CAMPING AND FISHING

Now is the time of year when most of the skeeters and chiggers start to slow down and the nights get cooler and the days get shorter. I'm hoping the weatherman is wrong when he talked about this winter becoming a very wet winter. This time of the year is great to get out and see the trees changing to there fall collars and with the cooler weather you don't need to worry as much about the snakes. When I get time I like to go camping and fishing and yes I love to cook.
One of my favorite places to go is Navarro Mills lake because this lake is not to big so you don't have to worry about all the traffic, boat or vehicle. If you like to crappie fish then this is the lake for it. This lake still holds the state crappie record since 1968 4lbs .56 oz., man that's a whopper. I've been to the Navarro Mills General Store 1 mile north of dam at the Marina. This is a nice floating fishing dock with a roof, lighting, theater seating and several good squares to fish in. Good if you want to take the kids, me I rather be floating in a fishing tube with waders and fins moving and working my way through the buck brush at wolf creek park or working the many coves and points out at Liberty Hill park.
There is nothing better to me than a good breakfast and some cowboy coffee before I slip in the water early in the morning.

But according to the fishing report at http://www.navarromillslake.com/
We may need to wait till late February into march depending on the rain. Something about those crazy crappie at Navarro, I did not believe it when I first heard of this but now I believe. When the lake becomes too full due to lots of rain they need to open up the spill gates to let water out, and then for some reason the crappie stop hitting just like someone turned out the lights. That's not good right in the middle of spawning season!!!

Not much you can do about it just find something else to do, channel cat seem to not be bothered by the change in water current.

Oh but let me tell you, you're better off to go to the spill way to fish, man you will catch a lot of sand bass, monster cats and whale size Buffalo carp.

DUTCH OVEN COOKING

There comes a time now and then were I get a real craving for some good outdoor cooking that brings back memories of long ago. Most of them good and some others not so good, I know you all can relate to that. Back when a few friends and I went to Thurber Texas in the 80's to see Garry P Nunn, Jerry Jeff walker play and we ate chili and fajitas made by a long haired dude named Odie or maybe Odis. Its been a few Sundays ago I'm not sure of his name but man that's the day I fell in love with outdoor cooking. Chili cook off and beer and fajitas and more chili and more chili and well you get the ideal. So what do I do when the craving hits me again? You got it! I fire up the charcoal break out the irons and turn up the heat on some good ole dutch oven cooking.

HERE ARE SOME VIDEO CLIPS

This is called Lazy cobbler and its one of my wife's favorite desserts. You can find the recipe in the Lodge book that comes with you're stove. Its easy to make but hard to perfect, I changed up the recipe several times until my wife told me that I have nailed it, and don't change it any more. Here is the basic recipe but don't forget this is you're master piece so mold it to you're liking.

2 cans sliced peaches, in heavy syrup (29-30 oz. cans)

1 package white or yellow cake mix, ground cinnamon to taste

1/3 stick butter or margarine

Now my changes are, drain juice of one can if using a 10" oven. Also I use only Land O Lakes salt free real butter, 1 whole stick, yes I said 1 whole stick. Trust me this butter is OOOO SOOO SWEET.

Lay out 15 charcoal briquet's, 5 on bottom in a circle under outer edge and 10 on top in a checker board pattern. May need a few more on top and bottom due to windy or colder weather. After a few times you will know what you need. Don't forget to turn lid every 15 min and rotate oven in opposite direction also every 15 min to even out the heat.
It is always good to have extra coals waiting just in case you need more.

There you go, time to enjoy, don't forget to add the home made vanilla icecream mmmmm mmmm good!