Yesterday, I found a few amazing little fishing spots with unblemished bass. They were in the very back of a remote SFWA. All it took for find them was a long hike through very tall grass. I haven't lugged my kayak (a sweet little Payette by Lifetime - super squeaky & noisy, it's frustrating but it's light) through an area quite this dense before.

Well, fast forward a few miles, more than a few bass, and a few hours later. I was wiped. Headed back. Stopped & bent down to tie my shoe, and noticed tick #1 on my ankle. Yuk. He was removed, and the slog continued another good mile or so. Back to the truck, back to the driveway, and as I was telling my wife the tale of the day, I got to the tick part. She said:

"You better take your clothes off and check everywhere."

"Oh yeah, gee whizz, OK dear!"

I laughed, and as someone who finds full frontal nudity hilarious, ripped my pants off right in the kitchen. I looked down and noticed a new spot on my thigh... tick #2 was starting to burrow. Yuk. He was removed. My wife, now thoroughly grossed out, said:

"You better toss those boxers and check EVERYWHERE..."

"Ha ha ha, OK sure dear. There is no way there is anything THERE."

I dropped 'em, still laughing.
She pointed and gasped:

"THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!"

I made a skeptical face. You see, my wife and I like to jerk each other around. She has become quite good at busting my chops after many years of marriage. This was the perfect setup. Too good to pass up.

"Oh yeah, sure babe, I'm not falling for that, there is no way t-"

I looked down.
There he was.
Right where she was pointing.
Tick #3 was right on my unmentionables.

"GAHHHH!"

Fellas, I do not startle easily, but in that moment my life flashed before my eyes.

Removal was traumatic, but thankfully, relatively painless.

And so, my brothers, I stand before you today asking for your advice - because I have to go back. These bass were unbothered, eager to hit topwater, and I lost one much bigger than the largemouth in the pic below. Would you please do me a solid, and share your best advice for avoiding ticks? Especially if you drag a kayak around in tall grass like this from time to time as well.

Thank you.

P.S. - I also managed to put a hole in the bottom of my yak, so after ALL OF THAT NONSENSE, my fishing time was cut short. If you have any tips on "yak repair", please advise. Thank you.

Yesterday, I found a few amazing little fishing spots with unblemished bass. They were in the very back of a remote SFWA. All it took for find them was a long hike through very tall grass. I haven't lugged my kayak (a sweet little Payette by Lifetime - super squeaky & noisy, it's frustrating but it's light) through an area quite this dense before.

Well, fast forward a few miles, more than a few bass, and a few hours later. I was wiped. Headed back. Stopped & bent down to tie my shoe, and noticed tick #1 on my ankle. Yuk. He was removed, and the slog continued another good mile or so. Back to the truck, back to the driveway, and as I was telling my wife the tale of the day, I got to the tick part. She said:

"You better take your clothes off and check everywhere."
Youew
"Oh yeah, gee whizz, OK dear!"

I laughed, and as someone who finds full frontal nudity hilarious, ripped my pants off right in the kitchen. I looked down and noticed a new spot on my thigh... tick #2 was starting to burrow. Yuk. He was removed. My wife, now thoroughly grossed out, said:

"You better toss those boxers and check EVERYWHERE..."

"Ha ha ha, OK sure dear. There is no way there is anything THERE."

I dropped 'em, still laughing.
She pointed and gasped:

"THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!"

I made a skeptical face. You see, my wife and I like to jerk each other around. She has become quite good at busting my chops after many years of marriage. This was the perfect setup. Too good to pass up.

"Oh yeah, sure babe, I'm not falling for that, there is no way t-"

I looked down.
There he was.
Right where she was pointing.
Tick #3 was right on my unmentionables.

"GAHHHH!"

Fellas, I do not startle easily, but in that moment my life flashed before my eyes.

Removal was traumatic, but thankfully, relatively painless.

And so, my brothers, I stand before you today asking for your advice - because I have to go back. These bass were unbothered, eager to hit topwater, and I lost one much bigger than the largemouth in the pic below. Would you please do me a solid, and share your best advice for avoiding ticks? Especially if you drag a kayak around in tall grass like this from time to time as well.

Thank you.

P.S. - I also managed to put a hole in the bottom of my yak, so after ALL OF THAT NONSENSE, my fishing time was cut short. If you have any tips on "yak repair", please advise. Thank you.

Yesterday, I found a few amazing little fishing spots with unblemished bass. They were in the very back of a remote SFWA. All it took for find them was a long hike through very tall grass. I haven't lugged my kayak (a sweet little Payette by Lifetime - super squeaky & noisy, it's frustrating but it's light) through an area quite this dense before.

Well, fast forward a few miles, more than a few bass, and a few hours later. I was wiped. Headed back. Stopped & bent down to tie my shoe, and noticed tick #1 on my ankle. Yuk. He was removed, and the slog continued another good mile or so. Back to the truck, back to the driveway, and as I was telling my wife the tale of the day, I got to the tick part. She said:

"You better take your clothes off and check everywhere."

"Oh yeah, gee whizz, OK dear!"

I laughed, and as someone who finds full frontal nudity hilarious, ripped my pants off right in the kitchen. I looked down and noticed a new spot on my thigh... tick #2 was starting to burrow. Yuk. He was removed. My wife, now thoroughly grossed out, said:

"You better toss those boxers and check EVERYWHERE..."

"Ha ha ha, OK sure dear. There is no way there is anything THERE."

I dropped 'em, still laughing.
She pointed and gasped:

"THERE'S ANOTHER ONE!"

I made a skeptical face. You see, my wife and I like to jerk each other around. She has become quite good at busting my chops after many years of marriage. This was the perfect setup. Too good to pass up.

"Oh yeah, sure babe, I'm not falling for that, there is no way t-"

I looked down.
There he was.
Right where she was pointing.
Tick #3 was right on my unmentionables.

"GAHHHH!"

Fellas, I do not startle easily, but in that moment my life flashed before my eyes.

Removal was traumatic, but thankfully, relatively painless.

And so, my brothers, I stand before you today asking for your advice - because I have to go back. These bass were unbothered, eager to hit topwater, and I lost one much bigger than the largemouth in the pic below. Would you please do me a solid, and share your best advice for avoiding ticks? Especially if you drag a kayak around in tall grass like this from time to time as well.

Thank you.

P.S. - I also managed to put a hole in the bottom of my yak, so after ALL OF THAT NONSENSE, my fishing time was cut short. If you have any tips on "yak repair", please advise. Thank you.