Well! Christmas is finished and so am I. The Christmas Seasons in the promotional products business has always been challenging and exciting. This was my 32nd Christmas Season and this last one has been all of challenging and exciting - and more. In the last 6 months I have put in more hours than ever - just in order to 'keep up', but then that is what I get paid the "Big Bucks" for.
As you may have noticed or maybe not? Work has been getting in the way of my 'postings'. I did have the opportunity to get in several great pheasant hunts, some fishing and some good time with family and friends.
Sammy has been through some tough times in the last 4 months. It started with a new bout of seizures, and several sinus infections and some GI problems. He has been seizure free for over three weeks now so we are hopeful that his new meds have that part under control. They have an appointment in Rochester the last part of February, but Erin and Jeff aren't real certain what that visit might determine. I guess that Mayo is a great place providing you can live long enough to get in there. And once there have the time, money, and energy to stay for 5 to 7 DAYS! I dare say that none of those Drs. have had to miss a week of work, and stay a week with a very strong 5 year old - that can't see, talk, or walk, that has an attention span that is about 30 seconds long!
Our largest 'market' is in Las Vegas next week. Donna and I and 4 others from the office will be attending. We leave on 1/3/07 and connect in Denver. Providing the snow is gone and there hasn't been more. Back to the office on Monday the 8th - short but sweet trip, all are looking forward to the change of scenery.
That is about it for now......Keep smiling and share the Peace.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
Black Hills Trip September 2006
(copy this link into your browser for more pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnbennett.fsd/BlackHillsTripSept06)
After our fishing encounters this summer which included two trips to Canada, two trips to NE Iowa for trout fishing, and a trip to Lake Michigan for King Salmons, Mel and I thought it best that our women folk have an outing. So we rented a great cabin in the Black Hills. The cabin was about 5 minutes from the Lead Golf Course and about 20 minute drive from Cheyenne Crossing near Spearfish Canyon. It just happened to have a trout stream and a small pond on the property. We drove out in rain on Thursday morning. We had to have a stop at Wall Drug Store and that is were we hooked up with the "Olde Timmer" in the pictures that follow. My cousin Dave Kelley drove down from Lemmon and his wife drove over from Wright, WY (where she teaches). The six of us had a great time. We awoke to more rain on Friday, which turned to snow. We awoke to about 4 inches of snow on Saturday, which turned to rain, which turned to snow and it added another 3 inches of snow. But by mid morning, Sunday Olde Mr.Sun was out and the snow was headed South as we headed back East.
I caught three Rainbows, landed two --- most of our time was spent in spurring on the Deadwood economy.
A Link to more pictures:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnbennett.fsd/BlackHillsTripSept06)
After our fishing encounters this summer which included two trips to Canada, two trips to NE Iowa for trout fishing, and a trip to Lake Michigan for King Salmons, Mel and I thought it best that our women folk have an outing. So we rented a great cabin in the Black Hills. The cabin was about 5 minutes from the Lead Golf Course and about 20 minute drive from Cheyenne Crossing near Spearfish Canyon. It just happened to have a trout stream and a small pond on the property. We drove out in rain on Thursday morning. We had to have a stop at Wall Drug Store and that is were we hooked up with the "Olde Timmer" in the pictures that follow. My cousin Dave Kelley drove down from Lemmon and his wife drove over from Wright, WY (where she teaches). The six of us had a great time. We awoke to more rain on Friday, which turned to snow. We awoke to about 4 inches of snow on Saturday, which turned to rain, which turned to snow and it added another 3 inches of snow. But by mid morning, Sunday Olde Mr.Sun was out and the snow was headed South as we headed back East.
I caught three Rainbows, landed two --- most of our time was spent in spurring on the Deadwood economy.
A Link to more pictures:
Sunday, September 24, 2006
Sunday, September 10, 2006
September 2006 - Silver Water Wheel Lodge.
Wayne Hansen, Bernie DeWald, Mel Anderson and I set off for Canada again on September 3rd. The weather was great. We would awake to temps in the high 40s low 50s and by noon they would be in the low 70s. Wayne landed a Personal Best Walleye that measured 31 1/4 inches! The largest walleye that has been caught and reported on Lac Seul in the last two fishing seasons. (picture of that one to follow) I took time out from jigging for Walleyes and did some casting for Northerns and Small Mouth Bass, I caught Smallies that went 15 1/2 inches and one 16 inches. They are more fun and one put up a better fight than the 25 inch walleyes that I caught. On our last day the weather changed, temps fell, winds came up and we rocked and rolled on the water most of the day. But the change in weather made the fishing even better - a great trip up and back - another great adventure.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
July 2006 Trip to Lake Michigan at Sheboygan, WI
Mel Anderson, Tom Tidemann, and I traveled to Sheboygan, WI and fished for King Salmon. We also caught a couple of really nice Rainbow Trout that went about 10+ pounds or so. Our hosts were Herb and Jane Tyler (Mel's brother-in-law). Herb has many years experience on Lake Michigan and was nice enough to share his boat and his expertise with us. We caught fish in 40 to 120 feet of water and were anywhere from 1 miles to 6 miles out. We arrived on Sunday and fished Monday and Tuesday morning, then drove to Sioux Falls Tuesday after we got off the water and our stuff packed up. The schedule is like this: get up at 2:50 am, drive out the edge of town where he stores his boat, hook up the boat,drive to the lake, on the water by 3:30, set up the down riggers, and sit back and wait for the action to start. Off the water by around 10 am, prep the days catch, eat breakfast, take a nap, eat dinner, go to bed and do it again the next day. Monday afternoon after our naps we went to Herb's Sportsman's Club and he gave us some pointers on shooting (which we all needed). Then we moved to the rifle range where Mel sighted in a rifle with Herb's help. Mel is preparing himself for his first deer hunt this fall in Gregory county, SD. (that outing I am sure will be reported here at a later date)
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
July 4, 2006 - May GOD BLESS the Good Guys.
Hail to the Good Guys of the World, and Happy Birthday America!
What better way to celebrate the 4th than to go fishing? I picked up Mel Anderson at 5:50 AM and we headed off to Lake Alvin with our fly fhishing tools. By 9 AM we're back in town at Boomers enjoying their $3 Special breakfast. Can it Get any better? Well it just might, cuze in about 10 days Mel, Tom and I head East to Lake Michigan in search of King Salmon. More on that trip after it happens (I guess that would only make sense.)
Lake Alvin, near Sioux Falls, SD
This is Lake Alvin. It is about 20 minutes South of our house. There are a few houses around the lake, all are set back some distance with none directly on the lake shore itself. Not great fishing but does hold some nice Bluegills if you are here at the right time of the year. As it turned out we weren't there at the right time but it was a beautiful morning, 59 degrees when we arrive and warming to 70 by the time we left, 0 wind, and blissfully blue skies. The perfect conditions to try my newest adventure, with my friend Mel Anderson. Float Tubing!
Getting Ready To Have Fun
Rod and Reel put together, float tube inflated, waders on, and then comes the flippers on the feet. (I dare you to try walking with all this stuff on) After all this I am ready for a nap.
TUBE'N IT -- Another New Adventure for John
Good thing that I had cut some weight, max capacity of my vessel is 250 pounds. Not real sure how you navigate this thing when the wind comes up. I don't think that I will be able to kick hard or fast enough if there are white caps. Donna asked last night what happens if your hook gets caught on the tube? I said that I didn't want to think about that!
Look Closely - that is NOT a lure, it is a real Bluegill.
Well it is at least a fish, although it may have been just born last week. I wasn't totally "skunked", caught this big'n and only two weeds this morning. I was more excited about not catching more weeds than I was to catch the itty bitty fish. I would guess that I made in excess of 100 casts or so, and at least 6 of those casts were pretty good. Not a great batting average, but it is getting better.
I witnessed 'a hatch' this morning, utterly amazing. We arrived at about 6:20 AM, just a little on the cool side, with no wind at all. We checked around for any 'signs', but there was no activity from bugs or fish. So I started out with a small popper, then went to a black ant, NOTHING. Then all of a sudden I look along the edge of the water again and there was an abundance of small tan colored 'gnat looking guys' flying around, they had not been visible when we first arrived. I tried to 'match the hatch' and tied on a fly that was as close to what was hovering over the water as I had in my little fly box, and on the third cast, caught this smallish fellow. Had a couple of others on - but wasn't able to pull them in. Within half an hour all the little bugs were gone, and so were the Bluegills! Fascinating!! (Oh Yeah, they are really tough to filet at this size - just kidding!)
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