Sunday, February 10, 2013

More Winter Distraction...


Michigan winters are amazing but in recent years can be very unpredictable.  January and February should be a given for the white stuff but these days what is here today can quickly be gone tomorrow.  Much like fishing one has to take advantage of prime conditions for snowmobiling and make tracks while possible.   
That is why we found ourselves on the road again Friday after work in search of the white stuff and some fun on the trails.  My youngest wanted to bring a friend up to share in the fun while my oldest hand to stay home and work her part time job.  At the same time my wife wanted to get things in order for our upcoming warm weather winter escape.  So it was Dad and two eighth graders at the cabin for some weekend fun. 
The kids were very excited about the prospect of riding the sleds.  I had gotten mixed reports of a decent dumping early Friday morning and was excited to see yet another 8-10” on top of the base we already had.  We arrived under darkness but it was apparent by the three foot banks of snow lining the now narrow drive that the lake affect phenomena certainly had arrived. 
As we unpacked the truck we all marvelled at the multitude of stars in the clear northern sky as well as the utter silence of the snow covered forest.  We lit the woodstove and settled down to a movie for the remainder of the night.   After Dad’s stern warnings, threats, and safety training the better part of Saturday saw the kids take advantage of the prime conditions on the sleds.   It was nice to see them enjoying themselves and having the opportunity. 
Later Saturday afternoon afforded me a few hours to slip down to the river so I seized the chance.  The fishing was tough and I failed to elicit any strikes during my brief visit.  Saturday night once again saw us settle down to some movies in front of the woodstove but not until we put a night ride on the trails behind us.  Snowmobiling at night takes on a totally different aspect and is quite enjoyable.  My wife prefers it to daytime sledding. 
Myself I’m impartial and enjoy both.  Sunday morning saw another opportunity to slip down to the river for a couple of hours.  This time I managed to turn a decent trout in the 16-17” range along with some smaller Browns but again no Steelhead.  It was nice to feel a bend in the rod but certainly would have been nicer to have banked a Steelie or two.  Again this winter season has been trying for me and I am beginning to look forward to getting the boat back out of hibernation.  After a few hours I returned to the cabin to see how the kids were making out and get them back on the machines for another good ride before we had to pack up.  Another stellar weekend was had by all at the cabin.  The kids put some miles on the sleds,  nobody got injured, and Dad got to visit the river for a few drifts.  Good times…

8 comments:

Steeliemax said...

I reconize the Jig. Looks like the one someone stole off my desk at work. Glad to see my hard work in tieing paid off.

lambton said...

Stolen jigs always work the best!

Mark Kautz said...

Only been snowmobiling one, but it was a blast. I can imagine how much fun it is when you can do it on a regular basis.

Gil said...

The boys will have memories and something to talk about for years to come. Nicely done! I still bring up the teen years I spent at my best friend's cottage in Kincardine. Not snowmolbiles but dirt bikes none the less. That was over 20 years ago!!!

Its mid-winter and the weather seems to be up and down. The steelheading will only get better and hopefully not when you are away sunning your buns!

lambton said...

Girls Gil...Girls... LOL! No dirt bikes for my kids. Expecially in the land of big business health care :o( You are correct though... The kids will cherish those memories for years to come.

Gil said...

OOOOPS! Whoa that was a major typo!!! Extremely sorry!!!! Think I was recalling my days at that cottage and there were no girls there, well none that we brought up with us. ;)

JB said...

I like how you appear, then vanish like a damn ghost. Are we ever going to wet a line again or what???

P.S. Wait until you see the vid we shot yesterday...

lambton said...

I am a ghost...a damn handsome ghost!

Booowhaaaa haaa haaaaaaa

Get ready cause the fishing machiene is gonna be back in action now that Mehhh-hiii-coooo and the death shits are behind me.