You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks
Last weekend was one of the best weekends I’ve had in quite awhile; and honestly, two of the activities that I had an absolute blast participating in, you wouldn’t have caught me doing just a few years ago. I guess teaching an old dog a new trick every once in awhile can pay off, huh?
On Saturday I managed to out-fish the other two in my group, and land my first crappie through the ice. Last year you would have never found me on a frozen lake. Ice fishing always felt unnatural to me, and really wasn’t that appealing. I finally broke down this year, though, amongst a little peer pressure, and gave it a shot. Luckily I did, too, because I hate to think of how much fun I’d be missing out on if I hadn’t gone. And in the process I re-visited an old rule: always try something before you decide you don’t like it……..even if it means leaving your comfort zone for a little while.
Then, on Sunday, we tore through some of my brother and cousin’s properties on quads. I can’t even describe how much fun it was to tear through the foot of snow on the four-wheeled workhorses. And coming out of a corner sideways on the quad, while snow and dirt smacks against your face, is such a unique experience – and very addicting. Plus, if you haven’t done donuts with a quad on ice, you’re missing out on one of the greatest experiences of life. With practice, and in four-wheel drive, you can actually continuously spin in one spot without moving an inch. I guess it was the kid in me coming out again, but it was such an adrenaline rush, and such an incredibly good time – a good time that I would have never participated in a few years back. It definitely made the quad payment worth it.
The moral of this post: You’re never too old, and it’s never too late, to try something new. In year’s past, at this time of the year, I would have been sheltered inside waiting for Old Man Winter to leave. Thankfully, that isn’t the case this year, though. I’ve been hiding from Old Man Winter in a makeshift hunting blind shanty, and spraying snow in his face with my quad tires.
And I don’t think he’s ever going to catch me.
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I’ve wanted to try ice fishing for years, but it doesn’t get cold enough here. Glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Glad to see you out enjoying yourself. Sounded like you all had a fun time.
I have to ask…were you able to keep that crappie?
You make a great point! I had never ice fished until Gary introduced me to it when we went back to his old stopming grounds in Minnesota. We used a spear … that was so cool… but I never did get the hang of it! Alas we’ve never done any ice fishing here in Idaho. Every year when we go up north on our late elk hunt we pass a little reservoir with lots of ice houses on it and people having a great time… you’ve stirred up the desire to try it… Glad you’ve been having fun on your quads!… now that ours is fixed maybe we can get out and cruise the hills!
Jody,
I could have kept the crappie, but I chose to put him back in the hole.
Great new look Arthur. Had to take a second look to make sure I was on the right site.
I’m still hoping that I’ll get a chance to do some ice fishing before the ice melts on the mountain lakes. Looks like you had fun!
Gary,
That was just a teaser for what’s to come. You weren’t really suppose to see it yet. Whoops!:)
Emily,
It is a great time. Hopefully all of you get a chance as well.
Just wondering about the fish…in KY I think they have to be 10″.
That tickles me about the quads, we call them 4-wheelers down here and my son who is scared to death of heights wants to go way to fast on them. You can’t beat good outdoor fun.
For some reason Ice Fishing has always scared me too bad to try it.
I picture myself falling in the ice and getting trapped. (Of course watching every episode of I Shouldn’t Be Alive probably doesn’t help me overcome these thoughts.) I will have to follow your example one of these days and give it a try.
While reading your posts I am reminded why I want a quad so bad. Sounds like you had a blast!