Jim & Sir Jeff & the log cabin deer hunting stand.

I've known Jim Sickels (left) since the Fall of 1983 (my sophomore year) when he and I were Resident Assistants at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. This past weekend my brother and I ventured to Up North Wisconsin for a long weekend at Jim's brother's (John) cottage and hunting property - Gypsy Hunt Club. Jim was on a mission (he's ex-military...those guys usually are). He wanted to build a log cabin-style deer stand.

Took a day and a half (in between grouse hunting, deer hunting, eating, drinking, relaxing). I helped out. It was a bitch - but it turned out pretty damn good, if you ask me. Or Jim. More pics to follow on our long weekend trip to Gypsy Hunt Club....

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TGIF! presents..."A River Runs Through It" (the best scene)!

Great film - and it's the best scene in my opinion as it reminds me so much of myself, my brother and father and our annual fishing trips on the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. You can fast-forward to the 2:30 mark if you'd like....that's me, Jason and Dad - talking, laughing and loving.

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The Rainbow!

Our annual walleye fishing up in Lake Tomahawk yielded much of the same results as the past 4 or 5 years - very few legal walleyes were biting our bait. Never fear! There was plenty of golf, eats, horseshows, campfires and drinks to keep us busy for a week. Always one of the year's highlights. After 20, 22, 24 years (I forget), it's the fellowship that makes this trip. Click on READ MORE! for pics.

Dave & Dad by the campfire.

Drink at Plum Lake after a round of golf.

Uncle Fran's walleye!

Bullshit session in-progress. Left to right:  Dave H, Kent H, Bruce H, Dad and Uncle Fran Ircink. Brother Jas hadn't arrived yet.

A drink and my new Minnetonka flop hat and I bid you, "adieu", until next May.

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Gone fishin'.

I am HERE. For a week. With family. In Nature. No cell service or Internet. :)

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TGIF! presents Gordon Lightfoot's "Canadian Railroad Trilogy"!

Headin' out for the annual week-long walleye fishing trip on the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin! 23rd year, maybe? 22. 24. Times goes by so quickly. Here's to us - Dave, Bruce, Dad, me, brother Jas and Uncle Fran, as well as those who are with us in Spirit. What does Canada have to do with Wisconsin? Nothing. But we all love, Gordo!

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The Mighty Rainbow's back!

That means the Rainbow Flowage water levels were back to the way they were 4-5 years ago. Last year, the shoreline was a good 150 yards from the end of that pier. And pretty good weather (first two days were windy). Fish just weren't biting. Nerts! Click on READ MORE! for some candids from our recent walleye fishing trip on the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin! 

"It's a new way to tie a jig - and it really works!"

A few drinks after golfing. Left to right: Dave, Jason, Uncle Fran and Bruce.

Jason eating the moon. (That was his nickname on my dad's side when he was kid - "Moon")

Enjoy more libations after golfing.

Dad.

Who is that? Jason? Uncle Fran?

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"Him".

“Him”

In the wind, I feel Him.
In the water, I see Him.
In the earth, I touch Him.
In the rain, I taste Him.
In a storm, I hear His thunder.

In Nature, I am graced by God.

(I left this note in a "guestbook" at my Aunt Ruthie's cabin in Lac Du Flambeau, 20 minutes from where we were fishing in Lake Tomahawk.)

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Jeff Ircink's golfing tip #1.

Don't take your eye off the ball.

We just returned from our annual walleye fishing trip up in Lake Tomahawk, WI. It's the only time I golf. Got out twice and improved each day. I still suck. But the best part of my game is at the tee. Well...this shot isn't a good example. But I redeemed myself. You gotta watch the whole video - I'm last.

FB users click here. Golfers in order: Bruce Hranicka, Dave Hranicka (brothers), Jason Ircink (my brother), Uncle Fran Ircink (lefty, dad's youngest brother), and then me. Dad doesn't golf.

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TGIF! presents....Anything by Gordon Lightfoot!

Headin' "Up North" to Lake Tomahawk tomorrow morning for my annual walleye fishing trip. Gone for a week. No phone. No internet. And that's good. Whenever I hear Gordo it makes me think of this trip...and of the woods, the outdoors, Nature. A poet for our times. Enjoy...see ya in a week.

FB users click here for video.

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Fishing in days of yore.

Spring 2002. Me, Uncle Fran and Jason up at the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk. We leave for our trip a week from Friday and we're all getting psyched - Jas, me, Dad, Uncle Fran, Gary, Dave & Bruce. 20 years now, I think? Something like that.

This picture hangs above my desk. This fish hangs in my office as well.

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Rainbow Flowage or a beach in Cape Cod?

The Rainbow Flowage (where we fish) is one of a number of flowages - the Wisconsin River runs through it - controlled by a series of dams operated by the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company. Independently owned - not state run. WVIC sucks shit. It claims the reason the flowage is down (14 feet, the lowest I've ever seen it) is because of the need for water and some city will need water for its kayak races this summer and blah, blah, fuckity blah. It's all bullshit. Same old story for the last 5 years. Ask my brother - he'll give you the lowdown.

Bruce and I saw this uprooted tree on shore across the flowage from our camp and took a look. When the flowage is where it's supposed to be, there's very little beach anywhere. Now - there's very little water anywhere.

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Vintage Lake Tomahawk.

Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin...back in the day. 'Bout 40 minutes south of the Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan. North of Tomahawk and east of Minocqua. Or thereabouts. Surrounding communities include St. Germain, Woodruff and Lac du Flambeau.

Don't go to the Lake Tomahawk Village Cafe for pancakes. They taste like shit.

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No walleye...but some big bass.

Bruce got this smallmouth bass on shore right in front of camp.

I caught this smallie but let my brother "pose" with her so he could get'er back in the water. Bass season isn't open yet. Jas is a stickler when it comes to fishing conservation.

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Who ordered snow for my fishing trip?

Snow? On my annual fishing trip? In May? Irreprehensible. Got back yesterday after a week in Lake Tomahawk on the Rainbow Flowage. Worst trip for fishing in 20+ years. The rest of the trip went off without a hitch. More pics to follow.

Didn't have my camera with me on the way into town for breakfast. Looked like something right out of a Currier & Ives painting. A winter wonderland. 5 inches or so. This is what it looked like on the way back to camp - the snow melted quickly.

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TGIF! presents..."Gone Fishin' " with Bing & Satchmo.

I'm outta here. Gone fishin' for a week up at the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, WI. See ya...

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Time to Get Alone.

Smokin'. Drinkin'. Cards. Horsehoes. Campfires. Golf. Full breakfast. Grillin' out. Sunny days. Windy days. Some warm. Some cold. Fishin' with worms. Fishin' with minnows. Walleye, crappie, bass, perch, bluegill, bullhead. Some keepers. Lots a little ones. Long walks. A restful sleep. Time to think.

Me. Dad. Jas. Uncle Fran. Gary. Dave H. and Bruce H. Just men. Family and friends. Family, really. See you in a week.

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#72 - "Grace Notes from a Bohemian in Wanderlust." Archery...Up North in WI.

My brother Jason (left) and family friend, Bruce Hranicka are shooting floo floo game arrows at stumps and such. May 2009, Lake Tomahawk, WI. Spring walleye fishing at the Rainbow Flowage.

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Gone fishin'.

Today through Friday, May 15, I am AWOL - on my annual walleye fishing trip back home with family and family friends. "In the bush". Away from the Internet, my blog, FB, etc. Underground. Tradition for over 20 years. Up to the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, Wisconsin. A "true" vacation...nothing to do but fish, drink, eat, horseshoes, cards, golf and sitting around the campfire shootin' the breeze.

More important than the fishing is the camaraderie and fellowship I share with my dad, brother, Uncle Fran, Gary, Dave and Bruce. To experience the beauty of Nature that God created is 2nd to nothing. Wish you were here.

Sort of. :)

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53 days and counting.

Until my annual walleye fishing trip on the Rainbow Flowage in Lake Tomahawk, WI. Yaaahoo!

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Lost photos from our May Rainbow Fishing Trip.

Just when you thought I was completely out of photos to share from my "Vacation" series in May, brother Jason sends me a few he snapped when we were golfing. There's Dave, me and Uncle Fran. I may not be able to golf for shit (61 for 9) - keep in mind I do this once a year - but I look rather sporty, don't you think?

The walk. Nice course. Nicer clubhouse - overlooking a lake. That's it below.


Come on. Ya gotta give me points on form here.

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