Harold Scoggins

"It took me a while to realize it wasn’t just fishing, but time to step away from all the other nonsense and allow my mind to heal – to not dwell on that place. To just give it time to recuperate.” – Ray Queen, Veteran (Photo- Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge)

That reminds me, Oktoberfest is right around the corner!

Bingo. Few years back another angler saw me throwing a trout colored swim bait and he laughed a little as he told me that there were no trout in the lake. A few minutes later I had the last laugh. Match the hatch when you can, and when you can't, don't be afraid to throw something they haven't seen before.

You should visit him often and see if you can pick up any long lost skills. I was always amazed at how well things were built years ago. Back in the mid 60s, my brother and I helped our dad take down an old, two story house on adjacent property he had acquired. The house then was going on 130 years of age and when we got down to the frame, the real fun began. Solid, seasoned oak joined with wood pins, no nails. We couldn't pull it down as my dad was recovering as much of the lumber as he could. I think we spent a year and too many saw blades to count dismantling that frame. We couldn't even drive nails in that wood it so hard and I don't believe we found any evidence of termites either. To think they built those homes with hand tools! Thanks for sharing your story, it made me think of that old house and how well it was built.

Doesn't require a boat ramp...

I see bionic anglers on the water all the time. Stay on schedule and you'll be hauling in the hawgs come spring. Best wishes!

This is why I love kayak fishing on the refuge. The bulls were bugling all around the lake at daybreak today. It's breeding time.

JDM take today.

Many of the U.S. retailers mark up JDM tackle 100%, yes, 100%. I try and buy from the U.S. as much as possible, but I'm not going to pay twice what I can get a bait for direct from Japan. I'll be posting another JDM order I have coming in soon where I saved over $100 on glide baits and that's after shipping.

Locked and loaded, locked and loaded my friend.

ESS Crossbows, as of a few years ago they were being issued to our young troopers. If they're good enough for them, they're good enough for this old war horse. "Hoorah"

Colors I'm looking for are Scuppernong and Guripan/Chart. There are a lot of good baits in this style @Choporoz, but these from Raid Japan have given me better than average results. I wish a bigger company could copy them, and like I mentioned earlier, the tail action on these is different from the others and it really draws them out of the grass beds. Lesson learned; I won't wait until I run out again. Should they ever get these in stock again, I'm putting down the coin.

Thanks, saw this the other day when I was searching, but not the color(s) I am looking for. Even the JDM retailers are having problems keeping them stocked.

I've never tried the Keitech. I've grown to really liking these from Raid, they've got a circular tail action that seems to get a lot of reaction bites. I've seen the results on Google, but those that have them are very limited in colors. From what I can tell they are having problems keeping them on the shelves in Japan also. Tried to buy some off a friend in Korea today, but he's not coming off any of his as they are hard to find there too. Raid must be a small operation that's having problems keeping up with demand.

If anyone has a connection for these, I'd appreciate it. Raid Japan 5" Full Swing Swimbait. Down to my last pack.

As soon as you feel that "tic" on your line, SWING!

"Houston, we are a go for trans lunar injection." The "Harvest Moon" as seen from our wildlife refuge this past weekend.

If the rancher across the road doesn't keep his animals on the other side of the fence, they might end up on my dinner table. She chased me and the neighbor back into our house, the County Sheriff is now trying to rope her.

Dope

Owner All Purpose, size 1 and size 2.

I'll bring the brewskies!

I can't get my knot to look like that...

I will never forget the young men and women, who knowing their country was going to war, made the courageous decision to serve their country. In the days, months, and years following 9/11, less than 1% of our country would serve in uniform. They represent the very best of America.