Kankakee Carps

Hello!
I'm driving out to the river, and on the way I spot a bottle-nose, soft-shell, turtle sunbathing! 

I should have put something next to him, so Y'All could see how really big he is!  I've seen lots of these turtles over the years, but usually only spot them in the water.

Todd fished a mud puddle with Troy and I.

A puddle filled with active fish-- that is!

We caught a few carp there.

Troy was the net man.

The muddy water made it tough to see what was in there, until it was reeled in.

Sometimes we would see huge fish swimming with their backs out of the water, or part of a tail fin now a then.

Troy hooked into a really BIG fish!  He fought the fish for a few minutes before it snapped the line!

Before leaving I stopped to check out another favorite spot.  Do you see the fish? 

Too many fish and not enough time!  :-)

Wanatah Fireworks

Gladys and I took a shopping trip to Lighthouse Mall in Michigan City, Indiana.

Where we took really really bad photos of our fashion montage.

Including cool hats!

Later on that day, the kiddos, Glenn and I went out to the Wanatah Fireworks celebration.

Evening was approaching and the clouds in the sky didn't look to promising.

To ease the torture of waiting for the fireworks to began, we checked out the creek.

I couldn't really see any fish, but I bet someone in there would have rode the hook.

Troy and Gladys had front row seats, (which they have pretty much outgrown) for the fireworks display!

I used to live in Wanatah several years ago, and the fireworks display was outstanding back then!

It's funny, how after 4 years, I come back and I'm shocked by how much the kids I used to know have grown and changed.

Troy's favorite game there was Dunk the Bozo.  Although, he didn't want to actually play the game, he only wanted to stand next to the dunk tank with the anticipation of getting soaked from the splash!

As the time grew closer, the clouds grew fuller!

Finally the fireworks show began with Tapps and a 21 Gun Salute to honor the fallen service members.  A flag made of fireworks was part of the opening celebrations-- just as it's been since I could remember.

 

The show proceeded with a BANG, and ooooohhhs & ahhhhhs from the spectators!

 

Some fireworks were so loud, they made the Earth shake!  And it must have busted open a few clouds too, cause it began to rain.

While getting wet, we played a round of Guess What the Next Color Will Be?, and I didn't do to well.  It was much easier to guess the color at the Fortville fireworks last year since they only had two colors (red or green) to pick from. Seriously.  Last year was fun anyways, I thought the red and green was nice and Christmasy.   

The Wanatah Fireworks was just as spectacular as ever!  The rain was short lived, and we all enjoyed the show.

Troy's Moterbikal

Hey Folk's!  

On the way home from our week in Plainfield, we stopped at a yard sale, just for the fun of it.

 

Immediately, Troy spotted a hot ride, just his size!  And in his favorite color-- PINK!

Troy was one happy kid!  He couldn't get home fast enough, as he was very eager to take his new ride for a spin!

The problem was, Interstate 65 was at a stand still.

We decided to take another route home.  Storms were rolling in as we made our way to highway 421.

The sky certainly kept us entertained, one minute it would be bright and sunny and the next, it would be very dark.

The Wabash river was flooded so much, that it took several attempts to cross it. As we approached the road to cross over, we found it underwater and closed!

A few country roads later, we were able to make it across.

Home bound with a moterbikal and an eager rider in the back, we got there as fast as we could.  Troy called Grandma and Jean to tell em the news of his new Harley!  He may have exaggerated a bit.

I don't think I even had the house unlocked before he was riding around the neighborhood!

Troy was the happiest guy ever!  

 

The next day, after our trip, I got to go to Bass Pro Shop for a Friends of Fishing Event-- a Crappie Presentation by Doug Sikora!

Look out Crappie!!!  I now know some new techniques that's gonna get me some great results, thanks to Doug!  :-)

 It was nice to be back home!  See the upside-down girl in mid-air-- that's my Gladdie!  :-)

Troy let Gladdie and friends take turns trying out his new ride until the battery needed to be charged.

I have a feeling the rest of the summer is going to fly by for them.

Avon

During the later part of our stay in Plainfield, Indiana, Troy and I ventured over to the nearby town of Avon.

The fish were biting like crazy.  Sadly, this one had bumps all over it:

Most of the fish we caught there looked to be very healthy.

The redears seemed to be extra aggressive. :-)

The park was full of awesome places to fish. Our favorite two spots were above the dam, and below the dam. (there's a shocker!)

It was fun watching the water rush through the dam and the fish trying to swim it.  We also watched, what appeared to be, crawdads having a family reunion near one of the pillars.

We caught several white crappies below the dam.

While fishing below the dam, as soon as the fly got to the right spot in the water (the bubble highway), we set the hook.  We couldn't even feel a bite with the strong current till it was too late.  Our method of willynilly setting the hook, worked like a charm!

Who's job is it to clear the rubble?  Eww.  Just kidding, I think the fish actually liked hiding in that mess.

Troy liked being able to see those fish strike, and we went back to the ole trusty, white, top water, spider!

Troy and I were catching really nice gills!

We made a few friends that day too.  Such as a very friendly turtle.  We couldn't believe he didn't scurry away.  Even when I had a fish hooked and was bringing it in right next to his sunbathing log.  The turtle seemed to be very entertained by the whole ordeal.

That afternoon, we went exploring another park, located across the highway from where we were.  Another turtle greeted us, and I had to get out of the truck and help him cross the street, cause I only had 3/4 of a tank of gas left!

The other park was pretty too.

We fished the little pond with the water fountain.  The park had spots to fish the river as well (White Lick, I think).  However, it was still too high and murky.

We fished well into the afternoon and had an awesome time exploring the parks! :-)