This past weekend was the 5th annual Fishing Derby sponsored by the City of Hammond, Mik Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet and the Hammond Optimist Club.

Over 300 people attended which was a bit lower then past years because of the rain date change. What is nice about this event is the first 125 kids 15 years of age and younger receive a free rod and reel combination, a starter tackle kit which includes; hooks, bobbers, stringer, split shot and hook remover (I need one of those).  Wax worms and night crawlers were given to all who registered.

Trophies were given to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in walleye, panfish and bass categories in youth and adult divisions. Trophy winners also received an additional spinning rod and reel combo and choice of tackle box.

The youngest and oldest, that attended, received a prize and the Shed Aquarium in Chicago gave 6 VIP passes to the aquarium for a group of 4.

Grand prize winner received a coleman cooler, coleman lunch box, coleman water jug, insulated minnow bucket with a bubbler, fishing net, rod and reel combo, 12 ft telescopic cane pole, 2 tackle boxes, tackle box starting kit and a Fenwick rod.

The City of Hammond, Mik Lurch Fishing Tackle Outlet, and the Hammond Optimist Club are always involved in many of the youth programs within our community. The Fishing Derby is just one of many events they sponsor. 

p.s.  Mark only got his finger hooked once this year. 
 

One of the blogs on my blogroll is Deer Hunting Big Bucks.  Adam took his 2 year old son fishing for the first time this past weekend and he caught his first fish.  When I saw his picture I couldn’t help but smile.

Look at this little cutie and his first fish! 

Head over to Deer Hunting Big Bucks for more photos and see how proud and excited his Daddy and his Grandpa were.  There is also the cutest picture of his little brother who just turned one on July 3rd.

Have a great day all!

Every week or so, I check out our local DNR website to find out what is happening in the state of Indiana. Did you know you can find some great resources on things that are happening in your state on their local DNR website? For example, currently on the Indiana DNR website they are showing a video for “Wear It - Indiana”. It’s a video about wearing your life jacket when being on the water. It’s a good reminder.

They also have information about the 11th Annual Sand Sculpture contest being held at the Indiana Dunes State Park on July 12, 2008. What a fun way to spend a summer day. Whether you are 5 or 105, you can enter the contest or you can spend the day watching those that have entered. Visit the Indiana DNR website for more information.

Did you know if you’re a teacher in Illinois the IDNR will help you establish a fishing program in some counties? They can assist with education and equipment to make fishing a talked-about, popular activity at your school. Here is the link for fishing in your school. I had no idea something like this even existed.

I took a look at a couple of other states and they all seem to provide a ton of information for what’s happening in your state. Looking for something for your kids to do, a lot of states are currently holding kids fishing derby programs. If you’re not an Indiana resident but would like more information on your own state DNR website, you can find your state here.

Have a great day all!

This is my friend Sue’s (the e-mailer) daughter who recently went fishing for the first time.  I wish I was there to see how excited she was to catch her first fish.

I also wish I was there to take a few lessons from her.  Do you see how she has ahold of that fish? 

She is seriously my new fishing role model.  I need her to tag along with me on my next fishing adventure so she can show me how to handle those fish.

Way to go Lauren!!!

*** My guest post is up at Simply Outdoors.  Head over and read Simply Outdoors with Barbies.***

Have a great day all!

Saturday our fishing friends came up north and we headed to Lake Michigan to fish for perch. The perch are normally in this time of year but the fishing reports from all the locals and our local bait shop guys have said they still seem scattered.

On our way out I took this great view of Chicago.

As we got closer to the hot spot for perch, there were at least 50 boats congregated in the same area. We inched our way in.

Mark was making and receiving calls from locals to update them on how we were doing and how it looked like the others were doing.

We were on the water for about 5 hours and only came away with 13 perch. The limit is 15 per person. Some of the perch fishermen did reach their limit but they were out a few hours earlier.

Here is one of the perch taken.

It sure wasn’t fishing like it was at Lake Barkley in Kentucky. To fish around here, you need to have much patience.

For those of you who are new around here, this post contains the google search results of how a person searched specific keywords in Google and found my site.

I can’t tell you how many “sexy” searches for hunting and fishing I’ve had. I’ve debated for months about using the word sexy on here in fear of attracting more sexy searches.  But I just couldn’t resist anymore.  So here you go you little sexy searchers…

Sexy Fishing - There is nothing sexy about fishing.  You are up at 4:00 a.m, there’s no time to shower and you fish at least 12 hours.  You have worm guts under your freshly painted finger nails, on your leg and those guts some how end up on your forehead from scratching it.  Hell, I probably ate one that fell in my pop. 

Sexy Fishing Pictures - Here you go…this is what sexy fishing is all about.

Now isn’t that just the hottest thing you’ve ever seen? Or how about this…

Isn’t that just the sexiest fishing face you’ve ever seen?

You’re not going to find anything sexy about fishing. Serious fishermen and women are fishing. They don’t have time to worry about what sexy thing is on the water. I learned the hard way.

Sexy Fishing Wives -  I really tried being a sexy fishing wife with my flashy pink fishing rod and no one ever noticed.  I even added a little grove when reeling in my rod and never even received a glance. They are focused on one thing and one thing only. Fishing.  Believe me, I tried. You can read about it here.

Have a great weekend everyone!  Weather permitting - we will be headed out to Lake Michigan fishing.  I don’t even think I’m going to attempt to bring my sparkling pink fishing rod. 

If you’re interested in purchasing the pink lighted fishing rod you can do so from here.

What better way to spend a beautiful sunny weekend then taking kids fishing.  And in this family you need to know how to fish.  Our niece Chrissy’s was 11 when she found out there were actually other places to go on vacation besides fishing vacations. 

Chrissy and her husband Adam have 3 little boys and this weekend was the boys first time fishing. They spent hours practicing their casting and fishing.  They loved it.

Here are the two older boys in serious fishing mode…

And Uncle Mark helping the youngest cast…isn’t that cute~

And the middle one with the casting pole.  He also caught a few bluegill all by himself but I never got a picture.  He had his own expert helping him. His Grandpa.

Here is the oldest proudly posing with his catfish he caught.  I have to take a little credit here.  He asked for Aunt Jody to come and help because she is an expert.  :) Next thing we know he had a bite, his bobber went under and he reeled in this catfish all by himself.   I was so excited for him and luckily Uncle Mark was near by to take it off the hook.

He also caught a few bluegill and I was told to hurry and get them back in the water before they stopped breathing.  I did take the fish off the hook - all by myself - with my shirt. 

If the oldest ever comes over for a fishfry I will have to tell him it’s chicken. 

Have a great day everyone!

Friday, Mark and I left to spend a weekend at our summer/hunting house. I haven’t been in awhile and the last pictures taken were when we had the flood a few months back. This picture was taken from our deck during the flood. Luckily, we didn’t get any water in the house.

This picture was taken off the deck this weekend during a storm we had Friday.

And after the storm. Notice the catfish poles? You have to fish for catfish after the storm.

It ended up being a beautiful weekend.

This week I’ll be posting all about our weekend. Rides on the waverunner, fishing with the “Expert” and taking a fish off the hook before he stops breathing.

Have a great day!

Before I get to my Goofy Googler I wanted to thank Matt at Bright Idea Outdoors Weblog. Matt held a contest as to who could guess how many miles he would travel for the week and how much money he would spend on gas and I won a gas card! What a great contest and thanks again Matt.  It is greatly appreciated!

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Now for my goofy googlers who searched specific keywords in google and found The Hunter’s Wife site.

Scary fish beside my boat - If you see a scary looking fish beside your boat - move your boat.

How not to ruin a fishing hole - Don’t tell your wife where it’s at.  She will think she’s being helpful and tell all the other fishermen/fisherwomen, the men/women at the bait shop and any other person she thinks fishes.

Wife or boat -Wife or boat? Hmm wife or boat? Let me think. Wife or boat?  Boat!  No wife would want a man who can’t decide between her or a boat.

Which direction do you drive a boat going out on a lake - You don’t. If you don’t know your way around the lake, please don’t take the boat out yourself.

Related Post:

Friday’s Goofy Googler - All About Fishing
Friday’s Goofy Googler - Bikini Bowhunters
Friday’s Goofy Googler - Married Squirrels

Those who read my blog are very familiar with the fact that I never get to drive the boat. Whether it’s the fishing boat or the pontoon you will not see me in the driver’s seat.  My husband loves to be the driver and seems to always ignore my begging and whining.  It isn’t that he doesn’t trust my driving because I’m usually the driver around town.  I think it’s the manly man thing.  It’s a boat and guys drive boats. 

After the first couple of days of fishing, I hadn’t given much thought about driving.  We were catching a lot of fish and that was keeping me occupied.  Our fishing goal was to find the crappie.  To find crappie we were hitting brush piles near the shore.  Now, to do this with ease you need to have a trolley motor that you guide with your foot that makes your boat move slowly along the shore.  Ours was having a bit of a problem and Mark was tired of messing with it.  He was getting quite a few bites and needed to fish.   

Mark: Jody, get in the drivers seat. 

Jody:  Me?  (Pause) Why? (Pause) What did you say? 

Mark:  I need you to drive the boat and when I say go back, go back, when I say go forward you need to go forward.  Slower, a bit faster, etc.  Hurry up sit down.

Jody’s thoughts as she starts to sweat and slowly make her way to the driver’s seat:  WT?!  Is this like driving a car?  How do I make it go faster, slower, turn, stop, grrr.  Could he have at least taken the time to show me how to drive in open water?  Now is not the time to have your wife learn how to drive the boat while your husband is in serious fishing mode. Is this a test?  If something breaks it will be my fault.  Where the hell is his helmet cause if he flies out of this boat I am going to be in big trouble. 

Jody:  We can fish somewhere else if you’d like - I’m really not in the mood to drive.

Mark: Would you sit down.  You’re fine.  Drive.

Jody: Fine but after all this pressure I’m driving in open water.

While Mark fished and gave instructions, I made my way back and forth along the shoreline without incident. Mark said a few “STOP STOP STOP GO BACK” “GO FORWARD” “NO GO BACK” and I said a few “FOR THE LOVE OF DEER MAKE UP YOUR MIND”.

This is serious fishing mode:

This is a girl who gets to drive a boat: