Normally I would be complaining and whining about not having been fishing by the Fourth of July. In fact, I dont think I have ever completely missed the spring fishing season. This year I am not sure how much fishing I would have done even if the weather hadnt been so lousy. We did finally get Berts boat out of my shop and up to Lake Erie. The plan was to do a little perch fishing that day, but it didnt work out. When we got there the mud line was out about four miles from all the swelled rivers dumping into the lake. For those of you that dont fish Lake Erie, there are a few conditions that make going up a waste of time. The worst times to fish up there are after a heavy rain. The water gets the consistency of chocolate milk, and can ruin the fishing for miles off shore. The other sure bet for a fishless boat ride is if the wind is out of the east at more than 10 miles per hour.
In years past, if I wasnt getting out enough to fish it was because I was too busy dog trialing. That took up most of my free time, and quite a bit of the time I should have been working. So far this spring I have only trialed one day in May, and one day in June. That trend looks like it will continue until November. In fact, I have decided to give up one of my trial dogs. That decision didnt come easy. Over the years, I have spent so much time training and trialing these dogs that I am very attached to them.
Charlie is my 4-year-old English Setter, and he has been a pleasure to have in the family. Doodle and I have enjoyed countless hours hunting and trialing him. He has developed into a first class bird dog, with many accomplishments. Its a shame, but we just dont have time for him. Doodles is working for the Division of Wildlife in Columbus this summer, and will be starting her senior year at Ohio State this fall with a heavy class schedule. We decided he was way too good a dog to spend all his time in the kennel, so we are looking for a new home for him.
Anyone who has read this column in the last few months knows where I am spending most of my free time. The more I do this mounted shooting thing the more I like it. Doodles and I spent the Fourth of July weekend at an event, and had a ball. She started training and shooting off her horse for these events last weekend, and he was taking to it so well she decided to compete off him this weekend.
To say she did well would be an understatement. To everyones amazement, after competing for the first time on her horse Saturday and Sunday, she took a placement in her class on Monday. Besides having a lot of fun riding and shooting, we got to meet a lot of new folks. This was a big event, drawing 108 competitors from five states. The next event is in two weeks, so that will give me time for some much needed practice.
Catch you later, Rick
