Post by: Shrimper on May 09, 2016, 09:15:21 AM
Same as last year largest crawdad and/or most in one pot and ending on the season closing October 31st. Also, in keeping this honest only pics of live or uncooked hogcraws for the competition but any and all pics are welcome.
Winner with the largest Hogcraw gets a whole trap set-up, line, buoy and trap this year.
Something new this year, post pics of your crawdad boils and we will vote at the end of the year for best boil. The winner will get little surprise in the mail.
Let the catching begin!
Post by: Southpole on May 09, 2016, 10:38:46 AM
Post by: Evil_EdwardO on May 09, 2016, 11:42:33 AM
Post by: benhuntin on May 09, 2016, 12:10:08 PM
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Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 09, 2016, 09:01:38 PM
I was just thinking about this thread.
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We were to! Thanks for firing it up again Shrimper! :tup:
Post by: Whitpirate on May 09, 2016, 09:36:41 PM
Post by: kidkodger on May 09, 2016, 10:07:04 PM
Post by: Elkpiss on May 10, 2016, 09:01:38 AM
Post by: trophyelk6x6 on May 10, 2016, 08:43:03 PM
Post by: skipjack on May 10, 2016, 08:53:54 PM
Post by: benhuntin on May 11, 2016, 07:14:31 PM
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Post by: Southpole on May 11, 2016, 09:02:51 PM
Post by: crabcreekhunter on May 21, 2016, 06:03:16 PM
Post by: Timberstalker on May 21, 2016, 06:08:22 PM
Post by: Shrimper on May 21, 2016, 06:34:29 PM
Post by: Southpole on May 21, 2016, 06:45:58 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on May 21, 2016, 07:29:10 PM
Post by: crabcreekhunter on May 21, 2016, 07:52:17 PM
Post by: T Pearce on May 22, 2016, 01:18:34 PM
Post by: yum tag soup on May 22, 2016, 02:03:42 PM
Post by: huntingdog16 on May 22, 2016, 03:49:26 PM
Post by: T Pearce on May 23, 2016, 07:45:17 PM
It's that time of year again folks, Crawdad Mania is upon us! :IBCOOL:So... Do we wait til the end of the season to post picks of the boils?
Same as last year largest crawdad and/or most in one pot and ending on the season closing October 31st. Also, in keeping this honest only pics of live or uncooked hogcraws for the competition but any and all pics are welcome.
Winner with the largest Hogcraw gets a whole trap set-up, line, buoy and trap this year.
Something new this year, post pics of your crawdad boils and we will vote at the end of the year for best boil. The winner will get little surprise in the mail.
Let the catching begin!
I removed my low country "Heart Attack Boil" Pic from last Saturday.
I didn't have a lot of time to get very creative with it though.
T
Post by: Southpole on May 23, 2016, 07:52:42 PM
Post by: Shrimper on May 23, 2016, 08:01:53 PM
It's that time of year again folks, Crawdad Mania is upon us! :IBCOOL:So... Do we wait til the end of the season to post picks of the boils?
Same as last year largest crawdad and/or most in one pot and ending on the season closing October 31st. Also, in keeping this honest only pics of live or uncooked hogcraws for the competition but any and all pics are welcome.
Winner with the largest Hogcraw gets a whole trap set-up, line, buoy and trap this year.
Something new this year, post pics of your crawdad boils and we will vote at the end of the year for best boil. The winner will get little surprise in the mail.
Let the catching begin!
I removed my low country "Heart Attack Boil" Pic from last Saturday.
I didn't have a lot of time to get very creative with it though.
T
I was thinking everyone would post their boil pics all season long and we vote at the end of the year. If you have multiple boils post them and all pics will be voted on.
T - your boils are epic, post away!
Post by: T Pearce on May 23, 2016, 08:33:23 PM
I expect my trappin' bud and I will do another boil before the end of the season. The next boil will be for score ;)
This is 120 craws, red potatos, mushrooms, smoked sausage, white onion, sweet corn and a bag of Crab boil seasoning.
On the side was weber kettle grilled jalapeno and asparagus (tossed in an olive oil based italian themed marinade) And more husk on grilled sweet corn.
No one left hungry.
Ill take more field pics in the future. Tics are out!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 23, 2016, 08:54:54 PM
Post by: T Pearce on May 23, 2016, 09:17:55 PM
Maybe the big weekend will bring other boil pics to the board.
T
Post by: RatRodMike on May 23, 2016, 09:30:11 PM
Shrimper, "epic" really? Thanks
I expect my trappin' bud and I will do another boil before the end of the season. The next boil will be for score ;)
This is 120 craws, red potatos, mushrooms, smoked sausage, white onion, sweet corn and a bag of Crab boil seasoning.
On the side was weber kettle grilled jalapeno and asparagus (tossed in an olive oil based italian themed marinade) And more husk on grilled sweet corn.
No one left hungry.
Ill take more field pics in the future. Tics are out!
No word. Should have sent a poet.
Post by: T Pearce on May 23, 2016, 10:11:52 PM
T
Post by: Shrimper on May 24, 2016, 07:18:04 AM
Post by: Wazukie on May 24, 2016, 08:19:50 PM
Sent from the woods!
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 25, 2016, 09:01:24 AM
OK, this for all you guys that know the rules and regs. I haven't done this since I was a kid and back then, there were no rules for crawdads. I talks about having to have a biodegradable tie on the trap door of the trap. The trap I bought doesn't have a trap door. Any pics of your setup?
Sent from the woods!
We use the standard round crawfish traps built by Danielson. We tried the one loop of 1/8" cotton cord at the attachment point on top and that was a pain!!! So I cut 3"x5" squares out of the top side of each trap and wove the 1/8" cotton cord back and forth to fill it in. Pain but it covers the regulation. I haven't been checked by law inforcement for a real approval??? :chuckle: I'll post pics once I get back to the place.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 27, 2016, 08:14:11 AM
Post by: T Pearce on May 28, 2016, 08:01:10 AM
I would think that Mod makes for a legal trap.
I use a store bought trap with a spring holding the door shut. Change the anchor point of the spring to cotton cord allowing it to rot off..... should be legal, like you, I've not been checked.
T
Post by: 667man on May 31, 2016, 04:49:07 PM
From a big river near here
Post by: Shrimper on May 31, 2016, 05:08:36 PM
Nice haul, those are some big singal's there! The one is your hand is probably an 8+ incher.
Post by: T Pearce on June 01, 2016, 09:20:59 AM
Post by: syoungs on June 01, 2016, 11:32:22 AM
Post by: 667man on June 01, 2016, 02:55:39 PM
Rocks
I use salmon carcasses for bait
5-25 feet down
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 02, 2016, 07:31:43 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 06, 2016, 07:06:51 AM
Post by: Shrimper on June 06, 2016, 07:11:08 AM
That's a great way to christen uncharted waters.
Post by: benhuntin on June 06, 2016, 09:16:35 AM
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Post by: Shrimper on June 06, 2016, 09:24:10 AM
What is the deal with soft shell crawdads?
When Crawdads molt their shells are soft for a time until they harden up. Molting is how crawdads grow, they shed their hard shells to expose the developed soft shell underneath which hardens to a larger size.
Usually you won't get many if any softshell in traps because they hide until their shells harden. If not the softshell would get eaten by the hardshell.
Post by: benhuntin on June 06, 2016, 11:38:43 AM
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Post by: Shrimper on June 06, 2016, 11:41:10 AM
All the big crawdads this weekend were soft shell. Lots of them but was wondering how long it takes to harden up?
I would say in about a week they should be hard shell.
Post by: benhuntin on June 06, 2016, 11:43:14 AM
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Post by: Shrimper on June 06, 2016, 02:56:27 PM
Crawdads molt up to 4 times a year until they reach the 2 inch class and then twice a year until the 6 inch class. After 6 inches the thought is they molt once a year. An 8 inch crawdad is probably somewhere around 5 years old.
Post by: benhuntin on June 06, 2016, 04:35:02 PM
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Post by: T Pearce on June 06, 2016, 08:08:43 PM
Post by: sagerat on June 24, 2016, 07:06:07 PM
Post by: Shrimper on June 24, 2016, 09:53:56 PM
I measure from the tip of the tail to the tip of the claw and that is how they are sized for crawdad mania.
Good Luck!
Post by: Shrimper on June 25, 2016, 09:07:33 AM
Post by: Shrimper on June 25, 2016, 09:11:55 AM
Post by: Southpole on June 25, 2016, 09:29:30 AM
Post by: bearpaw on June 25, 2016, 10:20:43 AM
Post by: Shrimper on June 25, 2016, 03:39:10 PM
The way we like crawdads the best is to cook the tails and big claws with new potatoes, pearl onions, carrots, beef kielbasa and corn in a brine of salt, old bay and little bit of garlic powder. Make the brine fairly salty like you would for crab, it won't make the vegies to salty but really helps bring out the flavor in the crawdads.
Once the brine is boiling add the onions, potatoes and carrots and bring to a boil for about 5 minutes. Then add the crawdads, kielbasa and corn should take an additional 5-10 minutes from a boil again or until all the crawdads float and it is finished, drain and serve. After draining we usually just dump out on to the table eat with our fingers.
:EAT:
Forgot to add the kielbasa, we don't always add this but it sure is good when we do.
Post by: Special T on June 25, 2016, 04:18:33 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 25, 2016, 06:05:05 PM
Post by: rasbo on June 25, 2016, 06:13:40 PM
Post by: Shrimper on June 26, 2016, 07:58:59 AM
But you have to suck the meat out of the heads!
This guy does not suck heads.... :chuckle:
Post by: Shrimper on June 26, 2016, 07:59:55 AM
That's some great catching and eating there Schrimper!!!!! :tup:
Thanks, it is such a fun family activity.
Post by: Shrimper on June 26, 2016, 08:03:32 AM
Post by: Evil_EdwardO on June 26, 2016, 08:17:22 AM
But you have to suck the meat out of the heads!
:yeah: :yeah: :yeah: :drool:
Post by: T Pearce on June 26, 2016, 10:24:23 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 26, 2016, 11:04:37 AM
Post by: Smossy on June 26, 2016, 12:27:53 PM
Post by: Shrimper on June 26, 2016, 07:38:52 PM
My personal best so far 9½”.
Post by: benhuntin on June 26, 2016, 07:54:05 PM
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Post by: sagerat on June 27, 2016, 06:27:12 AM
Post by: Shrimper on June 27, 2016, 07:20:44 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on June 27, 2016, 01:43:46 PM
Post by: Shrimper on June 28, 2016, 03:19:32 PM
Post by: benhuntin on June 28, 2016, 03:39:22 PM
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Post by: Shrimper on June 28, 2016, 03:41:54 PM
How many in the pot?
There was 37 in that pot.
Post by: benhuntin on June 28, 2016, 03:52:55 PM
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Post by: Spuddieselwwu on June 28, 2016, 03:59:15 PM
Going over to the snake in a few weeks. Anyone have any good pot recommendations? Would love to drop a few out and see what we can come up with.
Thanks!
Post by: Shrimper on June 28, 2016, 04:03:09 PM
37 seems like a good number. Going tomorrow for the first real try for the year.
Good luck!
Post by: Shrimper on June 28, 2016, 04:06:03 PM
Hi guys -
Going over to the snake in a few weeks. Anyone have any good pot recommendations? Would love to drop a few out and see what we can come up with.
Thanks!
All pots will catch crawdads; I would start with something economical and then move up from there. Use para cord and small cheap net float will work just fine. Para cord is good because it sinks, is small and does not take up a lot of room.
Post by: steeleywhopper on June 28, 2016, 05:11:27 PM
Post by: benhuntin on June 29, 2016, 08:52:17 PM
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Post by: Shrimper on June 29, 2016, 10:05:08 PM
Post by: Elkpiss on July 07, 2016, 03:41:23 PM
That 9 1/2er is a pig... dayum.. I have yet to catch a 9er.. >:(
Post by: T Pearce on July 07, 2016, 08:49:32 PM
Post by: benhuntin on July 07, 2016, 08:53:19 PM
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Post by: Shrimper on July 07, 2016, 09:07:52 PM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on July 08, 2016, 08:36:10 AM
Nice hogcraw Ben!
:yeah: :tup: So what's the tail of the tape on those Hogs?
Post by: Angry Perch on July 08, 2016, 09:40:30 AM
Alright final and largest Hogcraw of the trip.
My personal best so far 9½”.
Holy Lobsters Batman!
Post by: 667man on July 11, 2016, 09:16:28 PM
Post by: benhuntin on July 11, 2016, 09:23:58 PM
Caught two hogs on lake wa today but can't post pics?How big??
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Post by: Euro mount on July 13, 2016, 03:14:16 PM
Post by: Euro mount on July 13, 2016, 03:16:59 PM
Post by: Shrimper on July 13, 2016, 03:24:27 PM
The dad you are holding is a monster :yike:, looks like a 10 incher!
Post by: sagerat on July 13, 2016, 03:38:24 PM
Post by: benhuntin on July 13, 2016, 03:44:52 PM
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Post by: Euro mount on July 13, 2016, 10:39:32 PM
An yes we caught 90% no natives this trip !
Post by: Gearhead1940 on July 14, 2016, 08:32:06 AM
Post by: Shrimper on July 14, 2016, 08:37:53 AM
The big boy was right at 10" had a few in the 8-9" range a bunch of 7 inchers !
An yes we caught 90% no natives this trip !
Whoo Baby, 10 INCHER!
Way to go Euro...
Post by: Shrimper on July 14, 2016, 08:38:54 AM
Post by: Gearhead1940 on July 14, 2016, 02:29:08 PM
Post by: Shrimper on July 14, 2016, 03:12:59 PM
Looks to be almost a 9 incher.
Post by: benhuntin on July 14, 2016, 03:30:54 PM
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Post by: Shrimper on July 14, 2016, 07:37:04 PM
Don't even measure unless they are 12".
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12", do you ever get any that big Ben? If so, please post, it would be awesome to see one that big!
I bet a twelve incher would be a solid half pound.
Maybe you're being sarcastic but I'm biting....
Post by: benhuntin on July 14, 2016, 10:07:03 PM
To early this year but I will post a pic if I get time to go in September, to many good tags this year.Don't even measure unless they are 12".
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12", do you ever get any that big Ben? If so, please post, it would be awesome to see one that big!
I bet a twelve incher would be a solid half pound.
Maybe you're being sarcastic but I'm biting....
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Post by: Gearhead1940 on July 15, 2016, 04:55:07 AM
Did you put a tape on that one Gearhead?
Looks to be almost a 9 incher.
I didn't - guess I need to take a tape next time we go camping!
Post by: inchtowntracking on July 16, 2016, 10:22:43 AM
Great job guys, I need to get out and set some pots.
Post by: WildBear on July 22, 2016, 04:45:43 PM
Post by: benhuntin on July 22, 2016, 06:07:11 PM
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Post by: 257wbymagkiller on July 22, 2016, 06:19:36 PM
Post by: Elkpiss on July 27, 2016, 03:32:15 PM
Dam there are some monsters in there! Is there any decent crawfish streams or lakes aroung the graham area, my 4 year old loves to go crabbing and would love to catches theses im sure. not looking for a honey hole or anythingGo buy a pot and find a creek with some log jams and pitch it in.. Crawdads are pretty much everywhere...
Post by: benhuntin on July 27, 2016, 04:20:48 PM
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Post by: Southpole on July 27, 2016, 04:23:41 PM
Post by: kellama2001 on July 27, 2016, 05:59:09 PM
Post by: 257wbymagkiller on July 27, 2016, 06:08:49 PM
Dam there are some monsters in there! Is there any decent crawfish streams or lakes aroung the graham area, my 4 year old loves to go crabbing and would love to catches theses im sure. not looking for a honey hole or anythingGo buy a pot and find a creek with some log jams and pitch it in.. Crawdads are pretty much everywhere...
Ok ill have to give it a shot! :tup:
Post by: Shrimper on July 27, 2016, 06:10:50 PM
Post by: Shrimper on July 27, 2016, 06:15:51 PM
7 year old son and I bought a pot for the first time. First over night soak yielded 3. Good times!
Nice WildBear, I have never seen nonnatives that look like that.
Post by: benhuntin on July 27, 2016, 06:25:55 PM
Come on, Ben...What?
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Post by: Shrimper on July 27, 2016, 06:31:37 PM
Come on, Ben...What?
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Your teasing us, it that a 12 incher!
Post by: benhuntin on July 27, 2016, 06:35:01 PM
Getting closer but not yet.Come on, Ben...What?
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Your teasing us, it that a 12 incher!
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Post by: Shrimper on July 27, 2016, 06:41:14 PM
Your comment about seeing a lot of crawdads but none in the traps you see is interesting. Also, you mentioned a while back about the big one's not being afraid this probably has something to do why they are not in traps. I bet these big one's are so dominate that they get enough food and don't need to seek it out in the traps.
Post by: benhuntin on July 27, 2016, 07:28:41 PM
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Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on July 27, 2016, 08:07:14 PM
Post by: Shrimper on July 27, 2016, 08:17:02 PM
That is a MONSTER hogcraw Ben...
I am going to check to see what it would take to get a state record category for a crawdad. You would hold that record no doubt.
Post by: benhuntin on July 27, 2016, 08:18:35 PM
Wow!!! :yike:Except my 12 year old caught that one this afternoon.
That is a MONSTER hogcraw Ben...
I am going to check to see what it would take to get a state record category for a crawdad. You would hold that record no doubt.
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Post by: Shrimper on July 27, 2016, 09:15:00 PM
Wow!!! :yike:Except my 12 year old caught that one this afternoon.
That is a MONSTER hogcraw Ben...
I am going to check to see what it would take to get a state record category for a crawdad. You would hold that record no doubt.
That's Awesome!
Post by: Elkpiss on July 29, 2016, 08:01:40 AM
Post by: Gearhead1940 on September 06, 2016, 06:46:19 AM
Post by: Gearhead1940 on September 06, 2016, 06:58:34 AM
I was going to freeze some of the tails (but I couldn't resist and ate them all LOL). I found this article from LSU on prep and freezing techniques. Thought you guys would enjoy the read.
Post by: Evil_EdwardO on September 06, 2016, 07:54:28 AM
http://fisheries.tamu.edu/files/2013/09/Enjoying-Louisiana-Crawfish.pdf (http://fisheries.tamu.edu/files/2013/09/Enjoying-Louisiana-Crawfish.pdf)
I was going to freeze some of the tails (but I couldn't resist and ate them all LOL). I found this article from LSU on prep and freezing techniques. Thought you guys would enjoy the read.
Yes it is very hard to save them and not eat them. I actually froze a couple of pounds two years ago. Ended up making crawdad alfredo for Christmas Eve and it was awesome.
Sad that I haven't been able to make it out this year.
Post by: benhuntin on September 06, 2016, 08:11:09 AM
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Post by: Shrimper on September 06, 2016, 08:45:09 AM
I have wondered about freezing crawdads. We freeze spot shrimp every year and thought about freezing crawdads probably would be similar.
Post by: Shrimper on September 11, 2016, 11:33:06 AM
Getting bait ready last night, our exterminator joined me for a salmon snack.
Post by: Shrimper on September 11, 2016, 11:47:53 AM
Fished a new style of trap and was pleasantly surprised that it had 24 in it.
This trap is the prize for the biggest hogcraw this year. It was brushy in this particular spot and could not get my phone to focus that well.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on September 12, 2016, 12:29:51 PM
Post by: Shrimper on September 12, 2016, 02:08:29 PM
Post by: Gearhead1940 on September 23, 2016, 11:33:03 AM
Post by: Shrimper on September 23, 2016, 12:52:48 PM
That's a cool trap! When fully extended, how long is it? There are a couple lakes that I have to hike into. That would be a lot easier that packing the ones in I take now.
Fully extended the trap in 9" in diameter and 18" long. Folded the trap is about 1" thick and weighs about a pound, be great for backpacking.
Post by: Gearhead1940 on September 23, 2016, 01:03:17 PM
That's a cool trap! When fully extended, how long is it? There are a couple lakes that I have to hike into. That would be a lot easier that packing the ones in I take now.
Fully extended the trap in 9" in diameter and 18" long. Folded the trap is about 1" thick and weighs about a pound, be great for backpacking.
Yes, yes it would :tup:
Post by: Shrimper on October 04, 2016, 09:30:13 PM
Don't forget to post your crawdad boil pictures; I will be posting a poll this weekend of the pics to give us time for voting on best 2016 boil. So far there are only five pictures to vote on.
Post by: Southpole on October 05, 2016, 07:40:30 AM
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 06, 2016, 12:43:15 PM
Post by: Shrimper on October 09, 2016, 09:27:02 AM
If any late boil pics are posted I will add them.
Voting will be through the end of the season on October 31st. Prize will be sent out the first part of November.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on October 11, 2016, 09:32:25 AM
Post by: T Pearce on October 19, 2016, 07:07:47 PM
Due to the looming elk opener.. I will not be trapping the rest of the season even though I hear we should.
As tacky as it may seem.. I voted for myself. 8)
These are alot of fun and we will see where it falls.
Good luck to all, and I havent seen such monster craws, thanks for the pics.
Tom
Post by: Shrimper on October 31, 2016, 07:56:40 AM
Biggest Hogcraw
1 ~ Benhuntin – 11”
2 ~ Euro Mount – 10”
3 ~ Shrimper - 9½”
4 ~ Gearhead - 8½”
5 ~ Sagerat – 8”
6 ~ Huntincouple – 6”
Best Boil goes to T Pearce, nice job!
Thanks for a great season everyone, prizes will be sent out in a few weeks when I get back from hunting, PM's inbound.
Post by: T Pearce on November 17, 2016, 05:48:34 PM
Thank you Shrimper and all that voted for our boil.
Looking forward to next year.
T
Post by: Southpole on November 17, 2016, 05:50:53 PM
Post by: jagermiester on August 12, 2017, 11:08:22 PM
Post by: jagermiester on August 12, 2017, 11:11:15 PM
Post by: T Pearce on August 13, 2017, 06:03:41 PM
Post by: Southpole on August 13, 2017, 07:51:02 PM