Great lookin' boat Jack, congratulations! One can only dream for a John Boat for now...maybe one day. Wishing you many hours of enjoyment buddy!

Don't be buddy, this was only my 10th or 11th outing this year, ONLY🤣🤣🤣

I'd do it everyday if I could, but I've got a long way to go before I retire and can do that. Persistence is key!

Anytime Billy, keep them lines tight my brother!

There he is....!

I was using some half rotten shrimp, but never thought about using Garter Snake before, hell...the wife would love that, we had a clutch hatch under our a/c unit last lear and she hates snakes...relocated all the ones I could catch before the weed whaker or mower did.

Man, you sound like my Father In Law...🤣🤣🤣

Still ain't showing....hmm🤔

Sorry, forgot to add it after I uploaded the photo, so here ya go guys.

First Night trip of the year, decided to switch gears and target catfish instead of crappie. Caught 3 in about 2 hours time, only one keeper though. He's a good eating size, the other two weren't even worth taking a picture of.

He sure will taste good blackened on the grill for dinner tomorrow night.

This brings to.mind one of my childhood heros, for you guys in my neck of the woods, good ol' Frank Davis. I used to love watching that man cook during the morning news on WWLTV and his fishing segments on Lake Pontchartrain...long live "Naturally Nawlins"

Awesome haul buddy!

Not my truck, kind of wish it was because my car is an older one that got dinged up during Hurricane Ida and it wouldn't have made a difference to me, but its a 2019 Dodge Ram 1500

Got the pictures of the aftermath of the new paint stripper though!

I finally got a weekend off and decided to try out a few new spots on Saturday and some old, tired and true spots Sunday. Both days turned out with one fish landed each day. So, Saturday, I landed one little Gar, just big enough to keep, but, seeing as no one I know (including myself) really care to eat them, back in the water he went. Beautiful little guy, but didn't have a camera and my phone was in the truck about 100 yards back so, no picture of him sadly. Sunday we hit a favorite childhood hole off to the side of La. 24 in Schriever.

My fishing buddy for the day (good ol mom) getting hung up in someone else's bass rig that undoubtedly birdnested, was cut from the rod and reel, then dumped in the water weights, hooks, lures, and bobber. In her attempt to untangle her rig from the mess, she accidentally knocked over a bottle of JJ's Magic Dip attractant. The garlic oil spilled on her tailgate and almost instantly stripped the pant off of it. So word of warning, don't spill this stuff on painted anything, it works faster than paint stripper!

Anyway, I landed my first Choupique (Bowfin for all of you great anglers from anywhere else) since I was a kid. Using my son's little Zebco 202 combo with 10 lb test mono, I was surprised I was even able to get him landed. She measured 19 inches, a keeper! Seeing me land her favorite she got a little over excited. As I was getting some of that wonderful swampy water in a cooler to put the monster in, I left him laying on the bank for a moment before unhooking him to be held up for a nice picture to share with you all.

This is where the story goes south pretty fast, as if the garlic scented dip eating paint wasn't the lowest point of the day. Remember when I said "mom got excited"? Well she has a little home made bucket out of a plastic coffee can, a stringer, with some bullet weights tied to it to dip and gather water for rinsing off the catch. Knock the gravel and dirt off for pictures, fill up the cooler with water for a makeshift livewell...you get the point.

She proceeds to pour the water on the Choupique, giving him a jolt of energy akin to a small child that ate way too much candy and washed it down with a 2 liter of soda. He flipped and flopped back to the water with a quickness, but wait a second, he's still on the line! Mom doesn't realize this and proceeded to chase this fish down, stepping on the line in the process. As she realized and stepped off of it, Mr. Choupique realized "hey, the line just slacked up" as I was picking up the trusty little Zebco. One last thrash of his tail and a snap. The hook, or what was left of it, came sailing by. Fish gone, and I was left standing there with half a hook. He managed to break the 8/0 hook with ease, which if you've ever hooked into one of these, you know they fight harder than even some of their bigger saltwater cousins.

Just thought I'd share the story, give a few laughs, have a great day and wishes for tight lines to all.

Reading this, and every one else's replies this morning make me feel a little better, as it looks like its not just me. My last three outings, I had a few bites but couldn't manage to set a hook. It's been rough everywhere it would seem. I'm going out with some family Saturday since the weather has finally been warming up some. Hopefully we manage to land a few, I'll update when we get back, hopefully with some pictures.