I grew up in West Virginia, so I know a few things about life that outsiders may not. For one thing, just because a morning starts out grey and cloudy (like every morning in West Virginia) it doesn’t necessarily mean rain. The fog and clouds are just the Mountain State’s way of sleeping in a little. Also, when you come to a top of the hill on a one-lane road, pull over to the right a little or an … [Read more...]

Macon was a beautiful animal, a graceful English setter with feathery white fur and only a hint of orange. He was a big male in keeping with a long line of registered English Setters I have owned out of Grouse Ridge Will. I had a friend with a female setter, which happened to be coming in heat. To the best of our knowledge, neither of these dogs had ever been with another dog, if you know what … [Read more...]

During the course of the life of an average man, there come a few times when he takes complete leave of his senses and does incredibly stupid things – like go camping. After rising to the top of the food chain and having access to things like heat pumps, wide screen TVs and multiple jet showers, some average men deem it desirable to forego the pleasantries of life and live among a cluster of other … [Read more...]

Went through a little place called Waverly not long ago. The peanut capitol of the world, or so they claimed. I had been dunking some bloodworms in the lower Chesapeake for croakers. Decided to come back the scenic route up Route 460 instead of fighting the US Navy getting off work on I-64 at Hampton. I loaded up on the croakers, by the way. Had a cooler full. So it was back to Charlottesville … [Read more...]

Intro: My son Jimmie recently had an encounter with a set of treble hooks, so I suppose it runs in the family. As he described his hook-up, it reminded me of this old article I wrote – which unfortunately is true. It’s an oldie, but hopefully worth reading again.   Sometimes a fisherman has a day he’d just as soon forget. I’ve had many of those days, but one in particular stands … [Read more...]

Bill, an avid duck hunter was in the market for a new dog. His search ended when he found a retriever that could actually walk on water to fetch the ducks. Shocked by his find, he was sure none of his friends would ever believe him. One day Bill decided to try to break the news to a friend of his, Frank, an eternal pessimist, who refused to be impressed with anything. This, surely, would be … [Read more...]

A game warden sneaks up on a man sitting on the bank with a fishing rod and a bucket of minnows. “Let me see your fishing license,” the warden growls, certain that he has a culprit dead to rights. “I’m not fishing,” the man said. “I’m training my minnows.” “What do you mean, training minnows?” the warden asked. “These are special minnows. When I let them go in the water, and if I beat … [Read more...]

One day, a rather inebriated ice fisherman drilled a hole in the ice. He peered into the hole and a loud voice said, "There are no fish down there." He walked several yards away and drilled another hole and peered into the hole and again the voice said, "There are no fish down there." He then walked about 50 yards away and drilled another hole and again the voice said, "There are no fish … [Read more...]

I say men make the best cooks. My wife says men make the biggest messes. What a sexist she is. Fellow chefs, the time has come for men to take control of the kitchens in America and get women back in the malls where they belong. Gentlemen, start your turkey fryers. What? You have no experience cooking? A lack of experience or knowledge of a particular subject has never stopped us before. Men … [Read more...]