Maybe I'll write a book..or go fishing instead!

As you can tell by the frequency with which I update my blog, I write when the notion hits me. Lately I've been thinking about the blog, a few cool things to talk about, a ton of boring crap to NOT talk about, and why I have the blog anyway.

What it's all about.

A few years ago I had a burst of creative expression that I felt was leading to writing articles and possibly a book or two on subjects that interested me. Those subjects were somewhat eclectic, in that the consumers of that type of information are not in the majority of the population. Hog hunting, kayak fishing, metal detecting-those are still somewhat on the periphery of the 'hot topic' list! Yet, there is a strong demand for things kayak fishing related, treasure hunting (thanks to 'reality' TV) and hog hunting-my most common outdoor pursuits.

Lately I've done almost none of those things, with the exception of fishing. I've horse-traded around and ended up with a pretty nice fishing kayak, and 'been there, done that' with almost every DIY accessory I could imagine to make my experiences with the kayak easier. The truth is, after taking a hiatus from fishing for almost 10 years, the kayak has been what got me back to fishing. And I go a lot. The oxymoronic side of kayaking is that it's 'easy' to get to places you couldn't otherwise reach. Why oxymoronic? Well, some people can't manage the exertion to paddle to the good spots, load and unload a boat weighing anywhere from 50-80 pounds, or don't like the confinement of a kayak. Yet, once on the water, it can be very relaxing to settle into your 'pace' of paddling and listening to the water slap the hull as you see just how silently you can insert, pull, extract your paddle from the water. It's a cool thing to be so low to the water and look down to see fish swimming around, or the occasional underwater hazard that means you won't be seeing a powerboat in HERE..

In my few years of kayak fishing I've learned a lot! Things such as how quickly a person could meet their 'end' by tempting fate in the wrong conditions. Or how important it can be to plan your routes and put in/take out points to maximize your fishing time and productivity. Other important things like first aid kits, environmental protection, and just how vulnerable you are to jackasses on the water who think it's fun to watch kayakers bounce around on a big wake. Yet another challenge that has really taken my interest is just how to slow down and concentrate, and think about how to catch every possible fish in the area I happen to be sitting. That pursuit means understanding what your prey is doing and WHY. I've begun to have a lot of fun seeing just how many fish I can catch in one spot before moving. Knowing what is going on under the surface means I can literally swing my legs over the side, settle back, and cast my lures out for a catch on almost every cast! Of course farm ponds are easy for that, but with work, any larger body of water should produce good results.

The other thing that has come with my kayak obsession, is the desire to target fish that I've never caught before. I honestly don't get real excited about bass fishing like I did 'back in the day'. I like to go with my friends though, and as long as a I have a new method to experiment with, it's a little bit new. Still, if you want to get any true excitement out of me, a trip to the coast, an excursion for smallmouth, striper, walleye or pike (yes you can catch those in Texas) or the real holy grail quest-peacock bass in Florida! Now we're talkin!

Right turn Clyde..

So given all that, I recently bought a small boat that I could take my 9 year old daughter in. Our first trip was a blast and she caught a ton of fish! Having a secret pond to fish certainly helps... Maybe one day she'll have her own kayak, but for now it's a lot of fun taking her fishing and watching her learn a completely new hobby. She's pretty good at it too for one who has just started! I also remembered something-the one thing kayak fishing cannot provide, the fun of sharing an experience with some one at your side. Most importantly though, how much fun it can be to teach a kid to fish.

So I have my little plastic navy at the ready, hidden away in the dry dock that my garage has now become. One craft excelling at solitude, and strategy for the most and biggest fish; the other, the most and 'funnest'. Good times.

Maybe this year..Arizona Gold!

Since it's almost been a year since I wrote, and I what I've been up to isn't interesting enough to write about, I'll talk about what's been on my mind for several years now!

Gold! It makes the world go round, those that have it 'make the rules', it's caused wars, brought joy on Valentines day, anniversaries and other occasions, makes our computers and cell phones work, and some even have it on their teeth! Simply put, everybody wants some, but in my case it's the particular FORM and the adventure in order to obtain it, that has had me scheming, preparing and being let down when trips fall through. Oh I've found a decent amount of gold, all jewelry from metal detecting, but I want a gold nugget-no, a pocketful! Just buy some you say? NO, this isn't about trading money for something easily obtainable, this is about ADVENTURE and searching for that which is elusive! So while others can go buy all the gold they can afford and be comfortable and cozy in their surroundings while looking at it shine, to me that's BORING and not what drives me.

Go west young, er, middle aged man!

The gold fields of Arizona have lured many a prospector and yielded tons of gold. There are still mines in operation, both large and small scale. There are also plenty of placer deposits for those that like to pan-IF YOU CAN FIND WATER. You can drywash, a form of sluicing using air and vibration to 'liquefy' the matrix so that gold will fall out, but all those just seem too 'one spot' oriented for me. I want to metal detect! Roaming around the desert, probably the high desert around Prescott, just appeals to me. Yes I've researched and talked with people who have done it, and even some 'professionals' who do it all the time, and I know it's hard. But that's why I want to do it! Another less easily definable reason is that I've loved the desert since first my first trip through it as a kid. I don't know why but I just know that every time I've driven through, I just want to jump out of the car and take off exploring!

Tick, Tock, tick, tock...

I have the detectors. I have the gear. Every so often I even have the money, but it always seems to be needed somewhere else.. Heck, I have books and maps and all the Jeep rental places written down, and have even researched the best air fare. I'm ready! Maybe this year things will line up.