Mooselette Comes to Camp

This weekend just past has got to be one of the absolute best off-season times we’ve all had in the past 20 years, despite rain all three days. Moose, Angus and Mooselette came down for Saturday.

I got off work early and got camp opened up well ahead of everyone else’s arrival. I’d just got my work clothes off when I heard distant thunder. There is little I like better than a late-summer thunderstorm. It lasted through cocktail hour– most enjoyable.

The rest of the crew waited in Cincinnati for the rain to pass and then drove down. It was still a little wet for tents and such, but Mooselette was happy camping out on the couch.

At 0-Squirrel-Thirty, we all got suited up and headed to the woods. Mooselette came with me for the Hundred-Acre Wood. Angus and Moose took off for Virginia. We saw only two squirrels– both too far off to shoot. Angus and Moose both got a couple.

Mooselette and I came back to camp and loaded up the truck with chairs and blinds and such. We spent a good part of the morning rigging the blinds for deer season. Mooselette especially enjoyed hanging the burlap skirt around Hollywood. This is the second time she’s told me this is her favorite spot in the world.

Mooselette has been nagging her Dad for some range time. After everyone came back to camp her daddy let her have some range time. Moose brought a bolt-action 22 down and helped her shoot. She was able to keep the rounds on a pizza box at 20 yards.

Rain was approaching camp from the west, so we packed up and left mid-afternoon. I started getting rain on the windsheld as the truck neared Willow. We had definately sucked the marrow out of that weekend.

BONUS ROUND

When we got back to town. I checked the weather. We’d just made it out in time. However, it was clearing from the north and west. SuperCore had asked if we were interested in some bass fishing. His family has a place up on Greenbrier Lake, about half-way to Dayton. I called him up and told him about the weather. Sure enough, despite driving through pouring rain, the weather let up just as we got to Hamilton. We had quick stops for a bucket of chicken and provisions for breakfast, and just enough light to get settled into the cottage. As we started happy hour, the legions of geese came back in and settled on the lake.

I fixed a monster breakfast in the AM, and then we dropped down to the dock. Team SuperCore has this somewhat delapitated bass boat. It was a pro-bassfisherman’s tournament boat. However, it saw better days. The engine is off, and all that is left is the bow-mounted trolling motor. This is perfect for navigating Greenbrier Lake, which is only a few acres in size.

Due to its age, something is always going wrong with the boat. On this outing, it was the plug connetor for the trolling motor. It was wonky from the start. By holding my foot on the plug, I was able to keep a connection. However, it gave out at the far end of the lake just as the breeze was beginning to freshen. We were kept pinned against the dam until, with the help of Angus’ multi-tool, I was able to rewire the connection and get the motor running again. We went back to the slip and were about to give up for the trip. SuperCore suggested fishing from the dock.

This turned into the best bit of bass fishing I’ve had in 40 years. SuperCore, Angus and I all caught nice bass. I managed to land six in less than an hour.

We were back home in time to watch the Bengals lose to the Panthers

This post has already been read 802 times!