Cast and Blast - 2018 Edition

The trout season is ending, the bird season has started, it's "Cast and Blast" time in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The idea is to hunt for Grouse and catch trout in the same day.

Uncle Sid and Grandpa George

An almost annual event, we've been making this attempt since 2007, and generally with umm... limited results. Usually it's me and brother Harlan making the attempt. This year, Brian and I continued the tradition:

Brian and Mike

 Over two days we tried a couple of locations around the family River property, with the usual results. SPOILER ALERT: No grouse. No fish. But we did come away with a couple of stories.

Deer corn to bait the trail cam..

The adventure often starts with a supply run at the Little Store on 581

The basic food groups to sustain us. 

Wendy didn't want to loan us her new SUV, but we needed high clearance after the rain.

The road into Lil' Camp

Gearing up

First, we went looking for birds...

Then we reloaded the trail cam batteries and feeder...

Finally down to the river for some fishing...

Reviewing the day with beer and cigars.

I promised stories. 

First, a Fish Story:
Brian is unfamiliar with river fishing. I set him up with a small spinner and piece of worm at a known fishing hole on the river. On his second cast (seen in the video below) he snags the bottom. I instruct him to wade upstream to try to free the snag. He successfully frees the snag, and as he begins reeling in the lure is immediately hit by a fish. It's a monster brown trout that jumps completely out of the water and throws the hook. I have not yet put a line in the water and see it all from shore. It was the only fish we would see all day. 

Second, a Bird Story:

We spent a couple hours in the river and got out of the water at dusk. After striking out all day, we make our way back up to camp, stow our gear and head back. We are driving along a muddy two rut road with open fields on both sides. The headlights are on, and there, on the road in front of us, we flush a grouse. It flies 50 feet up the road and lands in the middle of the road. There are two more grouse there. I tell Brian "Stop the car... get the shotgun."  While he is unloading the gun, I'm keeping eyes on the bird, then I see it - headlights from an approaching car directly in front of us on the two rut road. I have never seen an approaching car on this road. But... there will be no shot. We put the gun away and drive home. 

We decide to come back the next morning and this time bring Tucker:

 

Second verse, same as the first. A little bit louder and a little bit worse. No birds, many picture, and a fun day.

Cast and Blast - 2016 Edition

It's the last day of the trout season and the beginning of the bird season. Time for another "Cast and Blast"  attempt on the Escanaba property.  Harlan and Brian has had some limited success in the "blast" part of this particular endeavor in the past. I have only occasionally succeeded in the "cast" part. This time, I didn't get much of either. But a day in the woods and on the river is always a good day. Selected pics...

Looking for grouse

Not a trout.

Another Walk in the Woods

It's been a couple years since our last sojourn on the family "five forties" timberland. We're approaching time for another selective cut and thought we should take a look and do a little exploring. It's also grouse season, so - an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone - so to speak.  Of course, based on our past hunting experience, we are speaking figuratively, not literally.

Beautiful day, fall color is peaking, and the dog could not be more excited.

 Lets call it a 5 mile hike to photo document the land.  Trying to capture the majesty of a forest in a photograph is always a challenge. Panoramas are probably the closest we can get.  Some pics from the day:

This is not a Volvo ad. But it could be. 

Beaver dam and pond

Beaver art

A large stand of maple

Actual conversation on the hike:

"Did you hear that? That was a grouse." 

"No. That was me farting." 

"Oh."

As per usual, no grouse were harmed in the production of this photo shoot.

Fall Visit to Shag Lake - Crew Three

Crew Three - Except for Zach and Maverick

Crew Two - Robyn and Katie - depart early Friday morning.

Crew Two - Except for Katie who refused to participate in the early morning Photo Op.

 Wendy, Dad and I do some fishing and manage to actually land a few pike under a dramatic fall sky.

[Click panorama to bigify]

 We find it helps to use a fishing net as opposed to a butterfly net when bringing fish on the boat.

Finally. A properly netted pike.

I guess I shouldn't make him hold the fish so long while I line up the shot.

Zach, Kristy and Maverick arrive around 1:00 AM early Saturday. Zach departs by 5:00 AM for the opening of the duck season.

Got one.

He was back in time for more fishing.

We stole his fishing pole and lures for the balance of the trip.

Zach's parents - Jake and Wendy - arrive Saturday evening for another family feast along with neighbors Larry, Cathy and Parker.

 [SPACE RESERVED FOR PICTURES NOT TAKEN BY WENDY KRISTY AND ZACH]

 I would have included more pictures here, however I was driving out to the Escanaba property when dinner was served (separate post - stay tuned) and apparently I was the only one to bother to snap a picture while they were here. This is it. I don't even have any pictures of Maverick.

In any case, we enjoyed Wendy (O's) stuffed pasta shells for dinner, accompanied by an extraordinary selection of deserts from Wendy (P) included frosted apple squares, cherry pie, blueberry pie, and selection of cookies.   It was all great.

Zach takes off duck hunting again early Sunday. Wendy and Kristy depart late morning. They leave me an enormous pile of dishes. But I am not complaining. I am not even going to mention it.

Dad and I have the cabin to ourselves for first time since we arrived.  We spend some quality time watching the Bears blow another game they should have won.

Shouldn't someone lose a job after this choke?

"Stupid or bad. No matter where you looked, the Bears played stupid or bad in Carolina on Sunday. Sometimes stupid and bad. The Bears could’ve walked through the beaten-up and badly beaten Panthers team Sunday. But no. They chose stupid and bad.

Jay Cutler threw two interceptions, both awful. One went into double-coverage, the other went high over the middle for itty-bitty Santonio Holmes. Matt Forte fumbled inside the Bears 25 in a tie game with less than five minutes to go. The offensive line gave up sacks on two of the last three plays, the latter causing a hope-killing fumble."

Why yes. Yes they should.  Two of the Bears three losses are against doormat teams where the Bears blew a lead.  I can't believe I am saying this, but Trestman is making me nostalgic for Lovie Smith.

Might as well go fishing.