Remembering a Hot Summer Afternoon

I've lived in Ann Arbor for just over three years. In that time I have made numerous trips to the closest section of the Huron River to to try my hand at catching whatever would bite. I was never impressed with the mutants that I was pulling out; rock bass with white eyes, all-black bluegills, and other varying offerings that I refer to only as "panfish." Due to the many dams on the Huron I regarded it as a few long, slow-moving, oligotrophic lakes strung together that could only support halfbreeds and muttfish.

But this summer I found out that people catch some sizable carp on the Huron. The sub/ counterculture of carp fishermen deserves a post of its own. Pictures of people landing 10 lbs + carp not far from where I live got me super stoked. I picked up appropriate tackle, but the season's best time coincided with my last set of law school finals. Needless to say, my dreams of horsing in copper-colored softmouths yielded to the necessity of my school duties.

Fast forward a few weeks: I'm done with law school for good (graduation in a week and a half). Now, barring preparation for the Bar Exam (honestly, not a pun) my free time is truly free time. Today I put some of my free time to good use: I gave the Huron another shot.

I'm very glad that I made a serious effort to find a fishable portion of the Huron. It will give me one more resource to call on when I need a reprieve. We caught many Bluegill, a few smallmouths and quite a few decent-size rock bass. There were no trophy fish willing to suck up our flies but they were out there, in the water... and that will keep me coming back.

You get that Chernobyl Hopper little man!

Carp carp everywhere and me with my little 6 wt. Next time.

Hunter with his prize of the day.

J.

Beavers Make a Dam Mess

A few weeks ago while on an overnight hike my brother and I stopped to admire the handiwork of some furry little engineers.

While we were initially amazed at the pond that the beavers had created we were more than a little bummed when we discovered that their calculations were just a little off in determining how much area they would flood with their project.

The next section of the North Country Trail was flooded as a result of their dam. What a mess. In order to keep our shoes dry for the rest of hte hike we had to "ford the river" barefooted. 

After drying our feet we stopped to check out the area below the dam that continued to flow. To our surprise there were fish making their way up to spawn. 

Once their business is done the fish expire and give themselves over to help sustain other creatures of the forest. It is such a beautiful little drama.

More on the remainder of our hike later.

-j

 

Spring Golden Hour

"Bullfrog Pond"

Lower Peninsula Splendor

"Beauty and the Beast"

We must go West.

While on my way out west I flew over the Rockies. It was the first time that I have ever been out that way. I felt very small and insignificant. I think that in the near future I need to go see them in person.

I want to stand at the base of a real mountain and look up.

Freshly brined dirt roads

Got back from California and decided to go out for a nice 27 miler on the local dirt roads.

Met with Hunter on Friday and headed out. In spite of a nasty headwind that seemed to synch up with each of our turns it was a great way to jump back onto the fitness wagon.

Thanks Hunter for the companionship and the Washtenaw county road commission for brining the roads. Nice and smooth, just like I like it.

J.

Sharks

Last week we went to anaheim. While there we went to the aquarium of the Pacifica in the to long beach where we were shark and ray petters.

It was awesome.

J.

Almost three months have come and gone

I am nearing the end of law school and it only makes sense that things will be getting a little crazy for me. That being said; I still try to take some time for me every once in a while. Case in point, last week I was given the opportunity to take a trip out to California. Thanks to Chelsea's mom, Jessica for the trip, it was much needed.

It was beautiful, warm and oddly enough, anaheim smells beautiful.

My final semester begins Monday morning for me. But it's not just a normal semester, it will be the first semester where I have a real job, with a real paycheck. I am pretty stoked. All in all things seem to be moving right along. I will be graduating in September, taking the Michigan bar exam in February and working full time in the interim.

My gosh, things are a true whirlwind right now; I have one semester to go, ...