Aww come on CK, I think you’d look pretty hot in Victoria’s Secret items.🤣
Ecarl

Spirit, I would say your choice of the Silver Minnow was the perfect Choice! The two # line maybe “not so much”, but it worked for a while.
I’d say ya whupped the 🦨!
Ecarl

Sounds kinda goofy, but your right, it does work. Good LORD gave us a lot more strength in our legs than in our arms!
Ecarl

Sounds like good advise there Spirit. But I’m not sure I’d want Peppermint Oil used on EVERYTHING that might get stuck together out on the briny, ya know!
Ecarl

Further - suggest you search “ice fishing conditions Clare county” and if you call or stop in at JAYS they probably have current local information.
Hope that helps.
Ecarl

Maybe not much help to you Jdage, but down here at the state line (STURGIS), a few people HAD been out, but the last couple of warm days took that away. Ice NOT safe here now, Saturday Jan 16.
SIL advised students least two people went through near Jackson, MI.
Grandson has been fishing near Evart, doesn’t see any danger, but not sure I trust his judgement.
Sure don’t want to see those Grandkids in danger, I appreciate your cautious approach.
Come to think of it, we ought to be able to get a DNR report.
Ecarl

I will admit, I did not enjoy Martha Raye as an entertainer - Tv comedy with Milton Berle. But I gotta have a TON of respect for what she did “out West”!!
As well I completely agree with your statement re. Today’s crop of activists and whiners, over paid ignorant brats!
Ecarl

Spirit, hard to beat a Turkey dinner!! And that pumpkin pie looks exceptional.
ECarl

👍Thanks for the tip huntm22.
Ecarl

Thank You Ben, much appreciated.
Ecarl

Ben, re. Your Smoked Salmon recipe, your making me salivate so much it’s difficult to write on sloppy, wet, soggy paper!😂
But I do have a question or two.
When air drying in the oven for 12 hours, That would be with no heat or fan ventilation, right?
Is the previous brining sufficient to avoid spoilage?
The reference to maple and apple mix, I believe what you are saying is maple SYRUP and apple JUICE as a brush on basting before smoking (or possibly during smoking?).
Thank You,
Ecarl

I’ll be darned! I just bought a Sailboat with a Gaff Top Sail, but I sure don’t want to try eating that bugger.
Ecarl

I prefer to keep/clean/eat/enjoy Bullheads/Catfish. So the first thing I do is get a good grip on the jaw with a pair of mechanics pliers, then take my side cutter pliers and clip off the stingers/barbs, renders ‘me harmless, proceed to remove your hook.
This procedure is probably not a good idea if you are going to release the fish as it is their only means of defense.
What bobber22 was describing is actually known as a Clamp Hemostat, used in Surgery. But you can find cheaply made in India versions in most any Bait & Tackle store. Pretty handy for hook removal, but be careful you don’t destroy your line to hook knot clamping down on it.
Ecarl

Nope, sorry Egghead, I couldn’t do that to a fellow Stager.
I’m pretty sure I’ve been through Rock Springs, either from Boise to Buffalo, Wy or from several National Parks in Utah to Buffalo. We have a daughter and family near Buffalo.
I don’t remember Rock Springs specifically, but you sure do have some pretty and unusual territory out that way - Tetons, Yellowstone, Sinks Canyon, Thermopolis, Bighorns, Ten Sleep, Crazy Woman Canyon to name a few.

Yes Sir, Spirit, that’s just what we did until checking further.
I’m up here in very Southern Southern MICHIGAN, STURGIS, about an hour East of your boyhood area (near South Bend, Indiana.
Ecarl