Boy or Girl ???

Casey wants a boy named "Joey". Dayna wants a girl. Maddie doesn't want to be the baby any more. Cheryl & I just want to have a healthy baby.

BIG BROWN

I was shaking so bad I did not get a very good picture, but here is what I got. This was at least 24"+ in a stream so small you can't even paddle a canoe over some spots without getting out and dragging the canoe.

The fish was caught on an oversized (2 times the natural) HEX pattern with split wings and extended body at about 10:45pm.

HEX Hatch IS On!

This is a fly that hatches on a very small river (more like a stream) in Western MN around mid June, when the roses are just coming out. Once the "hatch is on" it usually starts like clockwork around 10pm at night depending on the year. It brings up some very big brown trout that are usually extremely difficult to catch any other time during the year. It is a very unique experience of walking into a small stream and waiting for this big bug to emerge under the moonlight. It involves fly-casting but with an added twist of fishing at night when you can’t see your fly or where you are casting. I do it mostly by sound.
Here are Casey & Maddie with a Dun fly I captured the night before. They usually emerge from the streambed at night, fly into the bushes or trees then a couple days later come back to the river to fall (die) as spinners. The picture is of a dun fly that has just emerged from the water.

Hop Vines

For those who maybe in disbelief about having 10' hop vines by June 1st in Minnesota. I hope to get 19' before the cones start to form.

Pictured from left to right, Northern Brewer, Cascade, Dakota, Cascade, Perle, Saaz, and Willimatte.

It's been too wet here to get the garden planted. Hope to get something in by end of next week.

Fly Fishing Montana

Nice Big Browns &* Rainbows on the Big Horn & Missouri Rivers.

Maddie Partaking of the Herbs a little too soon

We have some Cilantro, Basil, Thyme, Sage, Oregano, Parsley, and Chive trying to grow after Maddie had her way with them in the beginning stages. They are growing well now once Maddie learned it was something you have to wait to eat.

Brew Day with Maddie

I was able to get 10 gallons of Prairie Pale Ale, Amber Ale, Oatmeal Stout, London Porter, Oatmeal Ale, and a Hoptastic Ale brewed up this Spring. We have already killed 5 gallons keg of Prairie and Amber Ale this Spring with all the birthday and moving parties.

Dayna's 4th Birthday!

Trout Fishing in the Black Hills

I was able to combine a business trip to Rapid City, SD with some trout fishing on the weekend. Here is a nice Brown I was able to capture up in Spearfish Canyon.