Paulywood

Caz, got your money today. I'll buy you one of those bottom-less beers I hear you like so much! Thanks for the donation. Nick

Matt, I don't think anyone is too worried about team Paulywood. I just think that this is a good event because I don't feel like I'm at too much of a disadvantage. And you are right about donating money, I'd rather give it to guys I know! We plan on staying in Muskegon all weekend, hanging out and fishing. We had a lot of fun last year just talking to all of the guys that came by to get their lures from Caz. If I was fishing to make money, I'd be awful poor!

I just thought that I would post an update on the benefit we are having for my niece. I don't have a lot to report on her condition, we are waiting for the bone marrow transplant next month. Here are some of the items that we have for the silent auction it starts at 4:00pm, when we start serving dinner, and ends at 7:30 pm. Silent Auction Items: Several Travel, Camping & Golf Packages, MSU Basketball Tickets, Authentic MSU and U of M Football Helmets, Autographed Drew Neitzel posters, Auto Maintenance Packages, DVD Players, Jewelry, Home Décor items, Beauty/Massage Packages, Leather Executive Chair, Planer Board Mast (Big Jon Sports), Rod and Reel combos (FishDog), 2 man guided turkey hunt(Thunderhead) and much more The live auction will follow the silent auction and start at 7:30 pm. Live Auction Items: Horwood Outpost Canadian Fishing Trip Hand Crafted Picnic Table Beautiful Hand-Made Queen Size Quilt Wheeler Archery T-Rex Compound Bow (Archery Extreme) Several Fishing Trips( Glen Buehner and Ed Stell, GLF, and Nick Thelen Salmon Fishing, Chuck Matlock 2 day Saginaw Bay Walleye) 2 Custom Made Cedar Chests Hand Crafted Rocking Animal Custom Built Two-Person Hunting Blind 2 Separate Halves of Beef Processed to Your Specifications Be a host for a pheasant hunt to be televised on Extreme Sportsman Television(Archery Extreme) Beautifully Crafted Sleigh Coffee Table Custom made Octagon Poker Table w/ Chips There is also a euchre tournament starting at 1:00 pm. There will be hourly 50/50 drawings and door prizes given away a few times every hour. Some people have contacted me about raffle tickets for the cash drawings, at this time I don't have any. I hope to have more by the end of the week. When I get them I will get back with everyone who is interested. If anyone from the site is able to make it look me up, your first drink is on me! If you have any questions or would like to sign up for the euchre tournament, feel free to contact me. Thanks everyone. Nick Thelen

I don't know about everyone else but I'm worried about the last 3 names on that list. Steve, Larry and Matt all in the same spot at the same time, with their own boats no less!

I voted Monday because I have class Tuesday through Thursday at night.

We'll be there too, Rich.

Sign me up Caz, I've already got a crew lined up.

Mike, What FF did you get again and where? Thanks. Nick

Just wanted to post an update and bump this back to the top. We have received a ton of great donations. They include: multiple salmon fishing trips, a 2 day walleye fishing trip on Saginaw Bay, a compound bow, and the chance to star in your own hunting/fishing show. I am not sure on the details but the owner of an archery shop in Dewitt also has an outdoor show. He is donating the bow. He is also donating the chance to be in an episode of his show. You can either go hunting or fishing, your choice. I will have more details after our meeting on thursday. Thanks again to everyone who offered to help out. If anyone can make the benefit on February 3rd your first drink is on me! Nick

Steve, The drawing is going to be at the benefit on February 3rd. You do not have to be present to win. As long as I receive the money before then I will make sure you are entered. Also, if people want to make cash donations there is an account set up at the Portland Federal Credit Union. I am not sure how to make a deposit other than in person but someone there would probably be able to help you. I will look into it further. Thanks again, Nick

Some people have contacted me about sending money. What I have suggested is buying some raffle tickets. We will be giving away prizes of $750, $500, and $300. The tickets cost $2 each or 3 for $5. If anyone is interested I will be happy to mail them. Also, there may have been some confusion surrounding my post about the charter trip donated by Ed Stell. Ed actually sold his boat this fall to Glenn Buehner, the captain of the Raptor. Ed will still be running his boat part time, he offered to run the trip that was donated. But Glenn actually owns Ed' boat now and is the one donating the trip. Sorry for any confusion.

After I posted tonight I found out some very good news. Maddie is in remission! This makes the chance of a succesful bone marrow transplant much more likely. It also means that she should be able to attend some family Christmas parties. We are very excited. Feel free to check on her progress on her website. I am overwhelmed at the generosity that people have shown with their offers. Thank you again. Nick

I guess I should have included my address from the start. I appreciate the support. Since I posted this last night I have already received numerous replies from people wanting to help out. Here is my address: Nick Thelen 1159 E. Jackson Rd. St. Louis. Mi 48880 (517)-795-7185 Silver One, I think that it is great you are helping out your brothers family and you will be included in our prayers. If you ever need to get out this year I will be fishing mainly out of Muskegon and you are welcome aboard anytime. Thank you again everyone for your generosity.

My niece Madeline Thelen was recently diagnosed with leukemia. Treatment has not gone as well as the doctors hoped and she will now need a bone marrow transplant. This means that my brother's family will have to move to Ann Arbor for a few months while she receives treatment. My brother and sister-in-law have already missed a lot of work and may have to stop working completely while they are in Ann Arbor. We are holding a benefit dinner and auction on February 3rd in Westphalia to raise money to help them out. There will ba a euchre tournament starting at 1:00pm, a silent auction running from 1:00 pm to 7:30 pm, and a live auction starting at 7:30 pm. There are raffle tickets available with cash prizes given away as well as hourly 50/50 raffle drawings. Some of the items that have been donated include a free charter trip with Ed Stell out of Ludington and a whole beef. There will also be a gravy burger dinner served starting at 4:00 pm. All of the money raised will be used to offset the medical bills that are starting to accumulate. If you have any questions or would like to sign up for the euchre tournament or donate an item for the auction please contact me via email: [email protected] If you would like to keep updated about my niece Maddie's condition please feel free to check her website: www.caringbridge.org/visit/madelinethelen Thoughts and prayers are also greatly appreciated. Thank You.

Got 'em down on my calendar Rich. Are you going to do the Brown Blast this year?

If people wanted to come to St. Louis I would be more than willing to have the tourney. I have a rec room complete with pool table, dart board and 2 TV's. Plus enough room to set-up 2 big tables. You would have to let my girlfriend play though, she loves Hold-Em.

The charter boat we were on last year was running the Captain's Pack and he complained that they were a little slow when they were fishing deep (100'+) the week before we got up there. Depending on the price difference the faster ones might be the way to go. Electrics aren't in the plans for this year but I plan on getting some next year. When I do I'm going full bore and getting the Speed Riggers from Big Jon. They are $pricey$ but I will only be getting 2.

Caz, I love my Bert's ratcheting holders for the dipseys. GLF, what kind of riggers are you going with?

1. Moonshine Moonshine 2. Glow Screwball 3. Mixed Veggie 4. Moonshine Mag Glow Bloody Nose 5. Double Orange Crush Mag and Standard

That's good to know. I haven't made any decisions on what I am going to do yet, I was just thinking about getting 2 rods set up and appreciate the info. How deep do you figure that 225' of 30 lb. runs? How about the 175' of 45 lb? I would like something that runs deeper than a full core, if I could get that and stay shorter than that would be great!

Hitman, what would you say were your most succesful copper set-ups? I was thinking of 1 300' of 30lb. and 1 300' of 45 lb. But I am open to any recommendations.

The charter captain that we go with likes to add 1 lb. balls to his cores. That helps him acheive the depth. I have already added a couple of short cores for spring and fall fishing. Other than the copper all I plan on adding are more lures!

Well I finally abandoned hope and put the boat away this weekend. Now I am thinking about things that I would like to add to my spread for next year. I was thinking about getting a couple of copper set-ups for when the fish move real deep. Anyone else thinking about new gear for next year?

I had a perfect game, no hits, no runs, no errors. I never had a deer that came within 200 yds of me. My brother got the ugliest 11 pt. you'll ever see. It's a glorified 5 pt. There are a bunch of scrub points sticking out of the base of the antlers. If you wanted to push it there might be enough long ones (over 1 inch) for it to be a 13 pt.

Knee Deep in Pink!!!!!!!!