8.20.11 Fishing with Paul

This morning I took good friend Paul Olson fishing he wanted to see what I was doing to catch fish on DC.  We had met earlier in the month at meetings and said we need to get out.  Met up again and decided on today.  It was a great morning.  Paul pulled in the first 3 fish, a couple nice carry overs.  I got 4 in the boat before 9am and then they turned off and were hitting very lightly and we couldn't net another one.  We stayed out until 10 and then the skiers, wakers and jets were making the water so turbulent we could keep the motor in the water.  We decide to call it and left.  It was a great morning, loads of fun, hope to get out again with him.  Til next time keep smilin'

8.13.11 Bear Lake

Today we ventured to Bear Lake for the Gines reunion.  This will most likely be the last time we make this venture due to the passing of Jim, but Betty felt obligated to attend since we were the host family this year.  We got there around 1pm and met up with Eric and Kim who had brought their boat.  It turned into quite the adventure.  We all played on the water all day and all the toys they brought with them.  Sally skied and tubed, took Maxwell on his first tube ride and he loved it.  I even tried to surf but finally came to the conclusion that being fat and out of shape is not a recipe for success in that situation.  We had a great day and took many pictures and videos the videos are posted on my youtube site.  Til next time keep smilin'

7.24.11 Jimmie Gines

Today heaven gained a great man.  He is my father-in-law, but treated me as a son without hesitation and always made me feel welcomed.  I will miss him greatly.  He taught me many things in the short time I had with him.  He was a great dad, grand dad and great grandpa.  The saddest part of the whole affair was Parker was not able to be there in the end.  Jim gave it a great fight to hold on as long as he could but that damn cancer took over his body too fast, so he didn't make until Parker returned.  They were best friends before Parker left on his mission.  Parker and he would go fishing or riding at least once a week before he left.  He loved the mountains and traveled in them often, he made most of the trails in the West Uintah mountains.  He taught me how to clean my first deer and watched me patiently gut shoot the poor thing at 20 yards, He exclaimed "how the hell do you gut shoot a deer at that range" and then laughed.  I was just happy to have shot a deer finally.  He took me on many adventures and taught me things without ever saying he was.  That was the kind of man he was quiet and knowing.  I remember one time he and I went fishing in my boat we were on Deer Creek and again he was teaching me without saying a whole lot of anything but quietly guiding me through holes he knew were hot.  When all of the sudden he got hit hard and I had never seen him get excited about much but this brought him to hoops and hollars with the best of us.  He landed a nice 4.5 lb Brown, he said "that is the nicest fish I have caught here and anywhere in a very long time".  Yes heaven gained a very good man today and I for one am glad he gave me part of his life and let me be part of his family.  I will miss you greatly "Whiskey" and love you forever.

7.13.11 Deer Creek with Jimmy Lee

This morning I picked up my oldest son Jimmy Lee and we went to Deer Creek for a few hours on the lake.  It was pretty slow but we did finally find some fish mostly small planter bows.  We fished the usual pattern in the bay and then went down roadside cliffs.  That is when it turned into an adventure.  I had to relieve myself so I pulled us into a nice secluded cove and started to do business and then Jimmy says well I have to as well and commenced to do business but when he got started he leaned out over the edge of the boat and then fell in the lake, got hung up on his shorts and the boat started to take on water we were in about 6 inches of water so I was yelling just stand up not knowing he was hung up.  Water was still pouring in over the side so I grabbed him and tossed him overboard, that is when I figured out he was hung up and heard his shorts rip in half.  All the while there was a couple going by watching the entire incident, unknown to us at the time.  We got all situated back in the boat got his phone and wallet out to start the drying process, got back out to the middle of the lake and the couple came back by and the husband could not stop laughing at what he had just witnessed.  I was like WTH just happened and poor Jimmy was like great another story.  We started fishing again in silence then I looked at him pretty bummed out at this point and I just started laughing, he looked at me and started laughing to, I told him if you can't laugh at that, just think about that boat that witnessed and what they saw, he busted up and we laughed for a good spell.  We were on way back to the bay, when Jimmy hooked up a nice bow the nicest one of the day.  Big fatty and great colors making the day and events all that sweeter.  We got off the lake just before a big rain storm pounded the lake.  It was a ball and an adventure.  til next time keep smilin'