One of those days

[TubeDude]

Sorry to hear you had 'one of those days' but at least your PFD didn't get inflated and you stayed dry LOL! And you didn't have a skunk odor when you left. We have yet to eat the last 2 cats we've filleted from Willard as we've been enjoying some those perch we caught at Hyrum ice fishing this last season - making them into fish cakes and they are SO tasty, we even eat them as 'burgers' on a bun with our homemade tartar sauce  and some lettuce (recipes attached).

Yeah, I read your story about the "wet Rosie" incident.  Was happy to know that all emerged from the water safely...if not cold and wet.  Definitely a good sign that you need a PFD for the puppy.

I had my own "inflated" moment a couple of years ago on Willard.  My then new float tube had a leak in the seat cushion that caused me to go "slip-slidin' away" out the front of the tube.  As I was trying to get my footing on the rocks to get back in the tube my PFD went POP-WHOOSH.  I had never actually experienced that before and it was a moment of "what the?"  Like you, I was glad to know it worked...and then unglad to find I had to pay a bunch of money for a recharge kit.

Thanks for the recipes.  My dearly departed mother taught me how to make "fish patties" while I was still a youngun (MANY years ago).  In our family we often enjoyed fish cakes/patties from salmon or trout we had bottled...or bought.  In later years I have experimented with many different species...either from bottles or fresh caught and chopped/ground into flakes.  If you know your way around a kitchen...and the properties of various spices, dry mixes, etc...you can whup up some toothsome treats.

I do enjoy a good tartar sauce on some fish.  But my wife doesn't like any kind of sauces on anything.  No kethup, no mustard, no mayo.  And forget horseradish sauce.  Thankfully we have an agreement that I can make or keep it in our refrigerator...as long as none of it ends up on HER food.  And heaven help the burger joint that fails to heed her request for "Hold the ^^^^!" and she gets hers with anything on it.  Nuclear.

How is your lure-making thing coming along?