Archive for the ‘fishing’ Category

Building a Koi Pond

Saturday, November 10th, 2007

Believe it or not, I really do have a real job that doesn’t have anything to do with hunting. So in between hunting trips, I really do have to work. This past weekend a co-worker of mine was asking for volunteers to help him put in his new Koi pond at the new house that he just had built. Unfortunately I didn’t have a trip planned so being the good co-worker that I am, I volunteered. Now living here in Colorado, when I think of a pond in the back yard, I am thinking maybe an 8’x8’ or maybe even a 12’x12. So when I noticed all the people that were invited to attend on the email, I figured that we would have this thing knocked out and sipping some suds in about half an hour. Boy O’ Boy was I wrong!

When we showed up and walked into the backyard I almost fell over. The hole was dug, which was a good thing, because the pond was about 40’x50’ and 5’ deep in size!

Holy cow! It wasn’t a pond but a reservoir! I had never imagined that it would be that big.

The email had said that he needed help moving a 600 pound Koi pond. What I didn’t realize was that was just the weight of the Koi ponds rubber liner.

However, John had a good plan and quickly put everyone to work before they could turn around a run off!

In no time at all with proper supervision from the program manager (John’s wife Tammy), we had the landscape fabric down and were ready for the liner.

Fortunately for us the liner came rolled up on a roll that was about 6’ long. After a little debate we shoved a piece of  PVC through the center, picked it up and people started to pull it towards the hole.

Once unrolled it was determined that we had the short side going the wrong direction. So, with a little muscle we were able to get it orientated in the right direction and started unfolding it. At last it was in position and with a little push and pull here and there we had the liner in place.

The last that I heard was that it was about 6 inches from being full, can’t wait until next summer. It is always nice to have a new place to fish!

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Take your son and daughter fishing day!

Wednesday, April 25th, 2007

With the weather turning nice and the ice melting off of the lakes, I’d like to suggest a “Take your son and daughter fishing day.” Before our hectic summer schedules suck up all of our extra time, remember to get out and take your kids fishing. Drown some worms, snag some rocks, hook some tree bass and maybe catch some fish! But most of all get out and share a great experience with your kids.

Growing up, my dad was not much of a fisherman, but he tried hard to introduce me to the sport and was always trying to teach me new techniques. From getting me signed up in a fly tying class, to introducing me to people that fly fished. He would milk any information from the guys at work that he could get.  Then we would go try it out on the weekends.  We may not have always caught fish, but it was always a good time and it was a good way to spend quality time with my folks.

Now I have children of my own and I have already started trying to get my oldest son introduced to fishing, the great sport that it is. If we can only get past the rock throwing – which I have to say, at the end of a day with no fish, is not a bad idea! – I am sure that he will become a much better fisherman than I am.

An important tip for fishing with your kids: Use barbless hooks! Not only do they make it easier to practice catch and release of fish, they also makes it easier on the catch and release of the fisherman.  How is it that the teacher is the one that is constantly getting caught on the hook instead of the fish?

Take your kids fishing. They will remember it for a lifetime.

Posted in fishing, kids | 1 Comment »