The ice fishing sonar/fish finder Luke gave me is ready for today's action.

December 19, 2012 – Wednesday

11 degrees/clear

Pentoga Road

What a good feeling to have the grades entered and be able to shut down the digital classroom for another semester. The last of the papers and projects arrived Tuesday afternoon and after reading and assessing each, I entered the final grades online. There is probably a solid two-day’s worth of work left for next semester’s classes, but that will wait until after Christmas.

Strange… I’m retired and living thousands of miles away from the university setting. Yet, I still have the same feeling I had when I traveled from Alaska to the UP on Christmas break, the satisfaction that half a year is finished and an anticipation of the coming spring and summer.

I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of the seed catalogues and spending the short, dark, evenings of January and February thumbing through each, making out one list after another only to see some variety I like better and begin the process of changing my mind a few dozen times. I’ve done that for years, even while living in Alaska, but now it’s even more fun. I actually have a garden to plant.

I’m really excited that my daughter-in-law, Mollie, Andy’s wife, wants to come and help plant this year. We’ll have so much fun and it will give Sargie and me a chance to spoil her a bit.

I’ve started looking at greenhouse plans, something I might build in sections in the shop and assemble all at once outside this early spring. A potting shed with an attached greenhouse is on the drawing board, but that won’t happen this spring.

But I’ll keep my mind in the present as today’s a big day. It’s the beginning of my ice fishing season! Finally, there’s enough ice, around four to five inches, to venture out onto our local lake and begin my quest for putting meat on the table.

I was walking yesterday afternoon and was pleasantly surprised to see several fishermen standing on the ice, most bemoaning the fact that fishing was slow.

I’m like most anglers, an eternal optimist, and unconsciously think that I’ve got a little something extra up my sleeve that might make the fish bite for me even if they don’t for anyone else.

The first chore for Tuesday morning was to put a big pot of beans on the stove to soak for bean soup. Actually, I like a few beans with my meat, so I dug deep into the freezer and found a ham and a small pork roast that needed to be eaten. Beans, onions, and meat, simmered all day. I made cornbread last night and Sargie and I feasted like royalty.

The rest of the morning was spent working on grades, then growing tired of that, I ventured into town to run a few errands. Shopping is officially done for the Christmas season and that’s a relief.

With all the feel-good stuff out of the way, I got down to man-business and stopped at Lucky’s Bait Shop for two dozen minnows, one dozen crappie-size, the other for northern and walleye. My BFF, Gloria-the-owner, recited the fishing report and I discovered no one’s catching much other than fresh air. Still, the ambiance of the bait shop, the smell of worms and minnows, tackle everywhere, ice fishing equipment, jigs, and minnow pails; it was enough to further fan the flames of ice fishing fever.

Arriving home, I strapped on my boots and hiked the usual five-mile circuit. The day was chilly, in the mid-twenties, but calm. I anticipated arriving at the lakes to check the ice conditions. I wasn’t disappointed.

The rest of the afternoon was spent making last minute preparations for today’s initial fishing expedition. The Clam shelter is ready. Today will be it’s first outing, although the forecast is for sunny skies, highs around 30, and no wind. I may not need it. I also made a stand for the fish finder Luke gave me. The bracket will fit over the hole with the transducer going through and the mounted screen above. The battery will be in a box alongside.

I spliced some wires and attached battery clips, used heat shrink to seal the splices, and after a quick test, the unit appears good to go. I’m excited.

The board sits over the hole drilled in the ice with the long piece, the transducer, down in the water. I'll be fishing from a hole drilled next to it. 

Last night was spent with Sargie, catching up on the day’s activities, watching a bit of television, and laughing and talking over a quick game of Rummy. Once again, she handed my head to me on a platter. Just when I think I have a really good run, she points out there’s a diamond mixed in with a run of hearts, or a spade with a fistful of clubs. They’re the same color, aren’t they? Diamond Lil has no heart when it comes to a game of cards.

The girl has a plan, a scheme. Playing to a thousand, she lets me roar out ahead, sometimes by as much as 200 points, then has made it a habit to begin closing the gap midway and by the end, winning by a nose. Last night’s margin was by less than fifty points. She keeps it close enough that I am sucked into “just one more game” the following night.

I received a wonderful gift yesterday. Josh and family got me a solar unit for backpacking so I may charge my iPhone or GPS on some of my longer treks. I think he just wants to keep track of his old dad. I’ll be trying it out in the very near future!

This morning will be spent ice fishing. After, I’ll no doubt go for my walk, and finally, I may just take a nap. Hey, I’m officially on Christmas break, why not take a vacation?!

But first, it’s time to wake Sargie because you know, a man’s work is never done.

So are the tales from Pentoga Road…

New line on the reels, everything is checked and double checked. Time to go fishing!