From the Schuss to the Saco

Now I know how Odysseus must have felt on his long journey home. Only there were no battles, storms, goddesses, sea monsters, etc. So, maybe I don't know how he felt. Regardless, we had a great time paddling down the Saco River during our trip to the White Mountains for Nimrod Numero Uno’s Bachelor Weekend. We caught some smallies, spotted some giant trout (that looked a lot like carp) and local birds (see the elephant bird and Great Awk nests above), risked our lives on roaring rapids (not really), and laughed (a lot). A great time was had by all. A big THANKS to Peter for hosting the motley crew.

Oh, and that last photo is Matt’s Billy Idol impression. Good, no?

Post-Flood Fishing For Finicky Fish

A third visit in three years to the monstrous Kentucky Lake proved to be a challenge for the seasoned angling professionals of the Stammen clan. Just a week earlier the lake was an incredible 9 feet above normal level due to the torrential rainstorms that hit the area. Some fish enjoy the tumult but our target, crappie, do not. At all. We tempted the snobby slabs for days with every trick and trinket we could muster. To no avail. Despite the silent protests of our steadfast leader, Cap'n Dan, we switched gears and tried for other game. Nearly a dozen different species graced our lines (even a mackerel?) but it was the mighty bluegill and the illusive shellcracker that ultimately filled our baskets. They weren't crappie but they were fun. It wasn't until the evening before our departure that we started to entice a crappie or two. I'm pretty sure they were literally jumping in the boat while we were driving back north. But that's ok. It will just make us want to go back even more. We are a stubborn bunch.