This last weekend the crew headed out on the annual mission we call Smeltapolooza. The little buggers were elusive this year and the final weigh in of our catch rang up at 0.0. We were not alone though. It seems that no one else was having much luck either. Perhaps it was the unusually mild temperatures, or unfavorable barometric pressure, maybe the little guys had a big breakfast before we got there, who knows. But that’s Smelting and you know it going in.
Jim's Smelt Camps
Seconds before the"pot holder"sticks on the woodstove top burst into flames
Shrimp ala Propane
Having said that, we still consider the trip a great success. We did after all eat “well”. Troy’s new hot cheese dip, then garlic shrimp, deer/moose burgers, marinated sirloin tips…a four pound block of aged cheddar, all served with traditional side dishes: Chips, beef jerky, and a particularly fine bag of cheezy poof balls.
Jimmy making the rounds with 4lbs of cheddar
Bambi & Bullwinkle
Monsters Of Fishing Brewing Company’s Smeltapolooza 2010 Amber Ale was served by creator Dean. Thanks to The Hop Shop for keeping Dean on the straight and narrow with his brewing. It came out damn good.
The Amber Ale
Jimmy still wants pizza delivered
nuff said
Really the only unfortunate incident of the whole trip came as we were packed up and heading off the ice to catch our ride. Seems I got into a bit of a scuffle with my rolling cooler as I was pulling it up the (steep, slippery) incline of the gangway that leads up off the river to the bank above. I don’t know who started it and witnesses opinions vary. I contend that it wasn’t me and my cooler was being belligerent going up the ramp. All I know is words were exchanged and next thing I know me and the cooler were locked in a death match. Last thing I remember is looking up the ramp at Troy at the top and he was just shaking his head slowly back and forth as if thinking to himself “ok, this is going to be ugly”.
Well me and the cooler tangled and cart wheeled backwards down the ramp and wound up in a heap on the river ice. I’m pretty sure I had the upper hand on it for awhile, after all I weigh in at 178 lbs and the cooler at 10lbs at that point and, I clearly had the reach advantage. But, ultimately the cooler rallied and wound up pinning me at the bottom for the win. Fortunately it didn’t do any damage to me, and I managed to bust off his latch in the process. We made up after that though, and I even promised to pay for the repairs to his latch.
