The family and I took a trip back to Tomah where I was born and raised. Generally I do not get back there except around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. This time it was to hold a graduation party for my son Scott on the other side of the state...that's right, I have a kid who graduated high school. No it doesn't make me feel old. My gray hair and aching back take care of the feeling old part.

Anyway, we were up there for a few days over the 4th of July holiday. I spent a few hours fishing some of my old haunts up around the cranberry bogs. Thankfully, I know a cranberry grower that still allows me access to his land. It was all shorefishing since I left both of my boats at home, but it was nice to fish something different than the insanely busy waters of southeast Wisconsin. I didn't catch a ton of fish, but I did okay and more importantly, I was able to enjoy the peace and quiet that does not exist anywhere near where I currently live.

I used to travel back to Tomah fairly often during the summer months, but as the kids got older and more things were keeping me busy, trips to Tomah have fallen off. I miss fishing those shallow, stump and fish filled flowages, but I don't miss fighting the traffic on the way back.

I had a publisher asking me to write something about fishing the cranberry bogs and I have put if off. Maybe it's time for me to put something together. Fishing up there sparked some fresh ideas.

Terry