No Complaints

After a long drive back to Nebraska hauling a Uhual I was beat for a couple days.

Honda Loaded, Kayak...check...Lets see if it will make the 1,077
mile trek 

I was quite full!!! Gotta have the shot surfboard

Well needless to say the Honda made it. Now I was excited to get back on the lakes and start kayaking again before I head off on my next trip to St. Louis and softball/school start. 

I went to a different place this time Buckskin Lake. It is about 25 minutes from my place. The lake is tucked hidden in the rolling hills and gravel roads in Nebraska.  Buckskin Lake is on 75 acre prairie land and was built as a flood control reseivor. It was a nice peaceful morning and a great day to get out, since I knew it would heat up fast. 

Very calm morning

I started fishing and seeing dead fish...The heat wave/no rain is so bad it is taking the oxygen out of the water leading to ichthoid death. (I didn't think you wanted to see pictures of dead fish so not posting them).

Since the water is not really moving and combined with the heat the algae/seaweed is overtaking the lake. 

Tons of green--first person to find the frog I will send you a
bobber (it may be used--keep reading)

I hooked one small mouth bass. Just a tiny guy. 

Paddling around I was just as happy. Instead of fish I found a stash of bobbers and hooks.

My stash 

 I was kind of mad when I found the "big" hook...And I wasn't sure why I did get mad--maybe because it was tied to a tree...I only wonder what are they fishing for in this lake???  A whale?? (Since it is illegal to hunt whale in Nebraska).

Not getting this bobber..

I cleaned them up...

They have been in there awhile some of them

Simon helped

P.S-Obviously I am a little behind on some of my posts. I'll try and get caught up!

Blake Lake's Quest

When we got up I was disappointed that the aurora borealis never came. I have always wanted to see it, guess I'll just keep looking at the night sky. Blake Lake looked like a sheet of glass when we got up. What a sight it is to see.

Let's go fish!!! Love watching the sunrise especially in
the kayak

We headed over to our "trusty" bay to catch bait for the day.  Again, I failed completely. Good thing I had Todd to catch the "small" fish. He tells you how he catches them on, Flyyak. 

We caught some bigger then this, the bigger
fish loved them!

Todd was successful at getting bait. It started to sprinkle which brought the fish to the surface, but they didn't want to eat what we were serving up!

Still had a great morning! 

When we got back, we checked the weather. BAD NEWS.  Who knew this would already be our last day. There was a huge rainstorm blowing in, 36 hours of rain with 35-40 mile per hour winds. In a kayak=no fun. We decided to be safe and take off early, even though we did not want to leave our glory island.  Todd and I decided to grit it out as long as we could. 

The wind is starting to blow and the white caps are starting. 

One thing we don't do is give up. Our challenge is, lets see how many fish we can catch before it starts raining. 

So proud 

Too bad it wasn't bass season Toddy. 

Well Todd won that round, but I think I won the biggest :).  Even though our trip got cut short we had an awesome time together. It was nice taking a vacation and doing something we both like.  I am glad I got the opportunity to spend time with my brother, learn new fishing techniques/tips, reminisce about the past, and most of all just have fun. 

My favorite pictures of the trip will be coming!!

Black Lake's Fishing Journey

Woke up the next morning energized and ready to go. I got out of my sleeping bag, put down the stuffed trout fish I was cuddling with and went to the door to look at the calm lake wavy lake. I remember every morning as a kid that Black Lake was always smooth as glass.

Woke up before sunrise!!! 

The sun is coming! What a beautiful scene. 

So what to do today??--Hard question to answer...

Todd went fly fishing and.....

Got a nice bass...too bad it wasn't season...

After fishing a little we decided to kayak a 1/2 mile over to another bay, we hoped to be screened from the wind since we weren't too smart with packing warm clothes this week.

Throw him back!

Todd being super successful, a fat sunny! 

There was a lot of little sunfish, blue gill, and caught a couple of Crappy (the minimum is 9 inches-ours weren't long enough). We were getting a little cold and hungry so decided to paddle back to the island.

Todd and his big Northern Pike 

Close up of the Northern--22 inches 

My first bull head on the island----nice belly

We go out on the crimped lake and Todd again is amazing in his carroty kayak.

Caught this baby on a spoon!

When we fish on the island we throw a couple more poles in with bobbers and some small fish to see what we can catch. I am casting a spoon and notice one of the lines goes tight, the bobber goes down (in my head  I am like awesome!) I call over to Todd and then the bobber comes back up (fail). The bobber stays up but keeps getting further and further out. At the same second, like we were talking silently in our heads together, we realized the bobber isn't attached anymore.  I took the pole and start reeling it in, this fish is putting up a ferocious fight. I am reeling it in, letting slack out, reeling in, letting slack out, the fish hits the surface and "OHHH MY GOSH!!!!" this thing is a big one!!!! Todd is like "whoooooa" and to impress him, it means something---I got to land this Bowfin. Todd has the net ready, only if I can get this big girl close. I fight, fight, and fight, finally land it into Todd's net.....

My biggest fish EVER--Bowfin 27 inches, 8 pounds 

I have never been so excited in my life!!!!! 

Todd with the big girl!!!

I had time for one more fish before the sun really set.

He was a little Bowfin!

Sunset on the second night! 

Even after sunset we still don't give up. 

Holy belly on the bullhead! 

If you would like Black Lake from the dude above check out my brother's blog, Flyyak.

Black Lake's Adventures

 We unloaded the kayaks from the make shift dirt and gravel sloping earth. There was an instant calmness that struck me...I went back to all my childhood memories of fishing, swimming, and exploring the infamous Black Lake. I looked into the lake and for the first time in my life I could actually see in it. It didn't have the blackness that once took over this mass 20 mile natural lake which was carved out by glaciers some 15,000 years ago. A creature called the Zebra Mussel has now moved into this once pristine untouched lake. The Zebra Mussel started in Russia and because people think it is such a good idea to introduce it to other places it is now a very invasive species.

Zebra Mussel--make sure you wash your boat/kayak to
prevent hitchhikers! 

This is the clearest I have ever seen the lake 

Todd and I kayaked over to Bull Head Island "Paradise" which is only about a .25 paddle (one way) we ended up taking two trips due to our gear and food. After we made our second trip back we got everything ready we needed to survive for the next three days since we don't have electricity. Then we started to do what we love the most...fish...

Our Paradise

Todd got right down to fishing and.....

It paid off!!! A Bow fin!! It is a "little guy"

I came right in the game with a Large Mouth Bass,
it isn't bass season so threw the fishy back 

We got a couple on land but decided to get in the kayaks and see what we could bring home. 

We went through the back bay and I was paving the way!
If you look the lily pad flowers were up 2 more inches then
the water, that's how quick it dropped from the day before. 

The weeds tried to get the best of us but we weren't going to let that happen.....

Reeled in a Northern Pike in the kayak, you can see his
nose lost in the weeds 

Northern Pike--22 inches 

Meanwhile watch your step when you put your fish in the water.....stepping on algae is a success unsuccessful!!!

Man down! 

I had never really gotten the hang of fly fishing and my brother being such a great guy took the time to show me how to catch the "big one!"

My first fish on the fly rod!!!! Yeah, he's HUGE!!! 

We fished all the way to sun set. 

Can't complain about my backyard up here!

Trying to catch that fish that kept jumping!!! Nice and calm

Wind started to pick up

Clouds started to move in (the back of the cabin)

But, in the end the first day was a success!

Black Lake

After a crazy school year I was ready to get away from people (except my brother) and technology. Black Lake is located in Northern New York near the Canada border. My family has owned Bull Head Island since 1958. Many people don't see it as anything. I see it as a fishing paradise. My brother and I packed up our kayaks and headed up Interstate I-81, to finally experience peace and quite.

Kayaks are loaded. Took us a while to get
them on one car. Let's see if they hold!

The drive seemed to take twice as long as usual. But, inside I felt like I was a little kid again going into New York City's Toys R' Us. The Yaris took us off the exit and towards our launch spot. It had been at least twelve years since I set foot on Bull Head Island. It is amazing how you get caught in a "always on the run" life and forget to enjoy the little things in your heart. As we drove through the little towns that used to contain our shopping mart that sold bait and ice were now boarded up with "no trespassing" signs. I thought what happened to these small towns in twelve years. We picked up a bag of ice that would be our only line to cold food due to no electricity on this island.

Continuing on we reminisced on how the "drunk guy" stumbled out of this house, what happened to the llamas at that field, and when the swimming hole was built. It all comes back to you, no matter how long it has been. We turned off of Black Lake Road where we used to fight as kids about who would open the Cow Gate. Our Dad would say "Don't let the cows out!," now I think if a cow was coming-I don't think I would stand a chance! The cows are long gone along with the big red barn who lost its life to a fire. The infamous dirt/rock road takes us to our launching site for our kayaks. Our dog, Tanner, used to hate the dirt road and jump on our laps as we were sardines in the back of a 1986 Chevy Station Wagon. We passed the once cow bars that kept the big black and white cows out of Black Lake. Now we are home free. 

Paradise 

Kayak Tipping... Better then cow??

April 6: I know I'm a little behind in posting for everyday. I have crappy service lately. But, I had to share this before the others!!!

I had the day off and haven't kayaked in about a week and half. Excited to get out! Couldn't sleep so got up early strapped the kayak on.

I got to Powder Creek via a 20 minute back road detour! 8:15 I'll still take it --I knew I had to be off the lake early today! I paddled to the middle, the wind really starting to pick up and the waves were getting choppy. I wanted some more protection so paddled over into the back bay to try my fishing luck.

Choppy, I see my bobber! 

I got some advice from my brother to go with gulp maggots. I started fishing and floating. The current was really pushing me so I decided to hunker down on the rocks and keep casting. I wasn't really paying attention and all of a sudden my fishing rod jerked. I set the hook and had a nice fight. At the end of my line what did appear???

A 15inch or so Catfish!

I'll take it! 

Super excited me!!!!!

I decided to paddle close to the shore and go to the other side. I got a little close........When this happened.....

In west powder creek I hear the occasional moo and there is more wildlife then your average zoo! I spend most of my day chillin' out kayaking and fishing the lake away. A couple of geese  who were up to no good started making trouble in the lake woods one flew a little close and I got scared, I took a dunk and now I had wet hair!

My hoodie weight about 40 pounds after the dunk!!!

I ended up paddling a little close to a goose nesting area. The water was a little chilly!!! I was right by the shore so no big deal. I laid out my clothes to dry out. I could have walked 1/4 mile to my car for some dry clothes but there's no fun in that. I dried out what I needed to and got back in the kayak.

Caught some Panfish

I had to get going due to Easter weekend.

The truck is all packed up!

Overall, I had a great day! Caught a nice catfish. Thanks Toddy!!! A little water never hurt!!!