Big lake, McCormack CA

Took advantage of the holiday up near Squaw Creek. I first visited JC McCormack CA- across the hwy from the wildlife refuge, and spent the weekend at a property across the lake from Big Lake SP.

AT the CA, the path is carpeted by nettle- its a great host plant for all sorts of little bugs and such. Up on the prairie, everything from ox-eyed's to black eyed's, thistles, asters, mints and prairie clovers ar blooming. The lead-plant , germander and purple clover crests the loess hill, and the blue vervain pays it's compliments to the daisy in patches below the sumac and I.

I stocked a particular clover and waited for any exciting insects to pose for my camera. I tried to get some bees and a colorful longhorn beetle, but most of my photos came out overexposed. Spotted a dragonfly- perched on a stick. I crept up on 'em and became surprisingly close. Was able to get one shot off at 55mm, it came out pretty nice.!

At big lake, I cleared an area and started a fire. My grandmother and I were able to burn off the last of the ice storm damage- I fished and tooled around on my little kayak

I had no bait.. forgot to bring it up with me. put some goatsbeard peddles on a hook and jigged it infront of one of the many gar that were visible-floating just below the surface. He snapped at it and I had myself bait.

> Sunset was a disappointment, but the thumbnail moon made up for it! I watched fireworks over the lake. The rest of our family met up with us on sat.

Fireworks were very impressive (being as most of 'big lake village' pop lives in trailers).

I spent a lot of time paddling in the cove. Lots of Baltimore and orchard orioles, blue herons and some egrets. I got to watch a shriek put a meal on some locust spines and and a trio of kingbirds and a male oriole chase a heron out of the cove as if he were a threatening hawk.

I hooked something on the far side of the calm cove- It tugged and then stripped my line out many feet. I guess it was a carp- The fish turned myself and my kayak around and began to tool us around. After a good fight and 20feet, I got the fish to the boat. Some kind of carp or buffalo- about 6lbs. Caught lots of fish (and a turtle!)..

4 gar (one over 30in!), 5 bullhead, 3 channelcats, two carp, and a drum.

(above) a woodhouse? maybe a great plains? my first guess was a great plains toad, but once I looked in the book I found that his darker spots were too small. (below) a fuzzy beast of a caterpillar. He was at McCormack., One of the bullheads I was able to catch, and a Long-legged fly I photographed on the nettles.