TIM

Thats an acronym my friend Dan Stewart invented for when things that are just different here and it's his way to explain it.... This Is Mexico....things like this picture of my last years fishing hat that I left on our custom built cedar hat rack. The moisture here in the summer works on everything and of course the hat had sweat on it and the so the perfect formula for this to occur....I really like the look of the little round  beanie on the top of the cap.

So I'll be needing a new fishing hat from our friends at Great Yellowstone Fly Fishing Outfitters. The humidity here is particularly hard on electronics. TV's only last a few years, appliances last a little longer but eventually the quit. In the 13 years we've been here we've gone through 3 TV's, 2 Air conditioners, 3 microwaves ( we actually had one that we rebought that we left in a unit we rented ), Several coffee makers and lamps, we have one right now that blinks in a kinda S.O.S, fashion and our pretty new Refrigerator makes a sound like a 737 take off every so often.....But...what we hadn't seen was this.

I barbecued Chicken and as we sat down for our first meal on the patio a piece of plastic came off my chair when I put my arm on the arm rest. So we discussed the UV rays and what they can do and it wasn't long before a leg collapsed and sent me floundering around the tile floor. MP sure got a kick out of that . Turns out all 4 had to go to the basura

 

So when we walked in this year and everything worked perfectly we were ecstatic. Instant and fast internet. Cold blowing air and we're happy campers...what's a few plastic chairs in exchange for this wonderful life style...Funny thing . In Moootana my guitars need vigilant hydration to make up for the dryness and to not damage expensive musical instruments but here in Mazatlan my guitar just loves it. I just clean it and put it away each season and every year it's ready to go with no neck adjustment or anything. In fact it's thriving here. Through the years the climate and humidity has it accepting the most beautiful and unique patina, a kinda of yellowing of the plastic binding and darkening of the spruce wood that I really like. So that makes three of us that love Mazatlan, me MPeasy and this guy.

So our first night we go out to sunset. we'd only been here for an hour and it was plum hot and humid, kinda uncomfortable really. But we visited each other as we seem to be the first of our group down this year and Walla....look how close I came to getting a ' naval assist ' on our first sunseta. We're off to the great start.

And if you're green flash watcher which I am also I'll say this...Ya can only get it by being here. I've taken hundreds...ok dozens of pictures trying to time it when it flash just as it drops off the horizon and it seems to be impossible....or....it could be that a camera can't capture what the human eye can...or...it doesn't really exist...now isn't that fun ? Some of you might say what in the hell is he talking about, he has that captured right there. Well, that looks kinda yellow to me, maybe a little green at the top so it could be....or.....or....?

And in the holy $^*& department how'a that for chompers on a fish. The waters warm so the guys who like to be in the water are loving it. This guy speared this slimey just 10 yards off our beach as we were resting under an umbrella. he also had a Pompano and 1 nice big lobster...and they tell me the fishing's slow, well, we'll see about that.

Moving on....

Now that's a lot of Deer. And these aren't your Choteau Street eat your flowers and trees variety, they're actually wild and here in Montana that distinction is sometimes kinda blurred.

So I have this theory....with our lifestyle of changing locations with the seasons like a lot of things in nature it helps you get perspective. What it does is that we always have newness . When you go from Alaska to Montana to Mexico to the lake, the river , the mountains you see it differently each time. unfortunately we also seem to get to looking at most things as they become routine....and there's the rub, we gotta see the wonder......so me and MP took a bit of a road trip yesterday to say adios for a few months to our new neighborhood. Unlike the road system in Alaska where you can go north or south and not for very far here there's county roads everywhere. new discoveries. We crossed the Lincoln road in the Helena Valley onto Chevilier Dr. and Walla,  as we drove along the Dearborn River for 20 miles we saw just two cars, er,,,,,trucks. It's gorgeous.

We louped over to Interstate 15 at the wayside of Sebian where we off ramped at Spring Creek and ran the recreation road up to the mighty Mo north of Wolf Creek...It was sunny but cool and the wind was bright . Even though it's off season there were maybe 50 boats floating this part of the river. As I snapped the pic of these three guys I actually shivered  knowing that feeling of being in an unprotected boat with every bit of clothing you have on and loving every minute of it and maybe even like these guys paying for it.

They call those drift boats here but they're really more like a pram developed and built for these type of rivers. Considering what they charge for guided fishing here if it were me I'd be looking at having one built for 4 people just as Willie Boats did for the Kasilof and Kenai....so then you take $350.00 X 4 , then throw in catch and release only and no fuel or sales Tax as well as no State Park fees or insurance requirements and by jiminy I think you could make some lettuce at this deal....just my perspective of course, the theme of this blog entry. And oh...the boat launch is free....unless, you're this guy.

Well , enough on that rambling commentary on the State of guided fishing here on the Mighty Mo. So, MPeasy and Measy will be jumping the jet real soon for our Mexico home and there's new stuff to experience for sure, the flows of life. For one thing it will be 85 degrees and sunny. We'll see how it goes but being there a little earlier this year with the warmer water I'll have a good chance of catching the roosterfish that surf fishermen like me are obsessed with. I'll carry my large road and throw the topwater the first week while I scout around.

That's my ' Mexico Pile ' from a few years back. I always put my gear out as I remember what I'll need as we get closer to traveling. This next pic is this years pile...it might be new but I guess it's comfortably familiar at the same time...

Hope ya all come back, I'm going to write more and fish harder so fish pics to come .....Adios.

MexiGo

 I absolutely LOVE these two sunset pics....and soooo the story .

In 5 weeks we'll be returning to Mazatlan for our 25th season, we missed just one during COVID and all the weirdness that was moving to Montana in that year of 2020. Our first visit was a week at the Mayan Palace not far from where we live now, I told Mp that we were going to add a week a year until we get up to 52. Well, that's a bit much but now we're invested and we go with one way tickets and return when it 'feels' right, usually 4 to 5 months.

We have friends all over the world and of course we have friends that travel all over the world but for us we just needed something different, something more permanent as I guess I've been moving on my entire life, I really have. One thing I've learned from Mazatlan is that there's a lot of people like me and MP in the world, people who don't want to just 'see' a place but want to be 'part' of a place. The being part of it is not tricky at all, in fact it's simple to follow these simple things that seem to work for me.

1. Be sincere

2. be honest, real, steady, be yourself.

3, Have fun.

4, Follow the music.

5. Be respectful.

6. Be generous with time ,with sharing,

7. Be inquisitive, want to learn.

8. Be confident and have trust.

9. Slow down...they say, "relax you're on the fun side of the border".

10.  Appreciate. Be thankful

#2 is kinda a biggy. If you're like me and become a person who is known as Pata Salada, well, that's a good thing. Literally it means ' Old Salt ' but figuratively it means ' I've been around ' or experienced '. what it doesn't do is make you Mexican. If you have many Mexican friends or have some pretty good Spanish speak that's a good thing but you're still American or Canadian or whatever part of the world that sent you to Mexico. Your Mexican friends feel as diverse having you as you do having them. We're all just temporary citizens of planet earth.

This is Sagrado Corazon , the Sacred Heart. The psychical heart of Jesus Christ as a symbol of his divine love for humanity. You will see this everywhere in Mexican culture originating in the Catholic church and now broadly representing the virtues of Love , fidelity, eternal hope as well as sacrifice and resilience . 

From my understanding the components of the sacred heart all represent different virtues such as reflection and recognizing the blend of Europe beliefs into the  indigenous cultures of the Americas. It's  very deeply rooted beliefs that are central to Mexican Families and their way of life where elders are deeply respected and children cherished. The family unit is one of many things we can learn from our neighbors south of the border.

And for me the big thing is comfort, feeling belonged. I have friends up and down the beach, in old town, at the tackle store and at restaurants. The gringo population comes and goes at different times of the season and you get to know when so and so is ' coming in'  etc...I love that.  

We've been hanging out with these guys for a lot of years. Mac and Denise are wonderfully fun and interesting....see ya guys soon.

Me and Tim have caught just a few fish together since  the day I met him on the beach. This year he's getting promoted to be kinda or D.O.G.E. guy here at Team X...he'll be our officer in charge of pescatorial efficiency,

Alejandro and have been friends for at least 20 years...we've giggled like children and cried like babies. We've caught large, we've caught air. 

Before I met Kurt his wife told me ' you're going to like him, he's a lot like you '....mmmm....well it's a good thing I didn't meet him when I was 20 cause I might not have liked him but she's right, we're sympatico.

MP and Connie....them girls can flat communicate.

My buddy Kiki....how many people do you know that started playing music at middle age has just ...well...simply has it. If you think I can sing a little ya gotta hear Kiki.

Willy, one of the coolest guys I've ever known. After just another skunk day he said ' today it was not for the stomach but for the mind '....and thanks Willy for diagnosing my O.D.D. , I shoulda known there was a clinical excuse for being me.

Keith and me share big ju - ju....many fishing memories in Alaska where he and I are always really home.

That's how my fishing buddy gets it done. He reads the water and when he see's something big moving it gets athletic...how's that for a sweet way to put it..... 

And the Sunsets where we gather and discuss....we're lucky, we're a little different...but we're certainly Pata Salada......see you soon Mazatlan. 

And oooops I forgot the most important person of all...My conscious, my motivator, our financier and the most talented person I know and love....let's go baby !

In case you were wondering

 Yup, I have a survived the longest case of writers block in Mile 14 history, maybe the longest in my history...You see I just haven't felt creative or funny or even interesting. I gotta say I've been a bit in the doldrums that comes with the kind of news that people my age get but never get used to. I told my friend Kiki yesterday that I feel like I'm losing and not gaining anything but more experience than I really don't need....So, I've played some music, took Geno's advice and breathed through my nose , got plenty of exercise and cut back on the demon rum and Walla...you feel better, it passes, you see a bright side . Amen. 

But, we ain't been sitting on our hands.  Needing a Vegas or Reno trip we took a couple day budget resort trip to Jackpot Nevada and spent two night at Cactus Petes. I'd recommend that place to anybody, although you don't get there by accident it's worth the drive. Affordable, beautiful retro remodeled rooms, a gorgeous spa and pool lounging area and great food....MP got here prime rib obsession quenched. 

There's not much to Jackpot. Everything seems to be  left from a past that  you can tell  at one point was a going concern. Boarded up mom and pop motels, a competing casino that still has nickel slots . And trailer houses, lots of em....

Just south of Jackpot for a mere 1.4 million you can buy Mineral Hot Springs. It comes with outbuildings from the day and plenty of thermal therapeutic hot water and sits on 220 acres of roadside property...you can almost feel the energy it once had.

As we were discussing what it would take to turn a dollar with Mineral Hot Springs a car arrived and we met our new friend Albert who had come to seek treasure metal detecting. The ground was moving with these huge black grasshoppers and Mp was getting a  bit squeamish, there were millions of them, you couldn't walk without stepping on them....well old Albert took the time to educate us on what he called the Mormon crickets and when we found out he wasn't afraid it made us feel better about being there.

So...back to the casino...Mp won a hundred bucks and I won a hundred bucks so we got up in the morning and had a breakfast Subway Sandwich as we retreated from the desert back to Mooooontana taking the scenic route through the mountains around Yellowstone...it is gorgeous....And they don't call it Jackpot for nothing, here's what a $1.25 bet can get ya.

Speaking of luck, check out the size of this Rainbow MP caught on an unnamed lake with a secret lure while wearing camo....see there I'm trying to fit in with these Montanan's. 

The water temp was 70 degrees. This fish in cold clear water would easily have broken here 8 lb fluorocarbon but although it did swim off on the release it was sluggish for sure . We caught half a dozen Walleyes, this trout and a slimey ol Pike all in about 2 hours....I think we're getting it here finally . We'll be fishing more here as we ease into fall, right now the lakes have algae bloom from the warm weather ,  it 90 degrees as I type. 

It took me years to be able to call myself a musician, years . But like these kids we went to see yesterday at the Helena Battle of the bands I started just like them when I was in Jr, High school. I'm thinking there music is a bit more sophisticated than ours was after all my first song was a hit called Little Brown egg that had three notes all played on the B and high E strings... 

' I don't care what they say'

' I'm going to keep it anyway ' 

' I won't let them stretch their necks.

to see my little Brown  egg with the little red specks '

This video is the Quinn Casey Band which is Quinn and his brother and sister.

And this gal here could flat sing...welcome to the club young lady...When I'm happy I sing, when I'm sad I sing, when things go wrong wrong wrong I sing, I sing to celebrate, I sing to people to say this is how I am, how are you ? and I sing to myself and of course  MP....it's the perfect elixir , it'll be your lifetime best friend , it'll be you, in song.....

The Shnide

People that know me know that I've watched a few Seattle Mariner games and that guy  there used to be one of our announcers and I thought he was great .... but you know those Mariners they're always sending people to another team so they can perform better is what generally happens. So Dave moved onto the Yankees this year and I miss his ' Daveism's ' one of which is the Snide. It was his word for a player or even the team  having bad luck or just plain playing poorly . He would use it like this ' Julio really needs a couple of hits here , he needs to get off the schnide'.

Now I'm no pro baseball player but I sure as hell was a pro fisherman and even now I'm at least accomplished and fish at least 100 days a year between Montana and Mazatlan....and....I've been on the schnide since arriving here 5 years ago.  I wanna catch white flakey fish to eat and so I've been learning Walleye techniques and Walleye habits and it's been humbling for ol retired guide #003 . We've caught Walleyes, one here, one there but never what we'd call a 'load'. But yesterday that all changed, persistence and desire finally won out and we had a breakthrough.

My buddy Curt was right, the lighter the jig the better as even though you don't feel the bottom so well it sinks slower and kinda flutters into the strike zone. We fished a spot that I had located with electronics starting at oh dark thirty and by 8 a.m. I had caught 7 or 8 perfect sized eaters like this. MP struggles to get the hook into ol slimey but she to finally got on the board , she must have had 10 good chances as she was having a hard time feeling the bite so I'm getting her a more sensitive rod today. Here's pick of the fish box, just carrying one around that big screams of optimism wouldn't you say ? 

That trout was almost to much for my 8 pound fluorocarbon. We did lose a couple, one in the anchor line but this one MP battered and fried last night and it was soooo good. And for me and MP filleting all the Walleye for the fish feed that I've been promising and delaying was a kinda ritualistic thing that wasn't missed on either of us.....it's how we've lived and how we've done it all....together, with fun.

We who fish hard call it ' grinding ' when you work and work to get a bite. Well we've been grinding here for sure but what a gorgeous place to do it. After just an hour and a half we both decided we had all the fish we needed and being sure we can duplicate this success now anytime we decided to go for a boat ride.  It was easily shirt sleeve weather as we motored 6 or 7 seven miles upriver and onto the lake....absolutely gorgeous as we spotted birds and animals and waved at the fishermen of which there were surprisingly few .

I kinda consider myself an ambassadeur of this great sport and all my fishing friends around the world are part of Team X, our fishing team. F.T.F. friends through fishing. So, I have to thank them all for helping me on project Walleye. So generous with their knowledge and gifts. Keith Holtan made a special trip to bring me Walleye gear, caught 6 or 7 Bass just this morning on a bladed top water that was in his gift bag. Ernie Mills brought me Rapala's and the biggest collection of blades any human has ever seen . Kurt Findorf printed me out a gear tutorial with recommended rod type and sizes, benefits and problems with line selection and we've spent hours discussing the pursuit ' if you find Perch you'll find Walleye' . Dan Stewart showed me how to rig weedless. Don Poole ran me down the lake and said aim your boat at that landmark and tell me what you see on your depth...I said ' I see a hump that goes from 15' to 5 ' ' and he says , ' that's it, throw the hook and catch some Walleye ' ! And all my friends send encouragement .... a big Mucho Gracias and Los Amos a todos.

Speaking of Bass. If I'm not on the big water most days I start on the pond down the road fishing bass from shore at sun up. I generally catch between a couple and half dozen most mornings and they're usually between 2 and 4 pounds.....BUT...I've seen some huge ones swim by and I've been convinced that a new State record could come from this pond as the current record came from Lake Elmo which is very similar to our pond. Well the other day as I walked along a trail thinking I was alone like usual my new friend Zak came along almost running , he was so excited to find me and take his pic. He had forgotten the scale but he said he's caught two like this now....very impressive , this fish might have been 10 pounds. We'll never know, I watched him gently revive it and it splashed away into the lake....wow....Don't worry about our youth to much,  ol Zak there is big strong 10th grader who plays football reluctantly. It takes away a lot of his fishing time he says .

Welcome to the team Z-man ! And here's a pic of sunrise over the pond.

And yours truly with a budget selfie....