Friday, February 11, 2005

Fishing with Ronald McDonald About 20 years ago, just after I had started hosting Outdoor Wisconsin, I got a call from a guy who said, "Hi, Dan? This is A.J." "A.J. Who?" I asked. (The only A.J.s I could think of at the moment were Foyt and McClane.) "Just A.J. That's my name, A-Y-E J-A-Y-E," he said, spelling it out. "OK," I thought. "This must be what it's like to be on TV --  you hear from all kinds..." Anyway, so began what became a mostly telephonic relationship with one of Millwaukee's funniest characters. As it turned out, Aye Jaye was THE original Ronald McDonald. I was impressed. My son would have loved knowing I talked to THE Ronald McDonald (just as he thought it was way cool 10 years later when he called me and I told him I was on the other line with Ted Nugent) Aye Jaye wanted to go fishing with me, he said. On TV. "If you wear your McCostume," I told him. He'd get back to me, he said. Well, we never did go fishing together, athough Aye Jaye emceed a muskie tournament I fished in on Pewaukee Lake a year later, so we did have one fish-related outing together. What I remember most about that encounter was that at the conclusion of the tournment at Musky Bill's tavern, he joked about my name, saying something like I needed a boost to get a drink from a bubbler. (If you're not from Milwaukee, go ahead and Google "bubbler.") I forgave him for that, and learned that was part of his style of humor to poke fun at whoever was present. I was a pretty good target, I suppose. Why did I think of that old story? Because I just read a funny blog that triggered that memory. I think you'll get a kick out of it, too. Later... 9:39:38 PM    comment []

Another Yooper Deer Story I'm a little behind in posting John Walker's "Fish Reports," but here's one I think you'll like from last month.  Just go to "Stories" over to the right ---> and you'll find it as a recent entry.  Look for "Yooper Winter Deer Tales." Later... 9:02:20 PM    comment []