January 8, 2014

Another duck season is almost over, and we will soon be focusing all of our attention on nothing else other than fishing. For those who have not fished over the course of the past few months, now is the time to make sure all your fishing gear is in working order, as there is nothing more frustrating than being out on your first trip of the New Year and discovering that your equipment doesn’t work as good as it did last time you used it. If you left your reel loaded with line that hasn’t been used since September or October, make it a point to strip all of that old line off and replace it with fresh stuff before hitting the water again. The line could have become weakened to the point of breaking very easily simply by sitting dormant for such a long period after being previously exposed to the saltwater elements. Plus, by now, the line has more than likely taken on a spiraled memory that you probably don’t prefer to have to deal with during your precious time out on the water.

As to the mechanical portion of the reel itself, make sure there are no grinding noises presented when rotating the reel handle. Such grinding reflects the presence of fine particles of dirt, salt, or other debris trapped within the guts of the reel. If you don’t feel comfortable enough in disassembling your reel in order to clean its internals, then now would be the time to solicit the services of a local professional cleaner. Some of the larger sporting goods stores like Academy often offer reel cleaning, as do a lot of the smaller and individually-owned tackle shops located all along the coastal regions of Texas. But do yourself a favor and shop around before handing off your reels to just anyone who claims to know what they’re doing. You paid a lot of money for your reels, so do what you can to make sure you’re leaving them with someone who is going to clean them properly and who will be honest in letting you know if new parts are needed.

If you aren’t an old-salt at reel cleaning, but feel as though you have enough confidence to break a reel down in its entirety and get it put back together successfully, now would be the time to test your skills – most fishing reels consist of many parts and it is easy to reassemble them incorrectly. A general rule-of-thumb shared with me by my dad many, many years ago is the importance of remembering to only apply grease to all moving parts and surfaces, and to only apply oil to the other non-moving parts. If you don’t feel as though your reel truly needs a complete cleaning, you can always simply open the side plate and lightly grease the gears and bearings. When you remove the side cover you’ll be able to see where the grease goes. Just clean the old grease off the surfaces with a small instrument like a Q-tip or small pin, and then gently re-apply new grease, keeping in mind to not use too much grease – a thin covering is all that is needed. However, if your reel hasn’t had a thorough cleaning in quite some time, or if you recently (accidentally) submerged your reel in the water, you probably should consider cleaning the whole reel. Completely dismantle all the parts and then soak them in a container of some type of cleaning fluid like mineral spirits. Afterwards, rinse the parts with fresh water and allow them to dry completely. Inspect the bearings and gears for any possible wear or damage, and replace them if necessary.
Reassemble all the parts, remembering to (once again) lightly grease all of the moving parts.

We hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday season, and we want you to remember that this year’s annual Bay Flats Lodge 2014 Winter Fishing Special is going on now. It’s a time during the months of January, February, and March when you and your guests can fish at the Lodge and receive our standard fishing package at a tremendously discounted rate.

Remember to practice CPR, “Catch, Photo, and Release”, whenever possible on trophy Trout and Reds…Guide Chris Martin, Port O’Connor/Seadrift region. www.BayFlatsLodge.com…1-888-677-4868

Full duck limits with longtime customers Mir, Al and Chris with Bay Flats Lodge top guide Harold Dwoarzcyk; straps full of widgeon, pintail, and redheads.

Guests enjoyed full limits of reds with Bay Flats Lodge veteran guide Steve Boldt while drifting the back country of Matagorda Island.

“The Way I See It” is an attempt by the guest columnist to enlighten readers on a subject, as he views it,
and does not necessarily reflect the views of this publication.

HOAXES and SCAMS

This Christmas season we watched the ObamaCare trainwreck continue, and the more ‘Progressive’ of the Liberal Pundits call for the replacement of ObamaCare with “Single-Payer” or government controlled Socialist Health Care. Which is what they wanted all along, but knew would not pass even a very liberal Democrat Congress. The Obamas left for their $5 Million Hawaiian Christmas Vacation while the Socialist Democrats in Washington prepare to fight for “Income Equality”, or free money for people that don’t want to even pretend to work, but will bother to vote Democrat if bribed. Where do they intend to get this money? Just print it they say, and Janet Yellin, the new Federal Reserve Chairman seems willing to go along with the destruction of the dollar.

We did have an entertaining farce in Antactica for our “Winter Holiday” (Christmas is so Politically Incorrect!). While the “Global Warmists” try to make excuses, ignore facts, and drum up support for their failed hoax, the Media continues to ignore the known (or reported) facts and the timeline:

1. The Russian icebreaker, MV Akademic Shokalskiy, with 52 ‘Climate Scientists’ on board for a trip to gather ‘evidence’ of Man Caused Global Warming, got icebound on Dec. 24 in ice reported as being less than 2 meters thick. This was three days after the Summer Solstice (longest day of the year, mid-summer day) in the southern hemisphere.

2. The Chinese icebreaker, Xue Long (Snow Dragon), reputedly able to handle ice to 3 meters thick, tried to free the Russian ship but was unable to reach it, turned back, and appeared icebound itself by the time the heavier Australian icebreaker, Aurora Australis, arrived on the scene.

3. On Jan. 2 the ‘scientists’ were evacuated by the Xue Long’s helicopter to the Aurora Australis, which headed back to Tasmania without any further attempts to free the other two icebreakers. Ice thickness at the Russian ship was reported at 3.1 meters. While the media reported that the stuck icebreakers “were waiting for the ice to break-up”, the USCG icebeaker Polar Star, rated to break ice to 6 meters was dispatched.

4. Jan. 4 was the Solar Perihelion, the closest point of the Earth to the Sun in its annual rotation. The southern hemisphere is tilted on Earth’s axis toward the Sun.

5. For months, Solar scientists have warned of reduced solar activity, but this has been ignored by the Global Warmists and the “Media”. (Doesn’t fit the Approved Agenda?)

From the above information, I have some questions and conclusions:

1. If those “Climate Scientists” are so damn smart, why did they let their ship get icebound? Weren’t they monitoring seawater temperatures, ice thickness, surface weather and forecasts? Or are they so brainwashed by their own propaganda that they refuse to consider observable facts, or just too busy partying on their ‘Grant Money’?

2. Why doesn’t the Media report the facts instead of Warmist’s propaganda? If the ice around the MV Akademic Shokalskiy grew over a meter in thickness in 10 days DURING HIGH SUMMER, isn’t that a reportable observation of great interest to science and people in general? The ice pack should be melting, not growing at this time of year.

3. Why did the Aurora Australis, originally reported as a very capable icebreaker, NOT try to free the other two? The ice pack was growing, but reports are hazy, some said the Xue Long was only about 8 miles from “open water” and a similar distance to the Russian ship. Why couldn’t the Aurora free the Xue Long, and the two working together free the Russian? I think they know/observed conditions that the “Powers-That-Be” don’t want reported, but the Media is full of stories of all the trees the “Climate Scientists” intend to plant.

I believe that if these conditions are that abnormal for High Summer in the southern hemisphere which is angled toward the Sun and at the perihelion, there is serious evidence that our winter in the northern hemisphere is going to be longer and much more severe than normal. This “Man Caused Global Warming” is no longer just a Hoax and a scam to get grants and more government regulations, but becoming a danger to peoples’ safety and our economy because the Warmists in government and media are refusing to tell us the truth so we can properly prepare for severe winter weather.

Note: The icebound ships have freed themselves since this was submitted, but the questions still remain.

Other news you may have missed: Congress is cutting the COLA for military retirees, even those retired for wounds, but keeping “Earned Income Tax Credit” for illegal aliens claiming children in other countries. They can get huge tax refunds, way over any income tax paid, for children they claim to support even if they are not their own but nieces and nephews. No verification is required, or possible. Millions of Tax Dollars were given to illegal aliens last year in this scam. The Socialist Democrats and the RINOs are in a bidding war for the Illegal Alien Vote, but non-citizens are not supposed to vote!?!

The Little Sisters of the Poor are facing millions of dollars in fines for not providing insurance coverage for their ‘employees’ that include contraceptives, abortifact drugs, and even abortion. I’m not Catholic, but this is awful! So unconstitutional and anti-American in many ways. Obama gives exemptions to many of his cronies, why force this on Nuns?

And talk about Constitutional? Chief Justice John Roberts ruled that the “ObamaCare Mandate” was “Constitutional” because it was a tax administered by the IRS. Constitutionalists filed suit that the Constitution requires that all bills for taxes must originate in the House, which this did NOT. “Justice” Roberts has refused for the Supreme Court to hear the case. Clear violation of Constitutional Law. The Obama administration is a dictatorship. Obama has changed the ObamaCare Law many times by executive order, totally in violation of the Constitution, but has become the new “normal”. Roberts and the rest of the Supreme Court are allowing it.

Robert Gates, Obama’s first Secretary of Defense, has a new book coming out that may answer many questions about failures in Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama just wanted “out” of Iraq, and had no confidence (or possibly intention?) in winning in Afghanistan. Coupled with the Debacle of Benghazi, The Arab Spring, Egypt & the Muslim Brotherhood, and Al Qaeda in Syria getting the weapons Obama sent to the Syrian Rebels now being used to conquer Ramadi and Fulluja in Iraq, questions about Obama’s competence and even intent are bound to continue to plague him.

Part XI: Hunting and Fishing

As they say, time marches on. The year is now 2014. Quoted from the renowned philosopher Stimpy, “Happy, happy, joy, joy”.

El Hyena greets the New Year with mixed emotions: the good news is El Hyena is still amongst the living, while the bad news is El Hyena will soon turn a year older, advancing further into his sixth decade of life.

Some people may be happy that 2013 is over, and eagerly anticipate a better 2014, while others are sorry to see 2013 pass. To others, there will be little, if any, appreciable difference.

El Hyena is saddened by the approaching end of hunting season. Of course, the season for hunting white tailed deer (a vicious and obnoxious beast) has in fact ended. This past year, just as in many prior years, El Hyena engaged in the manly pursuit of deer hunting. Not only is deer hunting manly, it is also expensive and often frustrating. El Hyena hunts deer every season with a very close friend on leased property just inside the eastern border of Karnes County. The property contains many deer which cannot be “harvested” (murdered) without violating game laws established by the authorities.

Nevertheless, it is always “fun” to suffer hypothermia and boredom by secreting oneself in an exposed, rudimentary structure known as a “deer stand” vigilantly and repeatedly examining every blade of grass, leaf, limb, twig, and dark spot on the ground in hopes of spotting the elusive “Trophy Buck”, a sometimes mythical creature equally intent on avoiding being “harvested”.

There are, of course, ancillary activities involved in deer hunting, such as constructing and staring at raging campfires, riding around on a 4-wheeler (“scouting”), and creating culinary masterpieces by opening cans, dumping the contents thereof into a pot, and applying heat thereto. The most satisfying and rewarding activity is purchasing, hauling, and distributing tons of corn so that hogs and cows can eat it all every day and night, so that the process can be repeated endlessly.

Deer season may be over, but the season for shooting at the air close to ducks remains open for a few more days. El Hyena enjoys duck hunting, another manly activity that is not only cold but also wet and muddy. El Hyena thoroughly enjoys duck hunting, as it provides the opportunity to clothe himself in expensive and awkward apparel, load himself down with all manner of “essential equipment”, stumble over hundreds of yards of impassable terrain, and wade in frigid ponds with deep muddy bottoms so as to strategically deploy decoys (lifelike plastic facsimiles of waterfowl scientifically designed and constructed to discourage ducks from approaching anywhere in their proximity). Once all of this is accomplished, El Hyena can then stare at the empty skies and enjoy quality time with his faithful canine companion Lobo, who is either deaf or less than perfectly obedient. On rare occasions, Lobo will actually sit quietly and patiently in the blind, but most of the time he must charge about inside the blind and knock everything over, run around outside of the blind, or launch himself into the water either to inspect the decoys or to search for incapacitated ducks he apparently thinks should result from gunshots heard from miles away. In fairness to Lobo, however, El Hyena should point out that whenever a duck does fall to the water, most likely from being concussed from the close passage of tiny steel pellets, Lobo will make an impressive retrieve, and then eventually surrender possession of the duck after an appropriate amount of encouragement (pleading).

The good news is that the time of year for fishing, another manly activity, will soon be upon us. This will provide El Hyena with a whole new set of enjoyable opportunities to spend money (stimulate the economy) and go without sleep. As in years past, El Hyena looks forward to spending many relaxing hours on the water burning gas, desperately trying to avoid being run over by many, many other boat drivers, and seeking to outwit cold-blooded creatures (fish) who are supposed to be less intelligent and more gullible than El Hyena. After all, El Hyena is smart enough to know that fish much prefer eating an artificial bait fish made of plastic rather than a real bait fish that looks nothing at all like a chicken on a chain.

In closing, El Hyena fervently hopes the fishing is better in 2014 than it was in 2013. Other equally skilled fishermen have assured El Hyena that they too had trouble catching fish last year, but El Hyena sometimes suspects that they are just trying to make him feel better.

El Hyena looks forward to seeing his faithful readers on the water, but please try and refrain from running close across his drift. That would only make El Hyena cranky, and harsh his mellow.

My neighbors Parker and Patty are always telling me how proud they are to be a part of Port O Connor, Texas. They say it is a great community and so friendly. During our recent cold weather an interesting thing happened at their house. Parker and Patty were out of town for New Years, and when they returned on Sunday evening, the temperatures were already close to freezing. They hurried to unload the car and get into the house, turned on the heater and started to make some hot coffee. When they went to the sink and turned on the tap, nothing happened. No drips, no drops, no flow. Their water was off! They tried all the faucets, checked the lines around the house, doubled checked to make sure they had paid their bill, but still no water. They called the water district who said they would check it out, but they showed no problems either. Finally, Parker went out to the meter and discovered their main water valve was turned off. Puzzled and cold, he dug out the wrench and turned it back on hoping there was no problem with their water. Instantly all the outdoor faucets were gushing water! The kitchen faucet was flowing freely. Water problem solved but now a mystery. Why was the water turned off and who turned on all those faucets? It was windy and cold! Parker rushed around and turned off all the faucets. As Parker investigated, he found all the outdoor hoses disconnected and all the pipes wrapped and taped. Now that he knew it wasn’t a prank, Parker wondered who would do such a thing for them. Someone had bled all their water lines, insulated exposed pipes, and turned off their water in preparation for the freeze.

Parker finished his outdoor chores and was headed inside to get out of the cold when his neighbor Joe poked his head over the fence. Parker asked Joe if he knew about the water. Joe told Parker he noticed they were out of town and wasn’t sure when they would return, so when he winterized his own pipes, he did Parker and Patty’s too. Parker thanked Joe kindly for so generously thinking of his neighbors and offered to pay for the supplies or help Joe with projects he needed done. Joe replied that it was no problem, that’s what Port O Connor neighbors do…they look out for each other. Joe assured Parker next time he needed some help, he would holler. As the wind howled and temperatures dropped below freezing, Parker and Patty had no worries, just one more reason to be grateful they are part of a community like ours…