Gretch plays

[Gretch Flo]

Last week was in Sun Valley Id for vet orthopedic conference . Had 5+ hours daily of CE and middle of day to play. So here is what I played with. 3-4 hours of fishing daily

1. 18" rainbow was my biggest catch
2,3. Vet I fish with remembered a firewood lot and suggested we look for wood for me (some people know me!!!!). Lot said their firewood (mostly pine-some aspen) was from "up North" and a wood turner there got the best stuff. We found a "burl" just laying there for me. Called the turner and he said to sell it for whatever I wanted to pay. Gave $20. May be a "bust". Probably 10". Had them cut off most of the excess wood so less weight in duffel bag. Have started to peel off the "plies" before the lathe. I am not a fan of pine-but is a memento. Gretch was "happy camper"😀

 

[Gretch Flo]

oops

somehow the photos didn't come thru. so again, Gretch
View attachment 8268View attachment 8269View attachment 8270

 

[Charlie Knighton]

good for you.....fish was great size for rainbow

burl sounds good.....can not see yet

 

[Gretch Flo]

help with photos

good for you.....fish was great size for rainbow

burl sounds good.....can not see yet

I followed the suggestion by Bill several months ago. I looked at preview and thought they were there. Will try tonite-have to get to the "laboratory" (i.e. shop) Gretch

 

[Bill Boehme]

If you'll adopt a cat, I'll tell you how to post a picture. 🙄

 

[Gretch Flo]

thrice

Last week was in Sun Valley Id for vet orthopedic conference . Had 5+ hours daily of CE and middle of day to play. So here is what I played with. 3-4 hours of fishing daily

1. 18" rainbow was my biggest catch
2,3. Vet I fish with remembered a firewood lot and suggested we look for wood for me (some people know me!!!!). Lot said their firewood (mostly pine-some aspen) was from "up North" and a wood turner there got the best stuff. We found a "burl" just laying there for me. Called the turner and he said to sell it for whatever I wanted to pay. Gave $20. May be a "bust". Probably 10". Had them cut off most of the excess wood so less weight in duffel bag. Have started to peel off the "plies" before the lathe. I am not a fan of pine-but is a memento. Gretch was "happy camper"😀

Bill-have 4 cats already!!!!

 

[Bill Boehme]

Bill-have 4 cats already!!!!

Four is a nice start. 🙄 But, clearly you need more.

I went to the vet in the small rural town near where my dad lived and they thought that it was strange when I asked about information on pet adoption organizations. For critters with hooves, there's the auction barn. Maybe I could claim that "Trouble" is a cattle herding cat. Let's see ... he also does housework ... Here he is helping me change bed linens.

 

[Odie]

Gretch.....Your vet friend must be a seasoned fisherman who taught you all the tricks! if you stick your fish out at arm's length, you can easily make an 18" trout look like it's 24"......! 😀

Hope you had fun, dear lady. 😎

ko

 

[Charlie Knighton]

curious....Gretch....what did you use for bait///

spinners (panther martin/rooster tail) , flies, worms, salmon eggs, electric current, crawdads...??????

 

[Bill Boehme]

Gretch.....Your vet friend must be a seasoned fisherman who taught you all the tricks! if you stick your fish out at arm's length, you can easily make an 18" trout look like it's 24"......! 😀

Hope you had fun, dear lady. 😎

ko

Well it could be that it really is a 24" trout and Gretch has short arms and large hands. 🙄

 

[Gretch Flo]

Well it could be that it really is a 24" trout and Gretch has short arms and large hands. 🙄

Bill- 2 of the cats get under the made bed. Cat hair I live with!!!!
Bill/Odie -You are right on that-short arms, short legs, and I did extend the trout as far as I could!!!!!! My "girdle' waders make it hard to step over a branch 1' high on shore and climb banks..
Charlie-flies-nymphs (for some reason even though it had been warmer than usual in Utah (50 the week before) the fish were not coming to the surface for dry flies. This year the nymphs were twice the size as in some Colorado streams that fly stores usually recommend. These were the size of household flies, not mosquitoes (hard to even see the eye of the fly hook to tie on the leader (thickness of a strand of hair) as in most other years in Colorado. I have learned how to nymph fish the last 7-9 years.

Have turned the burl. Will photo in a few days. Lots of cracks-left thick 5/16" or so because of the cracks. Rustic edge. Will need help with finish suggestions (none???) Lots of pitch (dryish) and I haven't even needed to sand. Not sure I can!!!!, If it "turns" out may have to give it to my fishing buddy who got me to the wood!!!!!!Gretch

 

[Hu Lowery]

extending the trout

Bill- 2 of the cats get under the made bed. Cat hair I live with!!!!
Bill/Odie -You are right on that-short arms, short legs, and I did extend the trout as far as I could!!!!!! My "girdle' waders make it hard to step over a branch 1' high on shore and climb banks..
Charlie-flies-nymphs (for some reason even though it had been warmer than usual in Utah (50 the week before) the fish were not coming to the surface for dry flies. This year the nymphs were twice the size as in some Colorado streams that fly stores usually recommend. These were the size of household flies, not mosquitoes (hard to even see the eye of the fly hook to tie on the leader (thickness of a strand of hair) as in most other years in Colorado. I have learned how to nymph fish the last 7-9 years.

Have turned the burl. Will photo in a few days. Lots of cracks-left thick 5/16" or so because of the cracks. Rustic edge. Will need help with finish suggestions (none???) Lots of pitch (dryish) and I haven't even needed to sand. Not sure I can!!!!, If it "turns" out may have to give it to my fishing buddy who got me to the wood!!!!!!Gretch

Bill,

One glance at that pictures says the cat is at home! You might as well get used to belonging to a cat.



Gretch,

Extending the trout reminded me of some pictures from long ago. I had taken my son and daughter fishing in a pond behind the house. My son caught a bass about four pounds and my daughter caught a very nice bream over a half pound. My son was having way too much fun lording it over his little sister so when I took pictures I didn't say anything about him holding the bass close but when I took the picture of my daughter's bream I had her extend her arms and got very close. The picture looked like one from the old farmer's almanac with the six feet tall rooster! Her bream looked to go at least thirty or forty pounds. My son was crushed when the pictures came back!

Hu

 

[Bill Boehme]

Bill,

One glance at that pictures says the cat is at home! You might as well get used to belonging to a cat.....

I currently belong to five cats. I would love to bring my Dad's cat home, but the War Dept. says no more fur monsters. He is still at my Dad's place and the neighbors are checking on him to see that there is food and water. I bought a couple feeders, but am concerned that I will mainly be feeding racoons and possums.

 

[Hu Lowery]

feeding both

I currently belong to five cats. I would love to bring my Dad's cat home, but the War Dept. says no more fur monsters. He is still at my Dad's place and the neighbors are checking on him to see that there is food and water. I bought a couple feeders, but am concerned that I will mainly be feeding racoons and possums.

I'm feeding raccoons and possums myself. I hauled off a quarter to half grown raccoon a few days ago and a possum about the same age a few minutes ago, both from my barn. Looks like I have litters of both to catch. I feed "cats" on my back porch and in the barn. Got to thin out the other things a bit, can't afford to feed them all.

Hu

 

[Gretch Flo]

Hauling off varmints

I'm feeding raccoons and possums myself. I hauled off a quarter to half grown raccoon a few days ago and a possum about the same age a few minutes ago, both from my barn. Looks like I have litters of both to catch. I feed "cats" on my back porch and in the barn. Got to thin out the other things a bit, can't afford to feed them all.

Hu

Hu-you didn't say what hauling off meant.
In Mich it is against the law to trap and release varmints. You have to kill them. (unless you have some "in" with a Dept of Nat resources person). MY varmints are racc (they ruin the bird feeders and get into my corn, esp if I forget to turn on the electric fence. Same with opossums. There is no redeeming qualities for the latter. Woodchucks make holes that the horses can break a leg in, And then there are the red squirrels- They get into attics, chew up car wiring, chase off the fox squ that I feed. They are good target practice!!!! Gretch

 

[Bill Boehme]

Hu-you didn't say what hauling off meant....

I don't know if I'm allowed to say this, but down South "hauling off" trapped varmints is a colloquialism for taking them to Michigan and releasing them there. 🙄

I have a well used Havahart trap that I have used to relocate dozens of racoons and possums. Unfortunately, my favorite "relocation and rehabilitation center" (a wooded area on a stream close to a local lake) was suddenly bulldozed and turned into a housing subdivision and shopping centers. The critters treated the place a lot nicer than the humans are treating it. Anyway, our city has finally decided to actually provide some services because we were (still are) being overrun by racoons, opossums, skunks, coyotes, weasels, and other varmints. Now, when I trap something, I just call over to city hall and somebody comes by a takes our "guest" somewhere (maybe a hotel ... I don't ask and they don't say). Anyway they bring my trap back in an hour and I am back in business.

Here is a picture from several years ago when a possum had the good fortune of getting a free ride to the scenic uninhabited wooded area by the lake. I am sure that there was plenty of naturally occurring Tender Vittles and Nine-Lives to be had out in the wild ... or at least that is the word on the grapevine.



I've trapped a few skunks as well, but fortunately that was after the city started taking care of "relocating" them. Now, the only varmints that are still a major problem are the two-legged weasels ... and I hear that trapping them is now against the law ... too bad. 😀

BTW, I went to my local vet today and asked them about any leads on pet adoptions, but they didn't offer much encouragement. It appears that most animal shelters in Texas still euthanize animals ... even those that have a no-kill policy.

 

[Hu Lowery]

getting softhearted and softheaded in my old age

I'm getting softhearted and softheaded in my old age I believe. Once in the live trap the varmints do get a ride down to the river. I point them towards a river bottom(not the bottom of the river!) and wish them luck or when it is too muddy to get there like today I released the varmint between two branches of a smaller river where he should stand a fair chance of living out a normal life.

When something needs killing I kill it but sometimes a live and let live policy seems best. I met a cottonmouth on top of my dam about a week ago. He was going north, I was going south. High water to the right, woods in a steep drop off to the left. Even Steve Irwin said the cottonmouths have an attitude. This one stopped and raised up into position to strike, still about six feet away. I had a briar blade with me as a walking stick/clearing aid and it has accounted for a lot of cottonmouths over the years. I didn't have maneuvering room though and the reaction to a cottonmouth being attacked is usually them coming at you ninety miles an hour if they can! I stood my ground, he stood his, eventually I won the staring contest and he slid off into a hole, only a foot or two from the path where I was walking! Worked out for both of us though.

By the way Bill, if it wasn't too cruel to the animals I'd keep right on dumping in the new subdivision!

Hu

 

[Gretch Flo]

. I didn't have maneuvering room though and the reaction to a cottonmouth being attacked is usually them coming at you ninety miles an hour if they can! I stood my ground, he stood his, eventually I won the staring contest and he slid off into a hole, only a foot or two from the path where I was walking! Worked out for both of us though.



Hu

Not sure if my heart would go a thousand BPM or stop!!! Yuk, 😱Gretch