Thank you for yet another shout-out, Keymaster. It is great to be back amongst comrades, and as I supposed, great to be back amongst articles which enlighten and educate.
I indeed have been on sabbatical due to health issues and am more than happy to have been the victor in these circumstances to say the least. I can only thank minds brighter than mine for the science, medicine and the stalwart dedicated spirit of those who occupy our medical fields for the purpose of keeping us alive. There are things without name or grasp that somehow play a role as well. Call them fate, god, circumstance, or sturdy Polack genes, but all were instrumental. That, and those we are lucky enough to call friends. I am grateful for all of the aforementioned.
I am grateful too, to return to a place with so many like-minded individuals who share a kindred spirit. Being able to have a voice in such a place is unprecedented, and in a time with such troubling social developments; imperative.
I see that so many other members are in temporary absence as well. We can only trust that all are doing as they see most fit, and that they are indeed going their own way. Thankfully, those of us who go our own way are able to visit refuge at this place during our respective journeys. I look forward to reconnecting with all who are in absence, as they’ve made an impact in our lives. Some footprints wash away in the sand, while others stay indelible; a mark of not only the passage of time, but of wisdom accrued.
I do plan to do a little fishing this year and I’m glad you’ve shared that photo, Keymaster. I am currently working on a few writing projects and will be taking a couple of months off out of my industry. Due to oil prices, my industry is for the moment fairly decimated anyway. Fishing is a priority as it is every year of my life. If there’s ever been a timeless, therapeutic form of meditation for me, it’s fishing. Some of my fondest memories in life revolve around outings. I really miss my home province at times. The fishing in Northwestern Ontario is really second to none, as is the hunting. While I no longer partake in the latter, I’ve considered purchasing a black powder flintlock muzzle-loader as a kit to build this year. I think it would be fun to travel back to Ontario and go for a deer in black-powder season. I’ve not checked current regs to see if such things are still possible, but I bet it would be a very nice challenge. There are a pile of white-tail and mulies in my current province, but it isn’t even fair to call it hunting. There are great big damned fields in this province, and you can see for miles across them. The deer don’t stand a chance. As my grandfather said to me, while in similar circumstances: “I’ll hunt deer like this, when the deer have rifles”.
I do believe that catching a few walleye is in order, although the regulations around my neck of the woods have become so stringent that believe it or not, one must apply for a “tag” in this province (lottery style, much like deer or moose season) in order to keep pickerel. Upon winning and the subsequent paying for of this “tag”, one is then allowed to keep ONE walleye, from a set of eight designated lakes. ONE. Coming from a place where the base limit was six walleye, I hardly find it worth my time around here. We do have a world-class trout fishery here in the Bow River network though. Flyfishing is big around here, and one can fairly follow the Bow from the grasslands of this province, straight into the watersheds of the Rockies where the river gives rise.
I like your classic crawler harness rig in that photo Keymaster: I have had particular luck with that configuration, especially with that Red Devil pattern. Chartreuse has also been of particular luck to me, especially in murkier waters. Man, you make me want to firing up the cast-iron frying pan just seeing that photo. That’s still hands down my favourite fish to eat, although when deboned properly, a northern pike holds a very close second, and they way I cook it you wouldn’t know you weren’t eating a walleye. I’ve never caught a small mouthed on that configuration though! I’ve had much more luck in those circumstances with a top-water rig!
Great photo. Gonna have to do some posting of the same this year!
Cheers.
EscapedMentalPatient 4 years, 7 months ago.
If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.
