Fishing Gin Clear Water.

 A stealthy approach to the stream is key when fishing gin clear, spring fed trout streams of North East Iowa.  Take some time and watch what the trout are up to and make that first cast count.

With that said, I didn't have it.  But, none the less I gave it a try Friday after school.  Not a bad way to whined down.
As the sun set the temps dropping to 26* F.
. 

No fish but I stopped by the salad bar. 

 Watercress is an aquatic plant found in the spring fed streams of the driftless region.  It is often overlooked, by many.  This close cousin of mustard and other greens is a great food source in the spring, when other greens have stopped growing.

What are you looking at?

Looking at the beautiful place I call home.

View of Bellevue.

 Under overcast skies I could see Bellevue just miles away across the Mississippi River in the lower portion of the driftless river valley. Blanding Landing is a federal park located just across the upper pool at lock and dam 12 and about 13 miles south of Galena. 

 I made the drive across to the Illinois side to hang out with Ronbo and his awesome daughter.

Ron and I taught together 17 years ago.  With the girls off to Washington DC for the women's march, we decided to get together to catch up .

 Returning to the house. We drove by the beautiful spillway of  lake Galena.

We got a few games of cribbage in before our supper. 

And a couple card tricks with this kid.

Rural Route Stout Chocolate Cupcakes.

 River Ridge Brewing is one of our newest businesses here in Bellevue.  It's a community driven nano-brewery that's housed in the old Happy Bean building.

 When you start with great ingredients, you'll end up with a great final product.  That goes for both the beer and the cupcakes.

This is a recipe that Susie has used for years 

The dark roasted barley brings out a hint of coffee along with the sweetness of chocolate. 

Great looking cupcakes, are we done yet?

No, the dark chocolate icing has both Baileys Irish Cream and Grand Marnier. 

Now we're done.

First Fish of the Year is in the Net.

 I got out on the stream Sunday with Jace before the Packer vs Cowboys  playoff game,

The temps were just below freezing, 30* so it didn't take long for the eyelets to ice up.

 The sun light hit the blade as I retrieved my spinner.

 It wasn't long before I hooked in to my first trout of the New Year.

 This gave  me the opportunity to use my new net that Beau got me.  Jace always caries his along the stream and often I've wished I had a net along when I hook into one of these driftless gems

RETURNED

Beau brought the jeep back from Colorado

He doesn't really need two vehicles now that he has his new whip. 

 We racked up a few miles hiking the hills and

We wet a line on the trout stream. First trout of the New Year!

Cold Weather Projects.

I been busy on these cold weekends cleaning hives and frames.  This way when the spring time rolls in I'm on the trout stream and not in the pole barn,

Foundations

On to the next

Free form hive body

 The cold is making the deer herd up.  About 20 to the south.

 At the same time about 30 just a quarter mile away to the  north east.

We didn't see too many birds at the feeder.  I think we found the culprit.  This female kestrel has been hanging out recently.