Hunting with Mike

A few years ago my daughter Meghan and her husband Mark lived in Portland Oregon, and my wife and I stayed with them one summer for three weeks.  Now most fishermen know that the Columbia River is one of the most productive fisheries in the United States, and I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by, without wetting a line!

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever take.  This is a must “drive” if you are ever in the area!  We did the tourist thing for several days, with stops at beautiful falls,  shops, and off the beaten path eateries.  It was during these jaunts that I was formulating my plan to get some fishing in on the impressive Columbia.  This river (the ending of the Lewis and Clark expedition) is home to King, Silver, and Chinook salmon, along with Steelhead, and giant Sturgeon!

On the day of my excursion I started by driving to a little mountain lake, on the south side of Mt. Hood.  I only caught one 12″ brookie, so I decided to come down, and try the banks of the Columbia.  Fortunately for me I ran into a Native American who willingly shared his “secret hole” with me.  Actually the Native Americans have exclusive fishing rights along portions of the river, and he gave me directions to his “camp.”  It didn’t take me long to put these good eating steelhead in my cooler, as there seemed to be fish everywhere.

That evening I played “chef” and we had fresh Columbia “steelies,” baked potatoes, sweet corn, and fresh asparagus.  Fish is one of my son-in-laws favorite dishes, and he still brags about that meal from several years ago.  There is something very special about getting your “catch” to the frying pan, oven, or grill within hours of “icing it!”  I choose to grill mine using “cedar blocks” to add some smoky flavor, and used a seasoned, brown sugar/vinegar rub (my own receipt) to seal the deal!  I just made myself awful hungry-gotta go see if I have any fish in the freezer.

Mike

This is Dale Hayford’s add for bear hunting and fishing in Quebec Canada. Dale is “Serge Gaudets” (I know I spelled that wrong) booking agent here in the States. I’ve been wanting to do a blog on Dale, and some of his exploits, but we just haven’t been able to get our time schedules to match. Dale owns his own business, is assistant pastor of a growing church, and booking agent for a couple different outfitters. How he successfully “juggles” the three, plus keep his lovely wife smiling, and his three kids on track, is beyond me; but he does! Dale not only books hunts, but is an avid bowhunter/gunhunter himself. His den is jam packed with trophy deer, bear, moose, elk, and turkey. In fact he would like to expand his room for a little more wall space for future successful hunts!

I have bear hunted with Dale and Serge on two different occasions. Even though I did not bring home a bear, it wasn’t the bears fault! I saw more bear in Serge’s area than anyplace I’ve ever hunted. He is a good hard working outfitter, and will always go the extra mile to make your hunt memorable. The cabins are clean, the fishing great, and the scenery wild and unspoiled. You can bow or gun hunt, and the stands are well concealed and comfortable. If you are considering a spring bear hunt, Dale is the man to talk to. I saw Dale a few weeks ago, and he still has some openings left. There are some “big” bear in this area, that have never seen a human—until it’s to late! Give Dale a call and be prepared for a real Canadian hunting adventure.

Mike

My who could that “cute” little fella be? Well I’ll be darned it’s me! Behind me, in the picture, is the chicken coops, belonging to Diehl’s grocery store. This neighborhood store was located on South Custer about a mile west of Telegraph Rd. Mr Diehl raised chickens, and we used to watch him butcher them. Sometimes he would let us help him pluck the feathers, after the chickens were placed in a garbage can of hot water. Looking back, it was not fun, nor was it easy, but the two cents per chicken was hard to turn down!

The reason I mention any of this is because, one fine spring day, a baby blue-jay hopped up under one of the chicken coops, and I crawled after it. As soon as I placed both my excited hands around my new “pet” it started screaming at the top of its baby-bird lungs! I had no idea something so small could make such a racket. As I started to back out, from under the coop, I could hear “big” blue-jays squawking to beat the band! It seemed that my new pets momma was not quite ready to turn her baby over to me, and she had brought a whole lot of relatives with her! My six year old brain had a decision to make; let the little loud mouth go, or tempt fate, with a mad dash for my back door! Of course I had a 50-50 chance at making the right choice, and of course I made the wrong one. I no sooner started the 100 foot dash to safety when the first bird “dive-bombed” the top of my head! By the time I reached the back door I was crying my eyes out, and had been assaulted by every blue-jay in the neighborhood. I wondered how bad I was bleeding, but held tight to my prize.

Little did I know my mom and dad had been watching the show from the back landing, and my dad was laughing his traitorous head off! Mom didn’t think it was quite that funny, as the blue-jays continued to “buzz” our back door. After assessing the situation, my wise mother said “son I would be as mad as that momma blue-jay, if someone tried to take you away from me!” “God made mothers to protect their little ones, and that is what she’s trying to do!” “What do you think you should do?” Well after that heart wrenching “sermon” what else could I do, but let my “almost new pet” go back to his Mother.

I learned a lesson that day, and have seen it played out, over and over in people, and in the animal kingdom. Don’t mess with a womens kids, and stay away from wild critters with “babies!”

Your looking at one of the most remarkable people I know, and is truly “A man for all seasons!”  I have done other blogs about my friend Joe Giarmo, but quite frankly I could probably have a “career” writing about this humble man.

This picture was taken this morning at Joe’s favorite coffee shop “Tim Hortons.”   When Joe walks into the place, the girls automatically know what he wants; a medium coffee, with cream and one sugar, along with a croissant.  As you can see in the picture ninety one year old Joe, beat me to the draw again.  That’s his money laying on the counter, as I was too slow with the dough!  All those years of throwing those  “left hooks” and teaching his boys to do the same, has left Joe in great shape, both mentally and physically.  I’m 30 years younger, and I can’t keep up with him!

As you may know Joe has trained Monroe youth, the skills of boxing, for over 60 years.  There is now a great area, inside the Power House Gym in Monroe, where about 25 young men and women are trained by Todd Riggs and Ryan Wilburn.  Todd and Ryan have taken over Joe’s Boxing Club, and are building quite a reputation of their own.  They both boxed for Joe, and had several professional bout’s under their belts.  On April 19-20th. the Monroe County Community College will hold the annual Golded Gloves Tournament here in town, sponsored by Joe’s Boxing Club.  Joe still gets involved, when he can, but has to be careful not to catch a cold, as the lungs “ain’t” what they used to be!

Joe will be 92 years “young” on April 10th.  What an honor it has been to be friends with this legendary man.  Kids and adults from 8 to 70 owe Joe a debt of gratitude, for his commitment, to their development as athletes, and productive citizens of the community.  Thanks Joe for taking the time, and caring all these years, for every kid, who ever rang your doorbell, and said “Mr. Giarmo I want to learn to box.”  You were and are “THE BEST!”

Mike

Finally it looks like the weather is going to break for the better. It’s still nothing to write home about, but 50 is sure better than 28 and snow! In fact yesterday, my buddy Ed and I, went to the driving range, and hit a bucket of balls. Am I ever sore today-even my fingers are sore! Ed was driving the ball close to 300 yards, which is amazing for a 60 year old with some physical limitations. I also have limitations, but mine are mental, which keeps my drives down in the 220 yard range! Anyway it was good to stand in the sun (wearing only a t-shirt) and not be cold; even though it was only 50 degrees.

When I got home I got a couple of my fishing rods down from the garage and checked the line. Good thing I did! All of them needed new line, as the old stuff was rotted. You don’t want to be reeling in that big walleye or bass, and have your line break, because you didn’t change it for the new season! That happened to me one time in Quebec when I was fishing with my then 10 year old son. He had a “whopper” of a Northern Pike on, and just as I got the net under the fish the line broke. I then saw that the line was no-good, and we were very fortunate to land this lunker. That big pike is on the wall of my den, but he almost wasn’t-don’t let that happen to you

I also got my trolling motor down from the shed, and did an inspection on it. I’m charging my marine battery right now, and will hook things up when fully charged. Now is the time to do these chores, not when your on the water!

In my last two blogs I wrote about ticks and Lyme disease, and have had some ongoing conversations with several people infected by the disease. It is quite interesting, and is a subject I will be giving more time to in the future.

In my last blog I wrote about the problem of ticks carrying lyme disease, and got a reply from “James K.” from Concord New Hampshire.  James is keenly aware of the havoc  these little  “beast” can  bring upon unsuspecting outdoors people, as he has had chronic lyme disease for four (4) years now!

James stated in his e-mail that checking your body for ticks, after being outdoors, is only 20% effective in fighting these blood eating “devils!”  James suggest bug sprays, tucking in your socks, and sealing any skin areas exposed to the brush.  James never saw the tick that infected him, and it’s a good possibility you won’t either, as they can be no bigger than the period at the end of a sentence!

James has been through the “wringer” these past several years, and he would defiantly like to “get the word out” about Lyme disease.  Generally speaking, there is a good chance for recovery, if the disease is caught in it’s early stages.  The problem is that, in many instances, it is misdiagnosed by doctors unfamiliar with identifying the symptoms, which are similar to the flu!  If not caught in time the organism will multiply and migrate through the body, muscle, joints, nervous system, and brain!  Jame’s cognitive abilities and memory has been effected, and last year he could no longer work.

James went from being an outdoorsman, hunter, and a productive worker, to having his life turned upside down.  James is finding it very difficult to find proper care, and feels that this national problem is being “swept” under the rug by state health officials.  Assistance for James has been almost non-existent!  When applying at the State Of New Hampshire Health And Human Services Dept, it was determined that James had “low average intelligence” because he had trouble remembering dates and names!  DUH!  One of the major symptoms is neurological damage!

James is going to forward me the name of a Connecticut Lyme disease activist who is trying to get the word out.  Connecticut is probably the hardest hit state concerning people effected by the disease!  It would appear we could all use a little education on Lyme disease, and the devastation it can bring.  There is a good web-site at http://www.LymeDiseaseAssociation.org, which will fill you in on many of the basics about the disease.

If any of you readers believe in the power of prayer, please send some up for James and his loved ones.  Blessing James; hang in there brother.

Mike