Show Notes — Episode 68: Expectation, Meet Reality…
After a full year of anticipation, Mike and Caitlin finally get the crew up at 3:30 a.m. and hit the ice—only to get completely skunked. Not a bite, not a fish in sight… just one lone pike visible down the hole, like it was there purely to taunt them. Which sparks the episode’s theme: all those times the outdoors (and life) humbles your plans and hands you a totally different version than what you pictured.
The Setup: Big Hype, Zero Fish
Ice fishing season in New Mexico can be short and unpredictable, so when the lake opens you go. Mike, Caitlin, the boys, and Necie make the early push and fish hard for six hours—moving, changing tactics, running tip-ups, checking electronics… and still come up empty. The day becomes the perfect launch point for a classic Outdoor Ruhls tradition: turning disappointment into stories.
Matt’s Classic: Getting “Marty’d”
Matt joins the call and brings up the infamous Canada guided fishing trip—supposed to be muskie glory, but instead became the birth of a family phrase: getting Marty’d. Their guide Marty catches fish while the guys struggle, then drops the all-time unhelpful explanation: fish like the way some people smell better than others. The trip ends with Poppy requesting “no more Marty,” and Marty gets reassigned to wheelbarrow duty.
Lake Erie Dreams… and Glass Water Reality
Matt and Mike relive the trip where they chased Lake Erie smallmouth fame only to get pinned down by wind for days. When it finally lays down? The lake goes dead calm and crystal clear—so clear they can see their tubes on the bottom… and, conveniently, the total absence of fish. All the hype, none of the payoff.
Mark’s Hunting Curveball: The E-Bike Letdown
Mark shares the story of buying e-bikes for deer camp—money spent, gear hauled, plans made—only to learn the trail they wanted to ride is off-limits. Instead of cruising in like futuristic backwoods commandos, it’s back to walking. It’s a perfect “expectation vs. reality” moment… with a side of Pennsylvania public land side-eye.
Poppy & Meemaw: Snow, Stubbornness, and 52 Years of Evidence
Mike calls Poppy and Meemaw, and the weekend’s “quick ice check” turns into a full-on snowbound adventure. Unplowed roads, blocked turnarounds, and a near-miss that has Meemaw flashing back to Cape Hatteras 1974—when a confident newlywed assured her the truck would be fine in the sand. The theme of the day becomes clear: no guts, no glory… but also, sometimes no guts, just stuck.
Mike & Caitlin: Barbary Sheep and Corner-Crossing Confusion
Caitlin’s Barbary sheep hunt gets the full reality treatment: flat tire, brutal road, sheep spotted… and then two hunters magically appear ahead of them by crossing a questionable public/private corner. The sheep bed right on the boundary, forcing a tough decision and showing how unclear rules can change the entire outcome.
Honeymoon Horseback Ride: The Worst Brochure Ever Printed
Mike and Caitlin swap one of their best “we thought this would be romantic” stories: a Nicaragua horseback ride that looks dreamy in the pamphlet—but turns into a two-hour trotting marathon on skinny horses, on roads, through town, in heat and humidity, with maximum chafing and minimal joy. Three beach pictures later, it’s back to trotting like their lives depend on it.
GT’s Houseboat Fiasco: Rainy Lake vs. Reality
GT tells the legendary Rainy Lake houseboat trip: the brochure promised a Northwoods yacht experience, but the reality was a floating 1960s camper, mechanical issues, storms, brotherly shouting in rocky channels, and a DEET sprayer that blasted mosquito repellent over dinner like seasoning. The cherry on top: months later a “gift” arrives postmarked from Canada—a DEET sprayer—thanks to a perfectly executed prank.
The Takeaway
Sometimes the outdoors doesn’t deliver the trophy—or even a bite—but it delivers stories you’ll tell for decades. Episode 68 is a reminder that “bad” trips often become the best memories… once you’re warm, dry, and far enough away from the moment to laugh about it.
As always, you can find all of the Outdoor Ruhls content on the website www.outdoorruhls.com, and on Instagram @outdoorruhlspodcast. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube—and you can always reach out via email at [email protected].