No, it’s Nittany Boat!

After years of exhaustive design calculations – I had HAL hack into the NSA’s Cray supercomputer and tied it up for weeks! – and a year in the bustling Sportsmen’s Camp Shipyard the Nittany has landed – er – Floated! As the photos show it has broken with Sportsmen’s camp tradition (green, like the political party) and is dark blue and sports the Nittany Lion symbol on each side of the bow. The newest innovations on this boat are greater “rocker” in the boat bottom to allow it to ride smooth in a chop and a block to hold the paddle in position. It also has the seats repositioned a little higher and the front seat back a little to allow legroom for the front passenger when facing forward. It also has beverage holders!

It was overcast on launch day but the boat was christened with some beer and summarily pushed into to the lake. It took to the water like a scared muskrat! I then put Janet’s new 15hp motor on it and fitted it with the requisite paddle, anchor, bailer (Janet’s pee bucket), and tie up lines. Janet could contain herself no longer and boarded the craft with her crew of hardies (Rudy – jedi master and Kirby – able-bodied seaman) and motored away.

It’s a lot of work here at camp – but its days like this that make it all worthwhile. Seeing the fruit of your labor gliding through the water as intended.

The legendary monster of Firth Lake.

I should have known something was up – I haven’t seen that lil’ devil Godzilla in a few weeks! He must have been conferring conversing and otherwise hobnobbing with his fellow monsters down by the lake!

I was pulling out the rotted pieces of the door stoop in front of cabin number 7 when I uncovered the fledgling beastie! After an hour long titanic struggle I subdued the monster and having brought him to bay took his picture.

It turns out that the Beastie is a Blue Spotted salamander (Ambystoma laterale) and is reasonably common in northern Ontario.

Another “beaut” of a day here – not like the rainforest of eastern US!

Donovan!

The Walker/Tisdale crew have been here the past week. We haven’t seen these guys in about 12 years. The last time they were here Art’s van developed a gasoline leak and burnt to the frame, about 4-mile east of camp, on their way home! I shit you not! (as Yoda might say) It’s been fun seeing them again and knowing, that no matter what, some things never change. Art is still an irascible nut, (pictured with the banner below) Brian is still knowledgeable and easy going, and Mike and Aaron are still the same kids – just bigger (mid twenties) and smarter – hey we all knew everything when we were that age too! Mike and Aaron brought two friends with them as well – MDP/Donovan and Twink/Bill.

After having a few beers with them they asked me to go fishing with them. I replied that I’d love to but I have too much to get done around camp before my July hiatus. They asked what I had to get done and I told them – so it was agreed that they would give me hand with the roof on cabin #8 and we would go fishing down the Montreal River. See – some things never change – Jack bartering help with a roof for fishing time! Hey where’s the down side? So the roof went on and we went down the river. We got a late start but the day was perfect – calm, clear, and warm – just the conditions I like for pike fishing. Initially the pike were not cooperating but as we worked through the narrows trolling rapalas we started getting some nice eating sized walleyes and the odd smaller pike. Art and Brian caught a brace of big bass too!

One highlight of the day – we were drifting through a tight narrows (Donovan was standing on the front seat of the boat – casting) and I announced I would be starting the motor to make another pass. As I started the motor Donovan lost his balance and went right into the drink – his second dousing for the week! No harm done, he passed his fishing rod to Mike and clambered back into the boat. It was an abject lesson in “Why standing in the boat is not a good idea – not only is it rude to the other occupants of the boat (making casting much more difficult for them) but it is also prone to cause the occasional unexpected dousing.” Later just before we had to leave the pike turned on. I caught about a dozen or so small ones then put on a crazy crawler and laid it over the out side of a weed bed bordering some deep water. As the lure hit the water I exclaimed “That cast should produce a notable pike.” And lo it came to pass that a toothy leviathan latched onto the lucky lure. We didn’t measure him but he was about 40” and a well-built fish of about 12-lb. I didn’t want to keep him but the guys convinced me to put him on the stringer. It was your typical chain stringer so I knew that by putting him on that stringer I was not really agreeing to keep him. He would only be along side the boat until he caught his wind. Soon there was a quick thrash and we heard him bid us adieu! But the evening was not over and several other “pike of note” were hooked and escaped from the youthful fishermen. The pike knew better than to attack my lure, as I always keep my rod tip up! So when playing a “pike of note” don’t reel them up short, keep your rod tip up (nice bend in the rod), and make sure your drag is set to release line at tensions below the strength of your line. Then fight them till they tire. That’s all there is to it – yeah tell that to anyone trying to land their first “pike of note” (40”+).

The water temp in Firth is hovering around 70F and the weather has been in the 70’s as well. Janet and I went out fishing last evening and caught several nice bass. I leave you with a picture of a nice bass – which succumbed in the big weed bed to the charms of a surface rattle lure, given to me by Eric Massimino. – Ciao Baby!

Not the steak – Dave Henderson always said!

More like SNAP CRACKLE POP and I ain’t talking about the stupid cereal elves! We’ve been having some phone problems here at camp. Everytime a thunderstorm comes through, the induced current in the phone line finds something to fry! Phones, surge protectors, junction boxes, modems, phones, radios, etc. Several years back we had a direct hit and the phone lines in the house erupted in gouts of blue flame and sparks! It literally blew the shit out of the junction box and melted the phone down! The phone lines parallel the gas lines to the gaslights and Janet (is soooo stuuupid) had the radio antenna touching the gas line for good reception so it was blown to smithereens too! To this day our dogs are deathly afraid of thunder. Well Janet (is soooo stuuupid) got tired of replacing surge protectors and took a page out of Cathie White’s book – she got on the fucking blower (phone) and complained to some one – anyone – everyone!

The phone repairman came out today. First question – “where’s your hydro meter?” After some chuckles I informed him that no such device existed. His response was, “but there’s hydro out here.” I said, “no those are just the phone lines”. I knew this was going to be a long row to hoe with this guy. Observant and helpful mmmm yeah right! He reconnected the ground at the box and got a little conductance to ground but since the ground stake and the wimpy little wires were corroded it sucked. I suggested and offered to grind the rust off the ground stake and provided some heavy gauge copper wire for a new connection. After pounding the stake back in and reconnecting it was better but still not great. The upshot is that we may have to put in a grounding mat or some such – “But I don’t have one in the truck cause I was just going to ground to the hydro meter” later.

On a separate and disparate note, we watched the Stanley Cup final last night. Rooting with Walker Group for the Oilers to win and were sorely disappointed. That is except for one lone fan, that went absolutely – APESHIT! Why he was prancing around with an Anilorac Senacirruh banner I have NOOOOO idea?? But alas that is the way with hopped up southern Canadians on nitroglycerin! At least he caught several of the mosquitoes that were flying around.

Of Jitterbugs Dancing in their heads!

The water temp was 71F yesterday and the day was perfect. The Watson group were having coronas and playing horseshoes at the beach. I played some shoes too but stunk! I asked Janet after she was done swimming if the lake was significantly cooler deeper below the surface. She said, “no it’s all nice today”. After the horseshoe champions were crowned (I don’t remember who it was) we went up to cabin 6 for a wing feast with the Watsons. When we finished up it was nearing dusk and Janet said that she wanted to go out jitterbug fishing till dark. It was going to be warm windless night too. And since the water temperature was above 70F they should be hitting Jitterbugs on the surface.

We loaded the boat with of fishing equipment and Janet had the forethought to bring the bug jackets – to wear during the dusk period when the mosquitoes swarm! Janet’s first cast with a big jitterbug was hit as soon as it touched the glassy lake surface! And that’s how it went the whole evening! I was using a mepps and caught a nice walleye and several bass too – but soon succumbed to the jitterbug. It was a delightful evening – even when we had to put on the bug jackets to fend off the marauding mosquitoes.

The lake temp is still at 71F but it is overcast and breezy today. Air temps are mid 70s. The guys in camp say they hit some nice walleye today. Another great day at Sportsmen’s Camp – if you’re reading this you’re probably not here – sooooo nyaaah nyaaahh!

That’s how Janet says I begin each Blog!

Sooo how stuuuuupid is she? I am building a new plywood boat for her but she insists that it be painted Penn State Blue (not the traditional Sportsmen’s camp Green) and have the Nittany Lion symbol on the bow! I was lobbying for the older Nittany Lion symbol of the head-on face (it would be easier to cut out with the jigsaw, and accurately reflect the time period we were at PSU) but it was no fucking dice dude! She had to have the new one! I clamped the jigsaw onto the table saw, blade up and rummaged around for some 3/8th-inch plywood. Janet showed up at the shop after her walk. It was a good thing too cause I had not figured a way to turn the saw on and off! Janet became the on/off switch on the saw. We traced the outline and stylized side view of the head on the plywood and I cut the pieces off of the larger one on the table saw. After several fits of cursing and, get this, no lost fingers (oh I think I put it over there on the table saw) the Nittany Lion symbol was cut out. It actually looks pretty good! It ain’t perfect but, I never go for perfection – fewer disappointments and more progress – I go for what works. The symbol is curing in some polyester resin now.

Why did I opt to cut it out of plywood (and not just paint it on) you my ask, but alas in that case you are just as stuuuupid as Janet! I slap paint on the plywood boats every year and the symbol would only last one year’s painting. With it raised I’ll paint the boat indiscriminately as always and then hit the high points on the symbol with a roller! I know, sheer genius.

This year the out side of the plywood boats got a new coat of paint but we only did the inside floors. We had to scrape and wash the floors of the boat prior to painting because “the people” who rent the plywood boats (Baxters, Pocziks, Newton-Gatts) don’t get the mud off the anchor before they put it in the boat. So much work caused by inattention to a tiny detail! I’d like to see someone try to put a muddy anchor in Jim Palmer’s boat! (End rant here)

The lake temperature has bounced back to 65F with a slight northerly breeze. I caught one small bass on my fly rod off the dock. The bass nabbed a black woolly bugger. It is sunny and in the low 70’s F. Very nice! I’m going on a dump run and will then attack my list of things to do: Two leaks to repair, three boats to repair, two boats to get down to the lake, two roofs to put on, three more trees to fell – cut-up and distribute……. You get the idea. Oh yes, I will post pictures of Janet’s boat when it is complete.

The curse has been lifted!

I hope! The weather is looking better every day here. But the infamous weatherman is still in residence. The lake temp has receded to 61F and the lake level is down to ~1.00’ (waves preventing accurate reading). There is a light breeze from the north but the sun is shining. I’ll be painting boats and cutting up a couple trees today. But the temperature is perfect for this kind of work.

Janet and me went for our evening walk with Kirby (no Rudy on the evening walk – don’t want to irritate his hips) back the Elkhorn road to the logging road and the mosquitoes weren’t even bothering us. Of course it was a little cool. Haven’t heard how the fishing is yet today but will get an update later from the Watson crew. They’ll be flying into Otto later this week – the weather should be good for that. From what I understand the fishing was pretty good yesterday if you ventured forth in the nasty north wind. Several bass and a few walleyes were caught.

I am going to have lunch then get started on this afternoon’s projects.

Chris Murphy actually!

I knew this was going happen! Beautiful weather for weeks and a Canadian Weather Network forecaster comes up and the weather goes to SHIT! Yesterday was warm – 70’s and rainy as the cold front came through. Perfect weather for burning some brush and balsam branches. But today, the Hennessy term applies; we have a Blue Norther! Brrrr it feels like 35F! But it’s really in the low 50’s with the wind screaming from the north. Damn you Chris Murphy damn you! I will now have to cut some firewood and bring it up to the lodge. I have resorted to the Nazi German ploy of book burning! Yeegads what have we come to? I only am burning romance novels though. So it’s more of a caloric statement rather than a political statement. What sort of statement isn’t it? (A question posed to Karl Marx) “It is not a Pol -Lit -Tical statement!”

But wait, I’ll go down to the woodpile at the beach to scam some wood there. AAAAAAAhhhhhhhh! I say, I say are listenin’ ta me boy? There’s a WOODPECKER IN THE FUEL SUPPLY! I tell ya boy there’s a woodpecker in the woodpile!

The Lake temperature has dropped precipitously to 67F. But how could it not with a 20-mph plus 50F north wind whipping across it! It’s still considerably warmer than the air! I have no idea how the fishing is today since no one has ventured forth on the lake to fish. Even the Hardy Fishermen (the Mark Jackson Group) from West Virginia are hunkered down today. I bet they are “panic drinking”! That reminds me of a Gordon rhyme – “Those hardy son-sa-bitches, they shit through their leather britches”. So I leave you with that nugget of wisdom.

Another Big Day Here at Sportsmen’s Camp!

Well its not like every day isn’t a Big One – but today was Garbage Day! Or Garbauzh as we say in the trade. Another banner day at the dump, picked up some interesting firewood – a pallet and pilings built up from 1”x 1”s. They should burn really hot, as Paris Hilton would say. That’s Hot! I also spied a nylon ripstop fabric red baron kite at the dump – looked it over and decided I didn’t need another toy to consume my time and put it down. Oh the joys of Adulthood. Hmmmm! You know Dave Henderson used to muse if the children had as much fun in childhood as adults did in adultery – ba dum dumt! On the way back from the dump I saw a big (really BIG) Bull Moose in velvet (approximately 4’ spread and still growing)!

About now you’re saying to yourself, “Slow down Jack all this excitement is making my head spin! I am experiencing vertigo, too much input Norman coordinate, Norman coordinate!” Hey we ain’t done here yet! After I got back to camp and put the dead fish carcass pails back in the fishhouse (rinsed and bleached I might add!) – I got my fruitboots, (another Dave Henderson term for Dad’s steel toed shoes with metatarsal guards) cooler of drinks, fishing pole (one lure – and no I won’t tell you what it was!) and gloves and then hot footed it down to the end of the lake to tear out the beaver dam(n)! Fun fun fun! The dam at the end of the lake near the Holland portage was not the one they built up during the last two years! Fuckers! I had to bush whack about a half mile to the lower dam location – in Dad’s fucking fruitboots! I put the boots on for ankle support and protection whenever I tear out a dam. Since the logging at the end of the lake many of the jackpines have been pushed over by the wind (edge effect) and are a tangled fucking mess over the remnants of the moose path. The fucking moose don’t even use it anymore! But being the strong minded bastard that I am, I persevered and swam through the bush to the lower dam location. I saw more than a dozen pink ladyslipper orchids in perfect bloom – Cypripedium acaule I believe – on the way too! That’s Hot! I then ripped the dam out. (yeah, after he sent Cindy Loo-whoo back to bed with her cup, he waded through the half mile of bush and ripped the dam up!) Soooo after about 2 hours of back breaking labor I trudged back to my boat on my heavily water sodden fruit boots. But huzzah, the cooler of 50’s were on ice waiting for me! Hello 50’s my old friend, I’ve come to drink you up again. Then I fired up the motor and to emerald city as fast as lightening with a couple of stops to catch some nice bass.

Well I have to get some sleep in preparation for another Big Day at Sportsmen’s Camp! BTW the water temperature was 75F at noon with a south wind. It would have been higher, due to the warm night, but the wind was pushing all the warmer water to the north end of the lake. Its been sunny and in the 80’s and 90’s here for about 2 weeks! Eat your heart out western Pennsylvania!

The Dragonflies hatched out on Tuesday!

Mosquitoes are ascendant and the dragonflies are decimating the blackflies. That is not to say the blackflies are not a pain in the ass though! Yes – things are that far ahead of schedule here! I just wish my work were following a similar pattern, maybe if I didn’t do so much fishing –er- I mean fisheries research for the blog. The lake is as high as I have seen it in years – 1.29’on the antique lake level gauge that Lyle Beckett gave me. We’ve been getting a lot of rain, but it probably has a lot to do with the fact that I didn’t tear out the beaver damn last year. The little devils have decided to add to last year’s construction. This year is gonna be different – big bad Jack is going to rip out the beaver dam(n) soon. I have two more pilings to set on the docks and will want the lake level to go down about 5 inches.

I planted my garden 3 days ago and the radishes have already spouted! I was thinning them this morning whilst the blackflies dined on blood from my hairline. Janet has given the grass one full cutting 3 days ago and its due for another cutting! The dandelion bloom is over last week!

The weather here has been beautiful 70 and 80’s F with a daily thunderstorm to keep humidity up – mmmm cut it with a knife and the air smells so good! The lake temperature is 69F (dude!) And the fish are biting. I would have the docks completely set but Janet suggested we go out fishing. And so we went fishing. We targeted areas that would be good in mid June with good effect. I caught well over a dozen bass between 15 and 18 inches and one small walleye. Janet had similar yet smaller numbers (it wasn’t her day). What was I using? All together now – silver number 3 mepps. Janet caught several on the jointed floating rapala too.

Sooooo Hello, I really must be leaving – too much fun (work) to be had I am off – perhaps Janet will want to go fishing later.