This was one of the weirdest catches I have ever experianced myself on a casting rod. This soft shelled turtle actually bit my cut bait and swallowed the hook. It also put up a fight like a fish does. I don’t know much about this type of turtle but I dont believe they are very common I have seen small ones once in awhile when walking the shoreline but this one was special. It was in my opinion Huge. I know certain turtles can grow to really large sizes but it seams rare to ever find them outside a Zoo.

I got this channel cat in the dark on a dead shiner that I cut in half. I am finding that the channel cats like the dead cut bait but the flat heads seem to go after live bait. So i have been fishing with live minnows and then they die I pull out my knife cut them in half and cast it back out. I wish I knew somone that wanted to clean and eat the channel cats. I have been catching alot of them that are good eating size. Not too big not too small. I am still waiting and trying to sink my hook into one of the monster flatheads. I know they are in there.

I think this is a grass carp. Its hard to know because there seem to be a lot of different types of carp in the river this year and I really dont care enough to do and carp research. I dont mind catching them because they always put up a good fight and raise the excitment level. The hope of it being a game fish before they break water is exciting. The only bad part about catching them is the slime and scales they leave in on and all around the boat. This one hit on my light fast action rod and it really tested out the flexability and strength of the rod and holder.

Mom send me this beautiful picture of a Monarch Butterfly on her hand. Not sure how it happened or how the butterfly got there but I thought it was worthy of sharing on here.

I am going to be setting her blog on patsynow.com up so she will be able to post from her cellphone. Maybe there she will write some details about things like this when they happen.

Well this might be one of the last pictures I get of my prego sister before she isnt prego anymore. She is ready to pop any time now.

I am going to have another little niece. I will be certain to publish more about the new baby once she is here.

Last night I enjoyed my dinner more then usual. Chicken Taters & Cake. I grilled up the chicken brest and smeared a little BBQ sauce while they were grilling. Then nooked up some mashed taters and enjoyed a piece of chocalate crunch bar cake.

Makes me hungry again thinking about it.

I took some time yesterday to play with Taylor and her silly puddy. She was very happy with the horse I made for her. She could hardly wait for me to let her touch it and she really loves to see her picture on the computer.

While I was out trying to better organize things in the boat Mom walked up and saw a butterfly land on the boat. She allowed it to walk onto her hand and I snapped a few pictures. I am unsure what kind of butterfly it is or why it was so friendly but it posed very nice for some pictures.

I reinstalled the boats trolling motor. It wasn’t on when I bought the boat but its totally a must have for the way I fish for Walleye and White Bass. I dont like that its white but its really useful. Doug and Jason have both practiced with it and it does take some time to get used to the pedel. I think it will be perfect for being able to cover the whole pit or any calm flat water. I love the idea of being able to troll with one short stable line and jig with my other rod. I have else been thinking about using it to survey the debth of the pit and chart it. It would be really nice to learn the contour and bottom structure so I could better target the places where fish will naturally hover around.

I thought I would post this picture of the boat without the topper / canipe. I have only had it in the water this way so far. But if it is a light rainy day i will probabally try with it on. The canipe takes away from the back of the boats fishing area but there would still be plenty of room in the front.