By now you will have read about our strange experience at Lake Conconully this year. Well, it is time to read about the good fishing part of our 12th Annual Road Trip!
We have always maintained that we should just fish locally because Bussard Lake (where Rich & Yvette live) and nearby Waitts Lake (above) never let us down. They are the "Old Faithfuls" of the fishing world. So here, mostly in photos, is an account of our "local" fishing, eating, shooting and horse activities.
It is hard to believe that one more year has rolled by and that we are back at Bussard Lake with the Schatz family. Wayne and I arrived at Spokane Airport (on time for a change) and were picked up by Yvette and Kirstine who had been on some all day shopping trip in town.
Rich was busy back home preparing the boat, fishing rods and all our ancillary gear for another assault on the piscine population of Bussard Lake, Waitts Lake and, later, Lake Conconully up in the far N.E. corner of Washington State.
I slept like a log up in the loft of our cabin the first night but was awoken early in the morning by the violent shaking of the cabin. What on earth? It felt like an earthquake or something but it was actually a gale force wind getting under the roof and attempting to lift us off the ground like the little house in that movie "Up." Rain and black skies persisted into the afternoon and there was no fishing that day. Yvette prepared a massive brunch and then we all went shopping for dinner.
We took a break for the best huckleberry smoothies on earth at the Loon Lake cafe. Yvette, Kirstine and Wayne relax while our smoothista, Erica, whipped up the goodies. Huckleberries are the best. Especially when Linda makes a huckleberry pie. Last year I bought two jars of huckleberry jam and a bottle of local honey only to have TSA chuck them in the garbage. TSA has serious problems if they think huckleberry jam is going to bring down a plane.
When we got back home, Wayne made some powerful Manhattans while Yvette and I prepared two recipes from Regee's "Coconut Kitchen" cookbook--the Baked Shrimp with Coconut Sauce and Coconut Beef Adobo. I think Regee would have been proud of us; and without being too yabang (boastful), dinner was a blast.
Rich had been complaining about the growing numbers of ground squirrels burrowing in his Wimbledon-like lawns and paddocks and had been popping them off one by one from the deck of our cabin with a .202 rifle. Of course, Wayne had to prove his marksmanship and started dispatching members of the ground squirrel gang in the vicinity of our cabin before I could even get my morning coffee brewed. Naturally, I did not join in because I was more likely to shoot one of the horses or dogs by mistake!
We headed for Waitts Lake on Sunday morning and almost immediately started catching fish. Here's Netman Wayne getting the net under the first fish of the trip, caught by none other than our Supreme Commander, Commodore and Admiral, Rich Schatz.
And, when Wayne is catching the fish, Rich has to be Netman while also driving the boat and maintaining his own line in the water. A lot of responsibility. That's why we pay him so much.
In addition to being our Official Driver and Netman, Wayne is also our Principal Repairman. Mind you, he was the one that got this lot tangled up.
You may well ask what my role is on these road trips. Well, I am Photographer-in-Chief and this time I did all the beheading, gutting and cleaning except for one occasion when Commodore Schatz took over. I absolutely hate touching fish, especially when still alive, so Wayne is my de-hooker on all occasions when I catch a fish. I only go to the operating table when they are well and truly dead.
The fruits of our labor on Waitts Lake that first Sunday were 13 Rainbow Trout. We ate six of the biggest ones and were joined by Rich's sister, Linda, and Kirstine who was home for the weekend from the University of Washington (ahem) where she is in her first year. I totally neglected to take a photo of Linda and Kirstine at this dinner and for that omission I apologize. I was too busy taking photos of this delicious fish, fresh from the lake, baked to perfection by Yvette.
This is Linda's home-made Rhubarb Pie. She also brought a Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie! They were delicious and we were eating them for dessert on several nights afterwards. I think one actually came to Lake Conconully with us!
On our return from Lake Conconully with a rather low fish catch, Wayne and I immediately hit Bussard Lake the next morning and went fly fishing in the boat. We caught and released at least 22 Large Mouth Bass. We were, I think, a little over-excited and were screaming so much that we startled some of the neighbors around Lake Bussard. This was more like it. Go Local.
I mentioned that Rich and Wayne were popping away at the poor ground squirrels. I came out of the cabin one morning for a quiet coffee on the deck and to watch the horses, the Bald Eagle, the Osprey and to commune with nature. This is what I found. A hooded American Sniper taking out ground squirrels. And I have to add that before we even arrived, Rich's nephew, Mark, and his friend Chris, both ex-Army, had had a field day with the ground squirrels! Now, I do go on about shooting the poor little critters; but they do create large holes and tunnels all over the place which can cause a horse or human to break a leg or twist an ankle. One morning, I did just that. I twisted my ankle quite badly in a ground squirrel hole.
So, I am not so pro-ground squirrel any more but still have a sympathy for their sad plight at Bussard Lake. Schatz accuses me of "exotocizing" them but I can't help it. I mean, look how cute this little guy is.
On our last weekend, Reimes came home! He is now in the U.S. Navy and stationed at Bremerton, near Seattle, on the nuclear aircraft carrier SS Nimitz. It was great to see him again--he left a boy and came home a man.
Talking of leaving, Wayne left us on Monday because he was heading home to see his daughter in D.C. before heading to Europe to meet Terry in Paris. This meant that Schatz and I had one last day to fish Waitts Lake.
It started slowly but after 2.5 hours we had each caught our regulation 5 Rainbow Trout (plus one more in case we hadn't counted right)!
The picture of Rich below says it all--Lake Conconully is a distant memory and we are back to Good Fishing and Good Times on Waitts Lake.
So, another year, another Road Trip, meeting up with good friends, more laughs, more economic lectures (thanks, Rich), more memories, dubious jokes and, as always, great food. What more could you ask for? Next year's Annual Road Trip, of course! We are going to skip "unlucky 13" and go straight on to the 14th Annual Road Trip. Can't wait.
We said goodbye to our girlfriends, Harriet and Mary Kay, but the Three Amigos will be back very soon! Look after those fish for us, girls. And watch out for ground squirrel holes!
We have always maintained that we should just fish locally because Bussard Lake (where Rich & Yvette live) and nearby Waitts Lake (above) never let us down. They are the "Old Faithfuls" of the fishing world. So here, mostly in photos, is an account of our "local" fishing, eating, shooting and horse activities.
It is hard to believe that one more year has rolled by and that we are back at Bussard Lake with the Schatz family. Wayne and I arrived at Spokane Airport (on time for a change) and were picked up by Yvette and Kirstine who had been on some all day shopping trip in town.
Rich was busy back home preparing the boat, fishing rods and all our ancillary gear for another assault on the piscine population of Bussard Lake, Waitts Lake and, later, Lake Conconully up in the far N.E. corner of Washington State.
I slept like a log up in the loft of our cabin the first night but was awoken early in the morning by the violent shaking of the cabin. What on earth? It felt like an earthquake or something but it was actually a gale force wind getting under the roof and attempting to lift us off the ground like the little house in that movie "Up." Rain and black skies persisted into the afternoon and there was no fishing that day. Yvette prepared a massive brunch and then we all went shopping for dinner.
We took a break for the best huckleberry smoothies on earth at the Loon Lake cafe. Yvette, Kirstine and Wayne relax while our smoothista, Erica, whipped up the goodies. Huckleberries are the best. Especially when Linda makes a huckleberry pie. Last year I bought two jars of huckleberry jam and a bottle of local honey only to have TSA chuck them in the garbage. TSA has serious problems if they think huckleberry jam is going to bring down a plane.
When we got back home, Wayne made some powerful Manhattans while Yvette and I prepared two recipes from Regee's "Coconut Kitchen" cookbook--the Baked Shrimp with Coconut Sauce and Coconut Beef Adobo. I think Regee would have been proud of us; and without being too yabang (boastful), dinner was a blast.
Rich had been complaining about the growing numbers of ground squirrels burrowing in his Wimbledon-like lawns and paddocks and had been popping them off one by one from the deck of our cabin with a .202 rifle. Of course, Wayne had to prove his marksmanship and started dispatching members of the ground squirrel gang in the vicinity of our cabin before I could even get my morning coffee brewed. Naturally, I did not join in because I was more likely to shoot one of the horses or dogs by mistake!
We headed for Waitts Lake on Sunday morning and almost immediately started catching fish. Here's Netman Wayne getting the net under the first fish of the trip, caught by none other than our Supreme Commander, Commodore and Admiral, Rich Schatz.
And, when Wayne is catching the fish, Rich has to be Netman while also driving the boat and maintaining his own line in the water. A lot of responsibility. That's why we pay him so much.
In addition to being our Official Driver and Netman, Wayne is also our Principal Repairman. Mind you, he was the one that got this lot tangled up.
You may well ask what my role is on these road trips. Well, I am Photographer-in-Chief and this time I did all the beheading, gutting and cleaning except for one occasion when Commodore Schatz took over. I absolutely hate touching fish, especially when still alive, so Wayne is my de-hooker on all occasions when I catch a fish. I only go to the operating table when they are well and truly dead.
The fruits of our labor on Waitts Lake that first Sunday were 13 Rainbow Trout. We ate six of the biggest ones and were joined by Rich's sister, Linda, and Kirstine who was home for the weekend from the University of Washington (ahem) where she is in her first year. I totally neglected to take a photo of Linda and Kirstine at this dinner and for that omission I apologize. I was too busy taking photos of this delicious fish, fresh from the lake, baked to perfection by Yvette.
This is Linda's home-made Rhubarb Pie. She also brought a Rhubarb and Strawberry Pie! They were delicious and we were eating them for dessert on several nights afterwards. I think one actually came to Lake Conconully with us!
I mentioned that Rich and Wayne were popping away at the poor ground squirrels. I came out of the cabin one morning for a quiet coffee on the deck and to watch the horses, the Bald Eagle, the Osprey and to commune with nature. This is what I found. A hooded American Sniper taking out ground squirrels. And I have to add that before we even arrived, Rich's nephew, Mark, and his friend Chris, both ex-Army, had had a field day with the ground squirrels! Now, I do go on about shooting the poor little critters; but they do create large holes and tunnels all over the place which can cause a horse or human to break a leg or twist an ankle. One morning, I did just that. I twisted my ankle quite badly in a ground squirrel hole.
On our last weekend, Reimes came home! He is now in the U.S. Navy and stationed at Bremerton, near Seattle, on the nuclear aircraft carrier SS Nimitz. It was great to see him again--he left a boy and came home a man.
Talking of leaving, Wayne left us on Monday because he was heading home to see his daughter in D.C. before heading to Europe to meet Terry in Paris. This meant that Schatz and I had one last day to fish Waitts Lake.
It started slowly but after 2.5 hours we had each caught our regulation 5 Rainbow Trout (plus one more in case we hadn't counted right)!
The picture of Rich below says it all--Lake Conconully is a distant memory and we are back to Good Fishing and Good Times on Waitts Lake.
So, another year, another Road Trip, meeting up with good friends, more laughs, more economic lectures (thanks, Rich), more memories, dubious jokes and, as always, great food. What more could you ask for? Next year's Annual Road Trip, of course! We are going to skip "unlucky 13" and go straight on to the 14th Annual Road Trip. Can't wait.
We said goodbye to our girlfriends, Harriet and Mary Kay, but the Three Amigos will be back very soon! Look after those fish for us, girls. And watch out for ground squirrel holes!
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