First Annual Diamond Cutters Ice Fishing Weekend

One thing I've noticed in the last few cold Michigan winters is that if you take up hobbies that make the winter enjoyable you will have something to look forward to and it makes the sub-zero temperatures more beareable. Mine is snowboarding however, with recent developments I find myself unable to snowboard due to a separated shoulder in December.

So to cull the days of cabin fever I made plans to have some family and friends up to the Sage Lake cottage for a weekend of ice fishing. Before I knew it I had invited upwards of 30 people to the cottage! It worked out becuase only 23 ended up being able to go and only around 18 actually made it and one of the participants was my uncle who has a cabin across the lake from ours. Most people had a place to crash and some passed out on the floor to avoid the snorer's room.

Unfortunately we didn't catch a single fish but a great time was had by all and we even got see Chris who lives in California and we seldom get to see. Most of the time I was to busy to take pictures but I've got a few with, playing host or imbibing mass quantities of alcohol to stay warm. Keep in mind that the more one drinks, the warmer the weather seems. This weekend was cold, very cold.

Easiest way to get around on the ice - Snowmobile or Quad, thankfully we had both. Safety is key on these kinds of trips. Thanks uncle Scott.

Brad's to snowmobiles were enjoyed by all and after a little work getting them going, they ran relatively well. Its also really fun to get pulled on a saucer by a wakeboarding tow rope, trust me..

Taken right after I woke Uncle Gene from his slumber - yea thats right, it was below zero and this guy is sleeping on a plastic chair on the ice.


Chad and Scott had to take care of uncle Dan after a stumble face first into the snow. Some shenanigans took place around this fire ring that will never be forgotten. Danny went inside soon after and slept while we messed with him. Notice the self whitewash as he faceplanted with glasses on.


The survivors hanging out by the fire after a long day of unsuccessful fishing. I was thankful everyone could make it and had a good time.

Next year I think we will pick a different lake/river to fish on. So mark your calendars for the third weekend in January 2010!

Something to Make All This Snow Worthwhile

I recently went snowshoeing with my friend Colleen in the Pinkney State Recreation area and took some pics. Its nice to have something to do outside when you can't go snowboarding b/c you're broken.

The Trail was beautiful, and thankfully Colleen and Mel had been out the day before and beat down the path so snow didn't pile up on our shoes. Mel is apparently good at finding spots to take pictures, using trees and sign posts for the camera becuase we didn't need to look for a spot, just re-took the ones from the day before

We took the short route this time but next time I definitely want to do the whole 6 mile loop.

Latest Happenings

The quasi-annual camping trip known originally as the "Men and Boys" camping trip was last week. The name is somewhat misleading as now most of my cousins and I are over 21 so it was renamed to the "Old Men and Men" camping trip (to much objection by the old men). This trip has been happening almost evey year ever since I can remember. I'm under the impression it started as a keen way for all the men to get together for a weekend of drinking and bad decisions and that having children meant that if one child came, all of them would come to keep each other busy (sarcasm!). Over the years it has become a great way for us to get together and keep in touch and enjoy the outdoors. As many of 15 of my male cousins and all of my uncles have made it to the woods together for these trips.

There is a lot of history wrapped up in all those trips around the state for long weekends and canoing trips. Now that all the boys are grown up it has become quite a drunken weekend involving fishing, hunting, guns, occasional spear making and throwing competitions and general disregard for smart choices, as seen below.

From Brimey Blowout 08

We were in the town of Brimley in Michigan's upper penninsula this year for a tripped dubbed as the "Brimley Blowout" at Brian Halls barn. Everyone made it home without physical injury which made the trip a success. It was a beautiful weekend and I managed to get some good pics of the setting sun hitting the fall colors. There was a promise to open up the barn every second week in October if we chose to make Brimley the official home of the Old Men and Men trip. I dont think Brian knows what he got himself into.

From Brimey Blowout 08

I can't wait until next year.

It's pronounced koh-hoh.

I landed my first Salmon yesterday. It was a 33 inch Coho Salmon and weighed about 18 pounds. I went fishing in the Grand River by Ah-Nab-Awen park with my buddy Brad from Ferris Rugby. On my second cast the salmon hit really hard and I was psyched as soon as I set the hook. It was a hard fought battle for about 20 minutes but after a sore wrist the fish gave up. It's always a good time when the salmon are running because they are in the river so thick you can see their dorsal fins popping out of the river. A re-enactment of my salmon fishing experience can be seen below.


(Thats supposed to be me in the orange!)

The fish I put in the freezer Sunday will help with my quest to challenge myself and eat only meat that I provide. But at this point I am not sure exactly how my challenge is going to pan out or what rules I will hold myself to but I do know this: It will start in whatever form on the first of the year and go on for as long as I care to continue doing it. Thanks to my friend Erin I've got a new book to read: "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" by Barbara Kingsolver to add to another great book that started me thinking more about what I eat and where it comes from: 'In Defense of Food:An Eaters Manifesto' by Michael Pollen. I can vouch for the Pollen title and I'll let you know more about the other one after I read it, but I bet its going to be good.

[Insert Clever Title Here]

Today I had my first ever squirrel hunting experience. My roommate Mike and I went out to Cannonsburg state game area and walked around for a while after work. Until now I've only hunted for deer which requires a much higher investment of time and money. This adventure wasn't very productive and I only saw one squirrel and it was on a tree quite far away and it was gone by the time I got to the tree... but I'm determined and plan to spend more time in the woods.

Now before you write me off as some red-neck hillbilly let me explain. I have made a goal for myself this coming year to eat only meat that I kill and butcher. I have a lot of respect for vegetarians but I am not ready to take that step yet and I believe 'normal' meat is healthy for you (not corn-fed fatty beef pumped full of hormones and anti-biotics). I feel bad every time I take an animals life, but isn't that the point? Every time someone pulls into the drive through at McDonald's shouldn't they realize that an animal was killed to provide that meat? I'm proud that I take an active role in the meat that I eat. So I'm trying to fill up my freezer for the winter - I can see I'm going to have to put in some more time in the woods before I can enjoy some squirrel stew.