Friday, June 17, 2011

Do you believe in Miracles?

The USA winning the Gold Medal in hockey....Charl Swartzel winning the Masters....Red Sox's being down 1-3 to the Yankees and winning the ALCS....Nancy Pelosi never had a face lift....Dolly Parton is all natural....Weiner's account was hacked..... and the greatest miracle of all....Lyle Lovett getting to sleep with Julia Roberts.

Well, I have one better than all of those.  My hunting clients know that a year and a half ago I got a new puppy.  Her name is Molly.  She comes from the Labrador's Unlimited Kennel in Valparaiso, IN, owned by my good friend Bill Cox.  All of my dogs have been from Bill's kennel.  He breeds the finest hunting labs in the country.  He also trains labs.  Bill has qualified more dogs for the Master National Hunt Trials than any other breeder/trainer. Molly's pedigree is exemplary.

However, Houston, we have a problem! After a reasonably promising start last fall, Molly decided she didn't like to train.  She didn't really like retrieving dummies.  I have never had a dog that did not want to train. It became so bad this spring that it was clear that she was never going to make a quality retriever.  In May I gave Molly to my brother Chad.  He has three young kids and I thought she would at least make a good pet.

Due to some unforeseen circumstances, Chad could not keep Molly.  So back she came.  And now the MIRACLE ON THE REEF.  My Dad is convinced that Molly has been possessed by the spirit of my wonder dog, Brooks.  Brooks is a legend all across the Midwest. The ultimate hunting companion. 1000 yard blind retrieves on snow geese; tracking a rooster pheasant and pinning him until the gunners arrived; marking multiple mallards; she did it all with style and grace.  Molly, after usually running away with the dummy; if she picked it up at all, now delivers to hand.  In the last few days I have introduced marked doubles and she nailed them.  I started her on piles.  She is up to 100 yards and never hesitates.  I planted a 50 yard blind for her last night.  She took the line like she had been doing them forever.

Time will tell if she makes the move from the scout team to the varsity starting line-up.  I am cautiously optimistic.

"The mystery masked man was smart
He got himself a Tonto
'Cause Tonto did the dirty work for free
But Tonto he was smarter
And one day said kemo sabe
Kiss my ass I bought a boat
I'm going out to sea"

Lyle Lovett "If I had a boat"

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Good Help is Hard to Find!

OK, it has been more than awhile since last post.  Much like the current Administration I am blaming it on 'W'.

My corporate staff has been very busy  converting my new home in Alcova into non-typical guide living quarters. I even have a vacuum cleaner and jet dry for the dishwasher!  Shower every night and HD TV. Be still my beating heart.

Fishing remains spectacular.  River flows are approaching record levels and should remain that way all summer.  If you have never fished the Grey Reef section of the North Platte, you have missed the finest stream in the west.  Soon it will be hopper time.  20+ inch fish smashing hoppers is a spiritual moment.  And we are not talking an occasional fish.  How about at least 20 takes in a typical day's float?

Call me or the North Platte Lodge to schedule your trip.  NPL phone number is listed at top of this page.

Come and get ya sum!

Tight lines,

JJ