and I am sure it was released back into the deep waters of Teggau Lake? What you don’t want to get the fishy house dirty you have to use the tailgate? And as for that walleye I am thinking the one we got this week-end was smaller a very cute little thing but a good thing to see right. Good to see you got out and that white stuff on the ice what do they call that?
Gord February 6, 2012 at 6:17 pm Reply First off……..bend over….I know where I can store that auger! On the lake trout….yes, it was a good one…maybe pushing 10 pounds. Normally not one I would have considered keeping, but since we starting this canning phase I have developed a flaw in my conservation armor. On the other hand you may notice the fish seems bloated and the mouth wide open……for some reason it did not release it’s air bladder like most do…not sure it would have made it anyways. It was still bloated when I took the knife to it. The tailgate seemed better than the kitchen counter. You may have recognized the location of that walleye….one of your normal spring stops in a bay that starts with “S” and is favored by “men”…??? By the way that white stuff is snow. On a more serious topic I think I may have blown the engine on my Bearcat 440…..had to get a tow from Susanne. Probably my punishment for keeping that trout!
Perchmaster February 7, 2012 at 6:39 pm Reply That will teach you, you should know better. Think you got a 10″ blade on that one so it won’t fit !!!! HAHA!!! Nice report anyways even though I was busting your you know
Professor February 7, 2012 at 9:46 am Reply Hi Gord…That’s a nice pile-o-trout you’ve got in the pic. And the inflated trout is impressive. It appears much larger than 10#.You are to be commended for your fishing prowess. However, the report of another blown engine is distressing. I thought you agreed to be vigilant about the use of oil in your engines.
Teal River February 7, 2012 at 11:04 am Reply Nice Laker! Have you taken the little woman south for a respite?
Gord February 7, 2012 at 11:49 am Reply Thanks for the comments. Professor, it turns out that the Arctic Cat has a parts malfunction…..a pin holding the rings in one piston let loose. Apparently a common problem. With 7000 miles on my sled, and no issues thus far, I am prepared to have the cylinder redone and things put back to rights. Besides we do have a “spare” sled. Teal River Brad…..the little woman is taking me south in March. I’ve been working on my 12 pack with a strict diet of fish, beer and various cream filled desserts. I suppose you will be wanting a photo shoot of me in my mesh Speedo to be posted on the Beaver? I will be fishing the Sea of Cortez and will be thinking of those unlucky to be stuck in the winter doldrums… Anyone needing a fishing adventure, let me know….
Perchmaster February 7, 2012 at 6:41 pm Reply You buying? We all would be glad to tag along maybe even buy a beer or 2..
Gord February 7, 2012 at 7:02 pm Reply Come on Perchmaster, let those moths out of your wallet! If you come I’ll buy you the best marguarita on the rocks you will ever have. I have a boat booked for two days of fishing but could extend it if you threw in a few$ !!
Andy February 8, 2012 at 11:29 am Reply Gord, I think I recognize Burnt Island and a channel Keith and Lovita would know well. I would very much like to see Teggau Lake sometime soon. I agree with the professor….that ten pound looks bigger than that. You are to be congratulated on your photography. This could be two consecutive years for me without going ice fishing. Thanks for booking the August trip. Who knows what spring will bring, but I haven’t ruled out an early trip. Perchmaster…drop me a note regarding your dates for the spring! Andy
Perchmaster February 8, 2012 at 6:12 pm Reply Arrive Friday the 18th of May for opening day on Saturday…. Can’t wait!!!! The perch await!!!
Perchmaster February 8, 2012 at 6:13 pm Reply My guess is Keith and Lovita can’t wait to go perching again this year..
Gord February 8, 2012 at 6:48 pm Reply I know that Andy is a secret admirer or the “perch” and due to his weak wrist it is his species of choice…….SO…. should the Andy crew decide to show up opening week, I will sponsor a Perch Madness Week……prize for the biggest (is there such a thing?) perch. Of course, it is self serve at the cleaning shack for those striped bastards………
Perchmaster February 9, 2012 at 5:49 pm Reply I am thinking the winner of the “PERCH MADNESS” week contest should get a FREE stay for 6 day’s at VBL complimants of you Gord…
Gord February 8, 2012 at 8:25 pm Reply While we are on the topic of trout fishing…and I mentioned Teggau Lake… a nearby lake, Buzzard Lake (or on the map called Winnage Lake) is recalled in this email I received from Ron Harris who has a cabin on the West Arm. Ron is a little shy and reluctant to post on the Beaver…..let’s hope we can change that. Anyways, here are some historical recollections from times past…when fishermen were not the sorry state they are today.. Old tale of Buzzard (Winnange) Lake Cira .. 1949. Grandfather’s fishing trip on the labour day weekend. The fishermen, Ted, Joe, Jim, Henry, Bill, left the camp (near Stanley’s Resort), puttered down the lake, in a 16 ft cedar strip boat being powered by an old 5 hp outboard, to the Buzzard portage. There, they pulled their boat up over the portage (using rollers) and proceeded northward on Buzzard Lake to the open lake opposite the northern sand beach, when a severe weather system came down upon them. Grandfather (Ted) fearing the worst, turned about, without so much as wetting a fishing line, and cautiously made his way back to the Buzzard Portage. Here they sought refuge in the MNR cabin in which there was a wood burning stove and wooden bunks. Unfortunately, the boys presence was not appreciated by another couple who also taken refuge there. When the boys wouldn’t leave .. the lady insisted that her husband & she depart and put up a canvas tent in the deluge. The boys spent the night drying out their clothing (they didn’t have raincoats), drinking hot water (one can only boil a handful of tea so long) and using firewood as pillows. The rain ceased overnight. In the morning, Bill was the first up and saw an otter fishing in the bay. The otter had caught & killed a couple of trout which had washed up onto the shore. Bill took these into the cabin where he roasted the fish on top of the wood stove and the boys enjoyed a fresh fish breakfast. The boys then proceeded back up Buzzard, had a successful fishing day. Upon their return to the portage, the honeymooners were gone. The boys then pulled their boat back across the portage (a little easier going downhill), puttering down Eagle to the cabin, where I imagine they had a libation or two. A point to remember … life jackets weren’t there, no rain gear, the outboard required frequent filling of a fuel tank atop of the unit and the boat needed constant bailing in the rough water. The event is about as accurate as I can recall my forefathers recounting. Unfortunately, the MNR cabin is gone. That was History. Ron H
Sturno February 9, 2012 at 4:39 pm Reply I’m a little concerned at the shot of you cleaning fish on the tailgate. Not so much the stability of the board or the tactics utilized with this method, but rather the fact that I don’t see an open can of beer within a 6 foot radius. I thought your beer cooler went hand-in-hand with your cleaning station. Literally. On a small side note….is this canned laker going to be available as a garnish to a cocktail or an appetizer on Sunday night fish fries this summer? One can dream anyway. Be good. RS
Andy February 9, 2012 at 8:51 pm Reply Gord, After a long day of jerking perch you know I need my rest. While I love eating perch, I also enjoy watching you clean perch. It just wouldn’t be the same without this sight. It really pleased me to figure out where we can catch these fish year round!
Gord February 10, 2012 at 8:57 am Reply Perchmaster….regarding the prize you suggest. When you are able to fill the camp opening week, I will consider such a contest. Till then I might spring for a cold O.V. Sturno…Thank you for your concern. In the winter months if I am cleaning fish outside, I generally like to do it as quickly as possible….hence the beverage is likely sitting near a warm fire in the lodge. Re: canned lake trout. Since a canned fish still counts as a fish in your possession, I generally consume these as I go. It is not something you want to stock up on. That being said if there is a jar still available I would be happy to put some on a cracker during cocktail hour. Andrew…always a kidder. Fortunately, due to your debilitating chronic fatigue syndrome, catching more than 6 or 7 of those “bull perch” would be too much of a strain on your noodle-like arms. In the event that you have a big perch day, you can expect that I will set up a bunk right next to the cleaning table where you will be able to rest and clean fish at the same time. Now that is VBL “wow” service!!
Sturno February 10, 2012 at 10:41 am Reply I figured such a response. Apparently you need to drink faster….lord knows, it’s impossible to clean fish any faster than you do.
Professor February 10, 2012 at 11:07 am Reply Andy…Gord makes a nice offer with respect to the bunk next to the cleaning table. However, I think the ergonomics of this solution will only be trouble for you, unless the bunk is properly elevated. I’m thinking that a recliner with a cutting board, attached to the arms, would be better for your wrists, arms and back. And this would make for one heck of a You Tube video as well, perhaps titled, “Total Comfort Fileting”. You coud model it off the video, “Total Orgasm”.
Andy February 10, 2012 at 4:01 pm Reply Gord, I am sure that Mark and Kurt would have no problems with you cleaning all my fish and would not expect such service from the host. I on the other hand am turning in to a grumpy old man and would be in dire need of this service. However, the setup that the Professor describes might work if you had a small (less than 95 pounds) back walker that could relieve my back pain on occasion. Should you advertise for such a position, please emphasize the need for “tender feet”.
Gord February 10, 2012 at 4:26 pm Reply I believe what the Professor is describing could be accomplished by renovating the fish cleaning house with a barber’s chair. In my down time from cleaning fish I could do haircuts, shaves, wax-jobs, Brazilians, etc. It might be a money maker! The only “boat-in” barber shop on Eagle Lake….
Perchmaster February 10, 2012 at 6:05 pm Reply Think you need to get out and do some more fishing, seems as though this topic has woke everyone up. I thought this was a full service camp? Fillet and package and ice of your catch!!!!!
Andy February 11, 2012 at 5:47 pm Reply Perchmaster….excellent point. I don’t see any fine print mentioning perch. If I make it up, I think we can just put the perch in the sink with a copy of his polcy. I m sure that will do the trick. Of course maybe he will sprinkle some salt and vinegar on them and declare them “canned”?
Perchmaster February 11, 2012 at 6:35 pm Reply Yea Andy you know Gord always looking for a way out till you give him a couple of cold one then he loosens up a little. A little snack or 2 don’t hurt either!!!
Gord February 11, 2012 at 6:47 pm Reply “all fine print is subject to change without notice” The advantage of staying in the fish house whilst the cleaning occurs (rather than taking a nap Andy) is you can be assured that none end up down the hole. Perchmaster brings up a valid point….being sociable (ie drinks and snacks) is always appreciated by the Hard Working VBL staff or management. Maybe the sociability that most Wisconsin guests are known for doesn’t extend over to the Madison region? By the way I have seen some of Chuck’s latest perch carvings that would make a killer trophy……should the perch challenge ever materialize……………
Perchmaster February 12, 2012 at 10:53 am Reply Yea I saw your comment on Facebook Gord and they look awesome. Think you should be giving that award out to Mark and myself just for what we have done to promote perching at VBL…. Yea Andy if your napping during cleaning time your missing some qaulity time down at the ol fish house, you can learn lots. Maybe not from Mike as it taskes a few more beers to get him talking…
Perchmaster February 12, 2012 at 5:41 pm Reply Give him a couple of beers sometime you can’t shut em up!!!
Andy February 13, 2012 at 2:09 pm Reply This comment is added just to remind Gord that he found a topic that generated “More than 30 comments”. That and to say that I likely got sucked into a work commitment in D.C. for the week of May 21. I may have to retire early like the Professor. This work crap is getting in the way of fishing. As for Mike….he’s a good fellow. He even had to do fish cleaning last year for a few days while Gord was playing hooky. Now that I think about it Perchmaster, I bet Gord has some commitments the week of May 21, 2012?
Gord February 13, 2012 at 2:54 pm Reply Good point Andy. Could be a busy week, I will have to promote the concept of “freezing your perch whole”. Not only does it look like you caught way more fish, but those innards would make a nice top dressing on the garden. Andy, I’m sad you are not up to a challenge during opening week. If you decide to phone in sick at work, things could be a lot of fun here at the lodge.
Perchmaster February 13, 2012 at 6:34 pm Reply Looks like Andy “CHICKENS OUT” for the second year in a row for a challenge of perching with us. Hey Mike did a lot of cleaning and cleaning of perch to boot last year. He could probably fill those shoes of his father with no problem. We probably could get away with just about anything that week. FREE ROOM AND BOARD!!!!!!!
Neil February 15, 2012 at 11:43 am Reply How is the ice thickness this year? Down by Chicago, we’ve been lucky to have any ice. Any slushy conditions?
Gord February 15, 2012 at 12:28 pm Reply Hi Neil…..we’ve had a mild winter too, but conditions are excellent for ice fishing right now. About 2 feet of ice and maybe a foot of snow. No slush that I have seen. Trout are biting good…….I’ll be fishing hard Friday and Saturday so look for a new post coming soon.
Neil February 16, 2012 at 8:29 pm Reply I’ll be up there on march 3rd. I plan on fishing eagle, and going on some adventures off of deer trail road… Just wanted to make sure there won’t be any trouble with lack of snow or thick ice!
Andy February 20, 2012 at 4:22 pm Reply Neil, We fully expect a progress report including top secret trips off of Deer Trail road. If you write in pig latin it should be safe from the eyes of non-VBL guests. Andy
justin July 15, 2012 at 5:49 pm Reply Gord i would luv to hit some lakers this winter..i live about 16 hours away but i was thinking abour comeing up this year if your intrested in goin out shoot me an emsil..thanks justin!!
Gord July 23, 2012 at 10:56 am Reply Hi Justin……..give me a shout this winter and we can set something up. Email me at vbay@drytel.net
