Here in the midwest, winter has set in somewhat early this year. After temps in the high 60s (F) in late October / early November, we have had near or below freezing temperatures for the rest of the month. Driving to Grand Rapids this weekend, it was stunning to me that lakes and ponds are frozen over already. The reason I was driving to Grand Rapids was to take Dad fishing, as it is the time of year that we normally spend a lot of time at the lake steelhead fishing. We wento out on Saturday, but found that the piers had enough ice to make walking out too dangerous, at least without cleats. So on the way home, we ran to Gander Mountain and picked up some cleats with serrated metal teeth that I have used in the past. Sunday we made another run out. The wind was from the south/southwest, so the south pier was a mess, with waves splashing up and ice all over the place, particularly where you would need to stand to set the rods and to fight or land a fish.
One of our fishing friends called while we were on our way and steered us to the north pier. On the north pier, we had slushy ice on the top part, but on the lower level, where you need to have a safe footing, it was dry or the ice was melted sufficiently to maneuver. I had brought a bucket full of sand to spread just in case, but it wasn't even needed. With the cleats on our boots, we were able to walk out safely with no incident. We found a spot right near where we would usually fish and set up.
DaveO rested in a chair while I got lines in the water, and then we waited. That's the thing with steelheading from the pier -- you can't really control your own destiny beyond getting out there, keeping the lines untangled and having good bait. If the fish aren't swimming in the shallows, you won't catch anything. Unfortunately that was the case Sunday. However, Dad was pretty happy to have gotten out, and at least we were able to wet some lines. Unfortunately, the fishing season has mostly passed, especially with the weather changing so quickly.
so I can be welcomed home like this:
http://www.boingboing.net/2008/11/17/improve-everywhere-w.html
I am sure those people we're freaked out, but if you're going to randomly prank strangers, this is a pretty cool way to do it...