LAKE UP DATE

Well I am in need of updating you on the lake progress.  We have been very busy making it our new honey hole, just that, a good looking spot.  Hope you can see, some of the hard work we have done, by the different in appearance of LONGFELLOW, between the last posting and this picture I posted today.  This big blind I need to explain just a little, about it, and how it got here. 

Dax Delbert from the Fremont area, has hunted with us over the past few years, heard Ralph was building this new lake.  He, in his spare time,  was building this blind, and not near done, but he offered it to Ralph, to be placed on this new lake, if he could use it.  Ralph said okey.  So the pressure was placed on Dax to complete this jewel of his.   Well here is it today, things still to be done inside, but as pictured here, is blending into the shore line of our new hunting hole.  It will be a "comphy" hiding hole for many.  Not sure of all the amenities that will be in place, but I can tell you it will be warm.  This blind has about an inch of foam insulation sprayed on the outside.  Time will tell, but the way this top is design and constructed, we feel, the wind should not whip, or suck the heat out, either.  He has radiant heaters to keep our hunters warm, when needed.  For you that are not familiar with that type of heat, here is the advantage.  It warms the objects, not the air.  Compare this to the sun melting ice off a dark object on a day when it is way below 32°.  These heaters work the same way.  The objects then radiate to warn the air, but you are an object too, so you adjust the heat to your comfort.  Thank you Dax, you did good.

Well back to the lake, and what is done.  All blinds are buried, they, have been piped for the propane clear back to the tank.  No trencher either, all shovel.    All blinds have most of the intercom stuff in.  Again all shovel. The whole lake and the road, has been packed with a big packer, and 3-4 times in the killing zone.  Walking should be pretty easy in the lake, and on the road.  The area out side the newly constructed dikes, that make this lake, has been seeded.  A road has been built from the county road,  to the lake and out into the lake to the pits.  I also have to point out about these dikes.  First this dike circles the whole lake, all 360° of it.  There are drains that had to be placed in these dikes, to not only to drain the lake, but to handle over flow,  not only from a heavy rain, but also when we are keeping a water hole open, there is water that has to escape, then.  The Glup boys, GLUP CONSTRUCTION, are to be commended, for taking time out of their planed schedule, to do this project, the dirt work, also bury blinds, water line, and the propane tank.

The pump should be ready to pump the lake here in a couple of days.  There has been a eight inch pipe, (I spoke of before) buried up to our hunting area, to keep a water hole open, for our cold days of hunting.  And the list of small thing goes on and on.  Not saying we are ready to hunt, because we are not, but it is very rewarding, just look and see, just what a few workers have done in a very short time.  There are many to say "thank you to", but if I name them, I  am sure I would miss someone and I am sure there are some, I have not even heard about as of yet.  Can't speak for everyone, but there has been a few night when I hit the hay that I hurt all over, waking up feeling the same, the next morning.  But we continue,  knowing time is short to get everything that has to be done, so back to work.  I feel we are getting close, to be where we can hunt, come October 5th, because, we know, we will have a lake, we will have a place for you to set, and when it gets cold you will have, a water hole, heat, and a place to cook or warm, your meals.  This all has happened in less than 30 days, WOW, and I know there are thing I have not told you about.  But the boss has kept us organized and focused, as well as worked his butt off too, and we have Got-R-Done. 

Have to tell ya, the Boss got on the big packing machine, like they use, when building roads, and done the packing.  Bet that is the only 95 nearly 96, year old person, that machine, or any other packer, has ever had driving it for that many hours.  Sure he had to run it for 25-30 hours, all the time keeping a keen eye on us.  He is an amazing dude.  Was just to busy to take time to snap a picture.  Will kick myself, the rest of my life over that, you can bet.  That is something that I should have had, to post here.  Damn it!!!  Only excuse is, hind site is 20-20.

Well I best close this and post it.  But as always keep our troops in your prayers.  Also if the rush slows down a little will try to update you a little sooner next time.  So check back. Thank you and we will see ya.  

Carl

LONGFELLOW IS SET

Wednesday,  updating you, on the progress on the new setup.  Plans are to set,  the NEW BIG BLIND.  I am excited to see this thing.  It is high class plus.  First off we will have electricity in all the blinds, but please don't get the idea we will be able, to bring deep fat friers and electric skillets, but we will have lights, electric powered intercom, we can recharge your cell and stuff like that.

Today activities will include, burying a big propane tanks so you will longer be drafted to help lug 160 pound propane tanks around. Bet that is sounding good, to ya???

The new blind just arrived on site.  The over the road trailer is full of blind  First examination  from one end to the other, looks like it covers two time zones.  WOW, it looks better than I thought it would.  It looks exciting.  I can not disclose all the good features as yet, but there is plenty.  Will tell you there is a rear entrance in the middle, and a designated cooking area in the midpoint of the front.  Another, bragging feature, it is insulated.      

Now I have a message that Ralph has asked me to include, "To all of his old and all the new customers that may grace this new honey hole".  "The surface of the lake will be over 30 acres that are under water".  Just a little under what I had posted earlier, but you know to make a water hole look natural, as Ralph will insist on, and to get a dike around, on this 40 acre track, will shrink the lake size, some.  But we still have over 30 acres, and it looks exciting as I set here putting this posting, together.  He also want to say in his words.  "We have a very good location and the hopes and dreams have never been  higher". This new location is closer to town by 3-4 miles and except for about 1/4 mile, it is all hard surface road.  This is about 6.6 miles, from the cafe to the parking lot.

He also wants me to tell you, this years fees, are a little higher, because of the expense of the, lake set up and rent, and this new pitt,  etc, His yearly membership will be  $650.00 and the daily fees will be $75.00. The spring daily fees, will be a little higher also, than the fall fees, as in the past, but are still very competitive.  Especially when you consider Ralph's experience.  One of the biggest advantages, I see,  of this new setup is, we have no other hunting spreads with in  2 miles, north, south, east or west, but still in the migration path and feeding area, of the Canada's.  This lake on the high way just north of town, fills up with Canada's yearly, has to make for some exciting hunting.  I know you are thinking they will remember where we are at.  But you have to remember as they filter into our area rest a few days then move on.  We will be seeing different birds, all the time.  Then in the early season, as our locals, that stage there, should give us some excitement, too.  And they had a great hatch this year.

I am setting at home finishing this, and I have to decide what picture I am planning on post with this report.         

Both the blind and the propane tank are set.  Now pray that if we get some rain it is not a heavy rain.  The dirt needs to settle a little before we can handle a cob floater. 

As always please remember the troops, in your bedtime prayers. 

Also remember I am trying to keep you updated on the progress, of the birth of this new honey hole, so check back for updates. 

See ya   Carl

RALPH COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT!

It is official. Ralph and others completed a agreement for some property to hunt on, and will be set up for the fall season. He just could not stand retirement. This is proof that 96 years old, is not to old to start a new adventure. This new setup will be more north than East of Tekamah. Me just guessing, on the directions, are as followed: 3.5 north 2.25 east a little bit south on your right. To our projected parking to Tailgators cafe is about 6.7 miles. We will have around 40 acres of ground under water. Will not go into the blind setup, you know as to, type, number, who built, etc, but it will be as good and maybe a little better than what we are used to. Will be looking north east. Projected to have electricity in the pits but limited on amperage. But no longer toting battery's around for the intercom and the blaster. There will not be telephone, cell service only, but at least you can now, charge your cell phone.

Flyway vision has never been better. Flyway for migrating Canada's and Whitefronts, will no longer wishing for a stronger west or northwest wind. Because we should be right in their path. No prediction on the ducks, because we would never, be able to see duck at the distance west of the south lake. Spring hunting of the Carp, should also be improved. The birds we seen in the past that come north, up the river and then turned west south of us and then pumped up west of us, all of these years, all should be in play this spring.

But the area is FLAT FLAT FLAT. Will try to post a picture. May have to set land marks so locating flocks can be accomplished. There is an old farm place on the east side of the north south road that may also serve as our parking spot. Have not got permission, for that to happen, as of this writing, and there are others, that are not quite as handy. But this farmstead, is still there to use as a landmark.

Another positive is: Goll's lake just north of town, for the past few years has served as staging area, for Canada's. This of course, our locals have staged there, and have served as the calling card, and starts them going in on the lake. Anyway the daily movement toward Blue lake east of Decatur and this new lake has to almost in line. The past few years this has been several thousand birds for the biggest part of the season as birds move in and rest then move on, south.

I know when ever I say something positive about something it goes south on us, but this place just looks to have so much potential, it has to happen. Especially with that many acres under water. That is one big calling card, and should be visible, for many, many miles.

To sum this up, Ralph is in need of members and of course day hunter also. So talk this up out there and send a few hunters this way. This is a costly venture for all parties involved in this setup. I know this is going to be a new experience to all of the old timers, but it can also an exciting experience too. In my survey, the state sent us this summer on the Canada season, I told them forget increasing bag limits, because that will never affect the Canada kill, unless you increase the season dates, so the season overlaps into the spring migration. I still feel that way, BUT there is the possibility that a 5 bird bag, may just come into play, on a couple days this fall. Still think a spring season would handle that problem better, but as you know the Feds will wait till it is a monster problem, before taking action.

Will try to post up dates as this project progresses.

Glup's started the dirt work 8-8-13 depending on weather they will be done in a few days. Some of the blinds are on site, but not all.

Please check back

See ya. Carl

THE DIRT WORK HAS BEGUN

This Photo is taken at site.  Looking back toward town  Can see heavy equipment at the area where the blinds are going to be setting.