Messages

16

General Board / Re: Montana Popsicles

« on: January 28, 2023, 05:27:01 AM »

Great pictures Mike!  Man, it's nice to see real trout and not ones that are grown in test tubes like the slugs they make out here.

I remember catching some of those at LNL!

I need to get up to Hyalite Creek again. So far, those trout have had the most vibrant colors. I haven’t been in a while mostly because it’s thick with bush and Griz. But, I recently bought some . . . protection, so maybe it’s time to return.

Gorgeous pictures and beautiful trout Mike!

Thanks, Chad. I bet you’ve got some killer pics of the Lake. I never used to drive the east side because I was always coming from Spokane, but the last time I was through there (pre-pandemic), I noticed the majestic views from the 90 on the east side. Wow, and some of those homes!

17

General Board / Re: Montana Popsicles

« on: January 22, 2023, 08:41:15 AM »

I want to see some of those famous Montana Trout! (That or maybe some fossils) lol

Every year I say I'm going to put up a report here, but then I don't get around to it. I mostly don't take pics of the fish anymore. I try not to handle them and just get them back in the water as quickly as possible. I know, it's no fun, but the freshwater models are not as hardy as most of the saltwater species.

I mainly just take pics of landscapes and some of my fav fishing holes.













There's a fossil dig class you can take in Yellowstone. I gotta do it!

18

General Board / Re: Montana Popsicles

« on: January 18, 2023, 05:40:19 AM »

But there is always that one person in shorts and flip flops Merry Christmas

Ha, ha, no kidding. We always have at least a few knuckleheads jogging in shorts in the negative temps. Maybe not at -40, but they’ll start showing up at -20, lol.

Hope you had a good holiday, Tim.

Holy Crap Mike!  Glad all is well and that's a hell of a temp change in 24 hours!  WOW!

It was a pretty gnarly temp swing! Still unseasonably warm. I should have been out fishing last weekend. It was 56 not far from me, which was the same temp as Ladera and Malibu. Another cold front coming in though . . .

And I thought it got cold here at -14!
That door knob picture says it all Mike, wow!

I should have gotten some pics of the window sills as well. Glad you stayed (relatively) toasty!

19

General Board / Re: Montana Popsicles

« on: December 24, 2022, 06:41:16 AM »

It's been so long since I've posted on a fishing forum that I forgot the general rule of calling b.s. with no pics.

So here are my pics!

My outdoor weather station is right alongside my garage on the eastern side, so this is about as accurate as it can get:



Yes, the elements were taking hold and infiltrating through the doorknobs and window sills:



Looking forward to the inferno today and the next few days. 

20

General Board / Re: Quiet Check-In

« on: December 24, 2022, 06:21:24 AM »

Haven't been fishing at all in the last few months since I was focused on hunting.
Got skunked this season on elk and deer, but I'm learning a lot and was able to at least see some animals, so that's encouraging.  I'm learning new areas and tracking skills.  Got out of my rig in the dark one morning to the serenade of wolves not far off.  What an awesome sound! 

Currently 16* and dumping snow.  It's supposed to be -10* for the low tomorrow.  Still loving it!

I bet that was cool, Chad, hearing those wolves!

I guess it got to -59F somewhere in Northern Idaho. Glad that wasn't you. I assume you're now experiencing the heat wave we're getting. Should be +50F tomorrow!

21

General Board / Re: Quiet Check-In

« on: December 24, 2022, 06:18:33 AM »

But, I don't want to hear any gripes about the cold. It's -15F and that's going to be our high today, with a low near -40 tonight. Gonna warm up to 45F this weekend, however.

Gotta go snowblow right now and try not to die, lol!

Hahahaha, yep and NOOOOOOOOOOoooooooooooooooo Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

I got your card and thanks Mike!  Happy Holidays!

Same to you, Tom!

22

General Board / Re: Montana Popsicles

« on: December 24, 2022, 06:16:37 AM »

Hi Tom, it was a brief cold snap but we're OK! Garage fridge shut down and I had to move frozen food to the inside fridge, but other than that it wasn't bad. Just deadly if you/your animals get stuck outside.

It got to -40F where I'm at. But today will be on the other end of the spectrum +40F and tomorrow +50F! That's a 110-degree swing in a matter of days. I'm sure I'll see some folks jogging in shorts today and I'll be doing some work on the front porch.

Thanks for checking on us. Happy holidays to everyone!

23

General Board / Re: Quiet Check-In

« on: December 21, 2022, 05:58:28 AM »

Happy Holidays, Tom. Hope your dinner and drinks turned out great. We have family coming in tomorrow so I'm gearing up to play cook as well.

But, I don't want to hear any gripes about the cold. It's -15F and that's going to be our high today, with a low near -40 tonight. Gonna warm up to 45F this weekend, however.

Gotta go snowblow right now and try not to die, lol!

24

General Board / Re: Boneyard Tales out today!

« on: November 10, 2022, 10:02:58 AM »

Thanks for your support guys. It's been a fun adventure.

Good idea, Chad, might want to wait a few years before reading them my disturbing content, lol.    Glad you're enjoying it.

25

General Board / Re: Boneyard Tales out today!

« on: November 04, 2022, 02:29:06 PM »

Happy to report that we sold enough of BYT to justify a hardcover, which was released last month. Check out the fantastic cover art a buddy of mine did for this new edition:



Take a closer look at what the creepy bison-skeleton creature is reading:




Anyway, just wanted to thank you all for your support with my collection earlier this year. 

Tight lines,

mdcesq

26

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Re: North Idaho Fishing with my Boys

« on: October 05, 2022, 09:23:14 AM »

Awesome, Chad. So cool to see you get the kids out fishing Looks like some sunfish in the latter two pics?

It seems you're living it up in the north. I'm winding down the season on the Yellowstone right now with my last trip of the year.

Hope you get in some more outings before snowfall!

27

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / Re: YNP Labor Day Weekend '22

« on: September 13, 2022, 08:11:41 AM »

Fly Fishing is an art, looks like you are doing it well

Many thanks, Tim. It was enough to produce a nice cutthroat. That was before a bison came up behind me and I had to get back in the RV!

Good to see you on the board, hope all is well...........Verne

All well here, Verne. Tx for asking. Hope you're catching some fish and enjoying life.

Great seeing a report Mike! Long cry from Yellowtail fishing with conventional reels. 

Oh, and I read a few more stories in the book and realize you are totally demented in some twisted way. LoL

I wish I'd taken a picture of the cutthroat but I had difficulty unhooking it, even with a crushed barb, so I got it back in the water right away. Freshwater trout definitely are not as hardy as those SoCal saltwater species!

Demented and twisted is probably the greatest compliment a horror-fiction writer can receive, so thank you! Yeah, there's some warped stuff in there and it's best to read a few stories at a time with long breaks in between. You don't want to get too deep into my head, lol.

That Bison and calf was pretty cool to see. The calf was all happy hooves!

Yeah, it was a cool sight to see. I like the part at the end where the calf kicks up dust!

28

Freshwater Shore Fishing Reports / YNP Labor Day Weekend '22

« on: September 12, 2022, 06:06:53 AM »

My wife, dog, and I made it down to Yellowstone for the second time this year for the 150th celebration. I fished some new areas and my wife did this video of me fly casting (she straightens it after about 20 seconds). I'm sure I broke every casting rule in the book but I just try to get the fly on the water these days!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Ra0Da2kzw02-2A--qZjOQf7vz4XFPtj/view?usp=sharing

We also were able to get into the Park shortly after the flood in July. You can see the water color is different. I got a kick out of this baby bison running circles around its mother!:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zdxMT4h1wWELwc59xLpMaSuDn2MEXj9u/view?usp=sharing

Hope you can view the vids.

29

General Board / Re: Last Day @ Work...

« on: March 12, 2022, 07:29:05 AM »

Good luck, Tom. Congrats on the new job.

I've been at mine for 10 years, and I can't imagine the challenges of looking for a new job, let alone starting a new one.

Has the transition been easier/harder than you thought?

30

General Board / Re: Boneyard Tales out today!

« on: March 09, 2022, 08:35:12 AM »

So I'm 4 stories in and realize something... Mike has a little bit of south of heaven in him. LoL
Great stuff so far Mike!

Yes indeed, yes indeed. There's some unsettling stuff in there. I got a little warped in the head practicing criminal law for so long, and then reading too much Steve King/Chuck Palahniuk.

But there are some happy endings, just not many, lol.

Thanks for the read and comments, Tom.