Fly Fishing Bubba!!

Saturday, May 23, 2009
One day your a Bass Fishin' Bubba and two days after some expert instruction you're promoted to the Fly Fishing Department!!
hahahahahahahahahahahahha..........not really!! Gord just asked me if I could mind the store while he went for his break.


I do look pretty good and knowledgeable don't I.......................NOT!!!

Here I am enjoying the latest issue of Fly Fisher magazine!


Well it was good for a laugh anyway!

34th AIBCBGEBP

Wednesday, May 20, 2009
34th Annual Invitational Bass Classic Banquet, Gala Event & Birthday Party!!

Tonight was our planning event for our 34th Annual Invitational Bass Classic! It was also Orca's 64th Birthday Party!
I have never seen a Vice-President in charge of the Treasury do such an unbelievable job! The first thing everyone does (including myself) is reach for their wallet as soon as they enter the room to pay Willy their deposit! Unbelievable!!
Here's BIG MAC handing over the cash.


SoloGill


A bit of a double pump as I give Moe my deposit for the FishGuts Fall Classic as he is giving Bill his 34th deposit.


Rookie (and defending Champion) Steve palming his and his Dad's deposit.


Lots of laughs tonight, especially over SoloGill's faggy beer glass! hahahahahahaha!


Moe volunteered to collect $10 from everyone for tonight's $49M+ 649. I wonder what time the limo picks me up in the morning??


Another great event with some great buddies! Lots of laughs!


37 Days to Go until a Fisherman's Christmas!!!!!!

Knocked Off Another One!!!!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009
One of my "50 Things To Do Before I Die" (Bucket List) is to learn how to Fly Fish. Part 1 of that venture happened back in March when I purchased a fly rod and reel. I reported it here.

Today was the day of my Fly Fishing Lesson from my good friend and fellow Bass Pro Associate, Michael Wong, a Canadian Champion Fly Fisherman and also a Certified Fly Fishing Instructor!
I met Mike at The Ponds which are located on #48 Hwy just north of Mount Albert. Mike was not his usual jovial self. He was obviously very focused, knowing that he was about to take on one of the biggest challenges he has ever faced. He was about to try and tame and mentor Bubba Bassman!! Can you teach an old Redneck Dog new tricks????????

Mike immediately swung into action, laying out cones at 30, 40 and 50 feet.


After learning some very basic and very valuable tips about assembling my rod, reel and line, Mike started demonstrating the basics of casting.
Oh my God!!! I really was in the presence of a MASTER!!!! Mike started his fluid motion and kept extending his cast further and further..... 30 feet....40 feet....50 feet....60 feet!!!! I have to admit, it really was a beautiful thing to watch! He did it so effortlessly!!


Okay, now it was BUBBA's turn. Thank God there were no pictures and thank God I was only casting a piece of yarn on the end of my line!!! NO having to dig hooks out of the back of my head!!!!
After reviewing hand, wrist, arm, shoulder, body positioning, rod position, etc, etc, Mike took the Master's chair (well out of range) and quietly corrected and encouraged me. "Nice and Easy"..... "Just like a pendulum"........"That's Good!"........"10 to 12, not 10 to 2"........."tight loops!"......


After a few hours of waxing and waning and hauling (only us fly fishermen understand these terms), it was time to put on a "real fly" and try my luck in the water. Here's a partial display of some of Michael's fabulous creations. You can see some dry flys, wet flys, woolie buggers and streamers.


Now there was more to learn! How to cast and work the fly, roll casting, false casting, how to hold your rod and peel your line back, how to set the hook, play the fish and land and release him!!
Michael got it started landing the first trout.


This is the first Rainbow in my life. A beautiful fish that was quickly photoed and released.


Not long after it was followed by a second!! A little bigger.


It was getting on in the day, but Mike kept saying "One more fish"!!
After a couple of more, I latched into my biggest of the day! This guy peeled off line several times and gave me a great fight!




It was a beautiful rainbow and a great way to end a fabulous day.


As we left The Ponds, I thought that I might feel a little "Light on my Feet" and worried that I might pull into a Starbucks on the way home for a "Wapae-Frappe-Faggae-Latte Grande"!!!!!
But not to worry!!! NO such feelings came over me!!
I stopped into a Timmies on the way home for a Large Double Double!! Life was still good!!

Thanks Mike for all your patience and a very special day!! I can't believe how much I learned. You are an amazing instructor as well as a good friend!!

Wings & Things

Friday, May 15, 2009
Chris and I went to Rosedale VW to pick up her baby. It's handle (others would call it a spoiler or wing) finally came in and was added. Chris is sure that it goes faster now (remember when you got a new pair of running shoes and how much faster you could run!!).
I think it would make a great coffee holder. Isn't it cute!!



Went from there to get my hair cut.
I called to make an appointment and found out that Barry had a 12:00. Great, I should get there a few minutes before Barry and surprise him and pi$$ him off when he has to wait for me first.
First a quick stop at the drive-thru bank machine. The damned bank machine gave me half of a $20 bill so I quickly go into the bank to get it replaced. Holy crap!! it took me over 20 minutes to get it replaced inside!!! arrrghhhhh!!!
Sorry no pictures of Barry in the chair. Went for a quick Timmies with Barry and on the way back to my car who do I see pounding down a sausage in front of Canadian Tire??? It's Doc Jewett!!......... fellow Tromper!! Stopped and had a good chat with him once he finished working on his lunch 8O)


Finished the night by driving the now faster BUG down to Kelseys in St. Catharines for some of those tasty Sea Salt and Pepper Wings mmmmmmmmmm!!!!

Green Ribbons & Yellow Belts

Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Today was a big day for the Krazy Kids, especially Miranda. We got a call this morning that Miranda had qualified for the final heat of the 100 yard dash for Field Day. We went over to the school to share in the excitement.
Miranda who is in Grade 5 was up against all Grade 6 competitors. She did herself proud and was in the race right to the end (wearing purple). It was a real photo finish and the Grade 6ers just narrowly edged her out.


She got a lot of congrats and support from her friends.


That was followed up tonight with a significant accomplishment. Both girls received their Yellow Belts in Karate. This was not a given as most students did not receive a belt. Both Miranda & Maddy (and their friends) have been working very hard and received a real reward tonight for their efforts.

First they put on a demo...




And then the night finished with a very nice ceremony.
Sensei Lisa Robinson is a 5th degree Black Belt and an incredible instructor!




Miranda finished first in a competition with all the other white belts a few weeks ago (Maddy finished 4th which was equally impressive) and then went on to finish 1st in a regional competition.


Miranda is seen here acknowledging the other Sensei's. The girl she is bowing to is Sensei Robinson (Lisa's daughter) who put on an amazing demonstration tonight. I was impressed, awed and scared all at the same time!


Here are what Sensei Robinson calls the 5 chicks. The girls are all good friends and all started out together and have been rewarded for their persistence and acquired skills.


Congratulations Girls!!!

Out and About

Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Started the day by picking up my buddies Barry & Moe for a coffee and a lunch trip to Bayfront Park to check for spawning bass.


There wasn't much action, but spotted this lunker hiding under some of the brush. I think we were a week or two too soon.


Next stop was to see my barber Angelo and get a hair cut. It turns out that he is in the process of moving to his new location at the Centre Mall (or whatever they call it these days). He said that he'd be open at his new location on Thursday.
Looks to me like the construction boys better pick up the pace!


Next stop was Lowes to pick up some electrical parts for the basement and whose car do I see in the parking lot??????


Chris was checking out carpet with her Mother for her condo.
I went for a coffee with them and then went back to Mae's to do some rough measuring for carpet.
She's still thinking about it..........


Then on to Kelsey's (where else) to meet Chad an old (loose term) co-worker that I haven't seen for about a year. Chad was one of the gifted young folks at Dofasco that I enjoyed working with so much and he spent a year in Europe with parent company Arcelor Mittal performing the same magic globally that he was doing at Dofasco. We got together to celebrate his escape from Arcelor-Mittal-Dofasco!!! He is leaving at the end of the month and moving onto bigger and better things.
We had a great time catching up over wings and beer and it was great to be able to sit outside.


Besides his highly successful IT career, Chad is probably most famous for recording FishGuts first CD (Big FishGuts Debut) in his studio Drink Your Head Off Studios......... okay , okay actually, Put On Your Drinking Cap Studios
Good luck in your next career Chadster, although I know that is already a given.

Congratulations "BIG MAC"

Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Got together on Tuesday with a few of the old Silicon Lab/Bass Classic Retiree's Club and our wives to welcome our good buddy Steve Macanowicz and his wife Chris as new members. BIG MAC retired last month. These are guys that I worked with over 35 years ago in the Silicon Lab at Dofasco and have also enjoyed their company and fellowship at the Annual Bass Classic (34th Annual this year)!
We had a great lunch and gab session at Kelsey's for over 3 hours!


From left to right: Mary & Bill Calder, Chris Macanowicz, Jean Kennedy, Paul Kennedy, BIG MAC, myself and my Chris.
Congratulations Steve & Chris! May you have many happy and healthy years together.

Another First!

Saturday, May 2, 2009
Well, first it was Cat Fishing and now today it was Perch Fishing. Never in my life have I targeted Perch! I had taken the day off from Bass Pro Shop to go to Orillia for the Perch Festival with son Paul and my Grandson Evan.
We rendezvoused at Bass Pro and got on Lake Couchiching in the early afternoon.


The highlight (??????) of my day was a "Double Header" of Sunfish!!!!


The weather forcast didn't play out as it was supposed to. We were challenged with wind, heavy chop, overcast and rain all day. 8O(


Evan is a trooper and never complained about any of it. In fact he loved the bumpy ride back to the launch (Oh, to have a young back again!).
We drove to the Park where you entered your fish for the day. All that was required was one perch from each entrant to be entered for the daily draw. Evan is a seasoned pro and was quick to get the weigh bag filled with water draining from the livewell.


He insisted on carrying the fish to the entry stand.


Where they were dumped into a net......


And then into the tank. Notice the two perch looking at Evan.


We didn't catch anywhere near the perch that Paul & Evan caught two weeks ago, but we still had a great day!
Maybe I'll try another new species next.......... stay tuned!!!

Rest in Peace my Friend

Friday, May 1, 2009
Last week I lost a good friend and co-worker in Rick Tozer.
I first heard he was sick on February 18 and mentioned him in my blog. Rick was an inspiration to me. I first really got to work with him on the NT project in 1997. He was named Project Manager and I was made Test Lab Manager. It was a daunting task to convert close to 4000 machines from Windows 3.1 over to NT. The only reason that we got the job was that no one else wanted to do it! Everyone thought that it would fail. The project ended up being a total success, thanks in large part to Rick's energy and leadership. I could go on for hours with stories about that.



The picture above was a bi-product of that project. We had to fly down to Dallas to attend an SMS conference. The only thing I remember about the conference was the "NO HANDGUNS BEYOND THIS POINT" sign at the entrance to the conference center!
What I do remember was the quality time that I spent with Rick and all the laughs we had. Ask me sometime about our experience at the Book Repository where Lee Harvey Oswald shot President Kennedy.
It was cheaper for Dofasco to have us stay till Sunday, which allowed us time to attend Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs between Dallas and Edmonton where Andy Moog and Curtis Joseph put on a goalie clinic which Edmonton won 1-0 in double overtime for a major upset.
We went straight from the arena to Lake Fork, Texas, home of some of the biggest bass in the State!! We had hired a guide and spent a hairy day (included a huge Texas thunderstorm) bombing between the flooded trees at 70 mph!!
The picture above was taken at the restaurant we stopped at after a great week and a great day of fishing. I remember getting a huge steak dinner and Rick had all you can eat catfish. I don't think the bill came to $20!! He talked about that for years. It was a great culmination to a fabulous trip with a fabulous buddy!!
Rick has been on my mind since I heard of his illness (pancreatic cancer). He was only 47 and leaves behind a wonderful daughter Samantha and his dear wife Maria. Please have his family in your prayers.
While the last two months have been a real downer, I will choose to remember Rick for all his energy and all the good times. I already miss his Moose Jerky and his regaling of fishing stories with his brother Bill.
Rest in Peace my Friend . You still live on in our hearts.

The One That Started It All!

Thursday, April 30, 2009
In an effort to get my basement jump started again, I've been purging in order to make room to maneuver down there. You have to understand that I have saved records since we first got married in 1970, so I've been coming across many interesting things.
One of them was this picture.


This is not Chris' BUG, but in fact the one that started it all back in 1998 when the boys and I rented this one for the weekend for her birthday.
It hasn't changed much! Wish we could say the same for ourselves!!!

Cheers!

Monday, April 27, 2009
Ran around doing errands on Monday and ended up at Red Lobster for lunch. The waitress says "Are you on a time limit?"
That's when it hits you!!!
"No ma'am we're not!!
Cheers!!!