The newest member of the 'I'll get even with you, Norm Budden' club

By Don Quilici

On Saturday evening, Jan. 29, Susan Hallahan of Reno became the newest member of the "I'll get even with you, Norm Budden" club. This is a less-than-exclusive and ever-expanding group of poor souls (including me!) who have had him pull one of his infamous practical jokes on them.

Susan's turn occurred at a great, rural Nevada hideaway known as the Stonehouse Country Inn. That Bed and Breakfast is located in Paradise Valley north of Winnemucca.

Stonehouse Country Inn

You reach it by taking U.S. 95 north from Winnemucca for 22 miles to the Paradise Valley Junction. Then go east on Nevada S.R. 290 for 13 miles to the big Stonehouse Country Inn sign on your left side and then take the short dirt road to the Inn.

That country inn is a historic, beautiful, three-story, white-colored, ranch house nestled under the shadow of the Santa Rosa Mountains, surrounded by working ranches and close to the town of Paradise Valley.

Norm was a member of our seven-person, ice fishing group which included him, Jack Cooke, Mark Day, Bob "Slick" McCulloch, Tom Phenix, his 12-year old son, Tim, and yours truly.

We were there to fish at a place known as Chimney Creek Reservoir, which is located about 20 miles from the Bed and Breakfast.

Chimney Creek Reservoir

You reach that reservoir by a series of dirt roads, and it is supposed to contain fish species such as Rainbow Trout, Walleye, Crappie, Yellow Perch, Channel Catfish and Carp.

Please notice the key word "Supposed" in that previous sentence, because in two days of ice fishing (Friday afternoon and all day on Saturday), the seven of us never caught one fish. Not one! Nada, Nil, Zip!

Five of us had Second Rod Stamps, so we had a total of 12 fishing poles trying to catch anything.

Norm claimed he got a bite once, but I would not trust him any further than I could throw the State Capital Building. He always cheats and lies at the drop of a hat, when around me.

Susan was there with Dave Longoni of Reno and they were Chukar hunting on the last weekend of the Nevada 2004-2005 Chukar hunting season.

While we were all sitting around in the large front room on Saturday evening, relaxing and enjoying drinks and appetizers before dinner, Susan made the fatal error of asking why didn't we catch anything that day.

A Tall Tale

That cunning, lying, fork-tongued, practical-joker "Normie" looked her right in the eye, without smiling or laughing, and solemnly replied: "Well, first of all, you need an ice auger to drill a hole in the ice. Then, you pick our a lure, put it on your line and walk away from the hole for about 50 yards. Then, you turn and try to cast your lure into the hole. Ice fishing is very difficult because it is so hard to hit that 8-inch hole with your lure from that distance. And, that's why we don't catch very many fish."

And, she honestly believed it, until someone finally cracked, began to snicker and we all began to laugh.

Welcome to the club, Susan!

Miscellaneous

Among some of the other highlights of that particular trip were:

The great accommodations, decor, breakfasts and dinners at the Inn. They were all "Five-Star."

The light rain and fog of Friday when we were out on the ice at the reservoir getting "Skunked").

The lack of ice on the reservoir (only about 8-10 inches).

The very large number of Chukar hunters on Friday-Sunday.

The diversity of birds and animal life including chukar, one Golden Eagle, hawks, one peacock (at the Inn), pheasant, quail, wild turkey, plus rabbits, coyotes, deer, horses, cattle and even one Longhorn!

Jack Cooke giving Slick the nickname of "Chainsaw" for his God Awful snoring every night.

The three of us were in three beds in one room, and based on what we heard (plus what the others heard through the wall) Slick is a world-class snorer....bar none!

It was very ugly, very obscene, very loud and non-stop!

And, he tried to claim that it was caused by all the garlic that he ate for dinner. Yeah, right, garlic! And I bet that elephants fly, too!

For years everyone has verbally beat me up for my snoring, and one of the worst has been Slick. But Jack finally proved it has been him making all those ugly noises and not me.

I'm innocent! Yahoo!

For information, call the Stonehouse Country Inn at (775) 578-3530 or go to website www.stonehouse@m-hip.com.

Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon that he can't tell you what I wore in the way of warm clothing while ice fishing.

If he grins and says, "Don was wearing his bright, bright, bright blaze-orange winter coveralls," he could have been one of the other ice fishermen who were blinded by the bright glow from my clothing.

Don Quilici is the Outdoors editor for the Nevada Appeal.