FLORIDA TRIP

So far, the boys have played 2 games down south winning one against a Bronx team and losing one to North Hills from Pittsburgh. They play 2 today, come home tomorrow, then play 2 on Saturday at Pettisville.  Alot of baseball considering they play 5 games next week.

They did get to fish on a charter in the ocean and caught a ton of fish....most 12-14 inches, and said they had a great time.

Hope the weather holds out and we can fish this weekend. The boat is in for routine maintenance, so pike and walleye fishing will start heating up. My plan is to get the points for both by next weekend.

Who's going to stop me?

Brian

TRIP TO FLORIDA

The kids went to the airport at 4pm for their 6pm flight to find out the flight was delayed until further notice? Apparently the plane was still in Florida...so the kids were delayed 4 hours or so. They landed at 230am due to fog and circling the airport for 30 minutes until they diverted to another airport.  They got to the Hotel at 530am....but they made it.

Their first game is Monday morning.....Hate to miss any of their games, but it's the end of month and really busy at work. They come home next Friday and have a double header Saturday Morning followed by 4 games the next week and a home game with Bryan and the best pitcher in our league if not the state.

I hope the kids catch some huge bass in Florida as the spawn is on!! A lot of money still at stake.....may try to catch a walleye while they are away to stay up in the challenge....

DELTA BASEBALL / FLORIDA TRIP

The kids leave today for Florida. I threw BP yesterday and most of those kids smash the ball. We also have some smaller kids that can run, steal bases, and will score runs ahead of AA, RC, JB, NA..... Should be a fun year and a nice playoff run.

I have been throwing to most of these kids since they were 8....it's scary to throw to them now as they are as big if not bigger than me. I Chuck and duck and pray for no comebackers through the L screen.

The kids apparently have it worked out to fish while they're down there which corresponds with Florida's bass spawn. I look forward to the pictures. Just a reminder when you text me a monster, it still needs measured. Good luck!!

Lots of points and cash left to determine who the FISH GOD is.

Brian

Day 17

Cold weather with a chance of snow or freezing rain for the next 5-6 days. Little to no fishing. The boys are headed to Florida on Friday for baseball, so I was really hoping to fish a ton and get some points. The boat goes in to Bass Pro to relpace the winch strap and run the motor.

Getting closer to that first pike at Baw Bees.

Brian

Morgan crushed Tyler

Today we fished Windy Lake and Morgan crushed Tyler and edged me with first fish, big fish, and most fish. She caught 4 on a blue chatter bait and an ultralight combo. She missed numerous other fish but managed to catch 4 total largemouth to my 3. Tyler caught zero and may never fish again as his girlfriend embarrassed him.....AWKWARD.

Hunter and Alex fished the river by boat and saw a ton of fisherman and quite a few walleye. Alex snagged a 24 incher and released it. No cash or points for foul hooked fish. Tyson also snagged a handful of walleye and lost a couple of legal fish at the boat.

Marc and John are down the river now....so waiting on a text message.

Day 15

Well Hunter has been paid for his 14 inch plus bass, but theres a lot of money and prizes still up for grabs....we are just getting started. The best is yet to come.

I caught just one bass yesterday at Windy Lake (temps were 38 degrees). I know Hunter, Alex, and Marc caught bass there yesterday also. Marc had a 2 pound plus fish.

Today, Tyler, Morgan and I will fish at Windy while Hunter and Alex are down at the river trying to catch a qualifying walleye.

Next week I plan on taking the boat to Baw Bees for pike. Get ready for some pictures to be uploaded.

Special mention to Alex who pitched yesterday in Delta's first scrimmage and struck out R.J. and trash talked him back to the dugout. Only a matter of time before he charges the mound. I hope I'm there when it happens.

Brian

DAY 15

The fish were very active yesterday. I started midday with a wacky worm and fished all depths with no luck. Went back to deeper water and the rattle jig and snapped it off the bottom. The first fish I caught bit 5 times before I hooked it.....just under 14 inches. The second fish ate the jig after an aggressive retrieve and it earned the first 10 points in the challenge. One step closer to being the FISH GOD.

I will never the money that goes with the qualifying fish....that will always be earned by the kids.

I fished later with Albert, Hunter, Ryan, Marc, and creek chubber and we all caught fish. Marc caught the most but Hunter caught a bass of just over 14 inches and earned the cash ($15). Congratulations.

Marc may have had a fish that qualified but didn't have anything to measure them. Lesson learned. He won't fish again without a board or tape.

It seems like a walleye would be the next likely fish to get caught, but the pike will start getting active, so my first trip in the tracker may be to Baw Bees. Lake Erie is always iffy because of the wind, but I know we can catch walleye on the humps......need a perfect day.

I texted about a couple fishing tournaments that will have more cash and prizes, but we all need to agree that more points can be earned as well before scheduling.

This is going to get real competitive quick. You boys better get serious, cause there's no crying in fishing.

Brian

Day 14

Let the games begin.....I went to Windy Lake midday yesterday and pitched a Texas rig and wacky rig to no avail. Just before leaving, I switched on a rattle jig and caught a 13 1/2 inch bass on the first cast. The water is so cold the fish are just on the bottom and not ready to chase. You boys are lucky.

Hunter and I went back last night and he totally outfished me 2-0 with no keepers as I struggled to get the boat where HE wanted in the 30MPH winds. Next time he rows.

I'll fish again today and possibly tonight. I know Marc and John fished the river last night and saw some fish but couldn't get bit. Tyler just talked, Ryan and Justin have been sick and quiet. Albert played basketball.

This weekend will be interesting...get a good picture. We'll start uploading the trophies.

Brian

Day 13

I fished my lunch hour at Windy Lake to no avail. Fished slow and slower with no bites or follows. It is going to be even warmer today, so I will be out again this afternoon instead of watching basketball.

Go Bucks........but their road to the Final 4 is tough. UTSA tomorrow should be a good warm up for the sweet 16 game Sunday. Kentucky and North Carolina matchups soon.

Brian

Day 12

Today or tomorrow is the day the first bass will be caught....56 degrees and sun later today, followed by 64 degrees and sun tomorrow. No way I don't catch the first keeper.

Have fun at school and keep your phones charged.

Brian

Day 10

After a promising looking weekend and a lot of chirping....no one caught the first legal bass and the points and cash are still up for grabs. It is supposed to get warm tomorrow so I am planning on fishing my lunch hour. Keep your phones charged and get ready to weep boys.

Baseball season officially started today and the Panthers are loaded from top to bottom. I would guess Delta, Bryan, Patrick Henry, and Archbold will be the league favorites.

Ryan isa goon and the best hitter in the league and has already given Toledo a verbal agreement to play there in 2 years. He will set the school record for HR's this year and drive in around 35 runs. Hopefully Hunter and Albert can score ahead of him a few times.

Brian

Day 9

Hunter,Alex and I all fished Windy Lake for a while yesterday to no avail. The ice will be completely gone by early this week, but the water temps are around 35. I really thought the bass would be cruising the shallows but we saw no fish.

Tyler says he drove by a pond he plans to fish today and the ice was gone.....so he was chirping last night about the first keeper. I will be out in a while, so don't plan on sleeping in boys.

Get ready for the first text.

Brian

Day 8

I fished for the first time of the year yesterday at Windy lake. Still a little too much ice and not enough open water, but it was great to get out and try for the first 14 incher. Today there should be a little more open water,but next week looks like the first points of the challenge will be taken as the temps look like they will be in the mid 50's.

While you boys are learning about American History and Spanish, I'll fish my lunch hour. Check your phones when school lets out.

Brian

Day 7

Snow, ice, cold.....no way to fish today, but let's talk about the game last night. We almost shocked the world by beating Archbold, the #2 team in the state. In my opinion, we outplayed them, out hustled them, and wanted it more than them. We just fell a little short. One or (2) no calls late would have made a difference.  Without a doubt, we win the next game (Paulding or Evergreen) and go to regionals.....Sprow's first.

Chubber you played great.......I just think Albert was fresh and would have taken over in the OT.

Game over!!

Day 6

I went to Windy Lake yesterday and the ice is melting fast, but is still unfishable. There is currently a couple feet of water around the outside edge and melting fast. Some snow and colder weather at night is in the forecast, so this weekend will be tough for fishing, but the day time temperatures will be well above freezing......so anything is possible. Until then, read up.

http://www.bassdozer.com/articles/after_ice_out.shtml

Day 5

The pressure is on to score that first bass with the kids off school on Friday and the temperatures getting a little warmer. I have one rod, jigs,board and a wacky set up in the car to sneak off to Windy lake before Friday. I will go on lunch and catch one keeper in my work clothes to get a step closer to FISH GOD.

You boys better be ready. To size up the competition:

Hunter- Will fish anytime, anyplace, and will try to out work everyone. Can catch fish on anything.
Albert- Attention span of a flea, but is a pretty good slow fisherman (Jigs, worms, etc.)
Chirps non stop.
Ryan- Surprisingly a good chirper, but also fishes good slow. He hates to get up early for everything but fishing.
Marc- The next coming of Daniel Boone. Loves the outdoors and will fish anytime and catch fish on everything.
Justin- Very quiet but competitive. Will never let his brothers beat him.
Tyler- He is talking a lot right now. Loves to fish, and is good working slow.
John- Competitive and doesn't want to let any of the kids beat him. Will fish slow and get up to Hudson to catch a musky.

Expect a lot of talking, but points and cash are king. Good luck.

Brian

Day 4

Too cold today for clear water but will get to 50 degrees today and tomorrow. Possibly tomorrow will be the first bass caught and $15 and 10 points. Fish slow.

Brian

Day 3

Back to work today with no chance of clear water. You boys better get ready, so read up.

http://www.versus.com/fishing/

Alex and Hunter

Day 2 ends with no fish.....But don't worry, I will catch the first legal bass this week as soon as I see clear water.....I predict Thursday will be the big day!

Brian

Hunter and Alex

They just left the house and think they found a place to fish without ice......They think they can catch a hybrid.

day 2

An inch of snow and temperatures below freezing won't allow fishing for a couple of days....It is supposed to warm up with sun later this week. The boat is clean and all lures organized.

I will take some gear to work everyday until I catch the first keeper bass and earn the first points of the season. If you fish, don't forget your board or tape as all qualifying fish need measured with a picture text.

By the end of the week, I predict I will have earned the first points.

Please be nervous everytime you get a text message.

Brian

IT OFFICIALLY STARTS TODAY

The challenge officially starts today, but the weather is terrible and the ice has yet to melt off the lakes. The first part of the challenge is the first legal bass of 14 inches for a $15 prize. Everyone is convinced they will catch the first legal bass. In addition to the bass, the other prizes are for the first walleye, pike, and musky. Additional prize money for the biggest bass, walleye, pike, and  and musky of the year. Each qualified fish will earn the fisherman points. Whoever earns the most points will become the FISH GOD and earn the grand prize- spinning rod and reel combo from Bass Pro shops.

This should finally prove that I am the best fisherman in Delta.

Congratulations to Tyler who finished 7th in the state of Ohio Division III wrestling tournament today as a freshman.

Brian