Short trip today and a first for me !
Fish were caught.......then......after having this boat for 23 years and this truck for 13 years it happened. Tied down boat, buckled up and started for home. First left hand curve and "What the heck was that noise?!". Yep, tailgate was down from retrieving the tie down straps. For the first time in my life I have "The Bend" in the top of my tailgate. Golly I hate that. Now it doesn't want to latch like normal. Uuughhhh!
Anyway, it was only going to be a short morning trip. Boy is headed to Scout camp. One of the merit badges he is working on is Fish and Wildlife management. Several prerequisits before getting to camp. One he chose was catch 3 fish, identify, take measurements and record the stomach contents of each. We caught a bunch of white perch and crappie. Used 2 white perch and one crappie. At camp they will discuss age classes and how to age the fish. We have been discussing the Otholith in fish. Studying up one it bit. Seems that is not really a bone, but it does get growth rings similar to aging a tree. Called DGIF friday and talked with two biologist. They were very helpful. We searched for the otoliths. Each fish has two. We only found one of the crappie and one from a perch. Boy used a jewelers loop to study them when we got home. He says the crappie was 5 and the perch was 4. It was pretty cool.
They were not this easy to find. I need practice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuWd28VONZY
Perch had 4 pieces of something. Looked like 3/4 - 1" maggots. Maybe freshwater shrimp? Or tiny minnows that were digesting? Crappie had brown goo and one small boney strip that looked like left over minnow spine. Other white perch only had goo. The sun popped out and the humidity jumped to 127%. Sprayed suncreen on open pores. Don't do that.
Did I mention that I bent my %$%^&*!@$^&#$% tailgate? At least the white perch were hungry. That was fun. Boy reminded me that they were inferior species and that we had to quit fishing.:biggrin
Boy is 13 and 2 inches taller than me. Only been out of school a week and spend 4 nights at Buggs with his Grandpa and Uncle. Home for 3 nights then off to scout camp for 6 days. I remember when he used to need us.
We had fun. Except that I bent my.....nevermind.
Dayton
