FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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(Sorry for the post/cancel yesterday.  Not sure why I did that but I was not done.)

I do have the skiff so am not totally boatless.  But my interaction with Mako continues.  The part I need is a plate, about 24″ long and 5″ wide and 1/4″ thick.  It could be starboard or plexiglass, but it ain’t much.  Suffice to say I still have not heard back from them, the 2cnd time a promised call has not materialized.  So after 5 days still no answer.  And they are still telling me my hull number is not in the system.  Which of course is stupid, you sold it to me and all the paperwork from you agrees.  So with that in mind, and the 100+ degrees forecast for the week, I decided it is a good time to take it in for the annual motor checkup since it is to dangerous to operate.  I figure at the rate I am going it will be a couple of weeks before I get that plate in my hands.  But I have made one decision, if I do not hear something soon I will just have the fiberglass repair dude make one and glass it in.  Trust me cutting the plate and glassing it seems a small job.  And who knows with Mako, when they tell me the plate is some ridiculous thing like $200 or some such nonsense I might just tell them to forget it.

And to go along with that the dealer who Mako told me to get the part from did not have a clue what I was talking about so he had me send a picture so he would know.  When I spoke with him yesterday he went and looked at one on the lot and said well yours was screwed on.  Nope, nothing but sealant.  Remember this is the boat where they forgot to screw the console down, not surprising they didn’t anchor the plate to the hull.  He said he thought he found one in Palm Beach Fl.  Huh?  I am not asking for warranty, not even sure if it is still in, don’t care – just get me the plate.  So then I contacted Mako Customer Care and hopefully the young lady I spoke with can help me.  I sent her a set of pictures and am just waiting to hear from her.  So with Oregon coming next week it seemed no better time to take the Mako in for the annual and hopefully the plate will appear out of thin air by time they are done with it.  Boy I love owning boats.

Not so Fast….….

I am trying to avoid jumping off a bridge.  Not only is the part not ordered yet, but it gets stranger by the minute.  So since no Mako anyway, had the skiff serviced a couple of months ago (including impeller)  so went outside today just to make sure it was good to go.  Check batteries, starting, etc.  Not so much.  Put the muffs on, no pee, and then it overheated.  Great.  Have not had it out since the work was done.  It never ends………………

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This is my happy face! Trying to keep a good outlook today.

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On the way to the shop I stopped in at Coleto to do a quick repair on the trailer bunks.  They have been rubbing the carpet off at the ends so I put a couple of the slick sticks at the end of the bunks.  Then I made sure the boat would not auto slide off the trailer like some do and it was fine.  As I load off and on by myself don’t want it getting away from me.  But here is the point of this comment:  the lake level.

1 week ago  96.61 msl.   Today  96.21 msl.

The lake is dropping like a rock.  Funny.  Why?  Because on one of the fishing Texas fishing shows a dude said the lake was way up and the fishing was good.  Not sure what lake he was talking about but it could not be Coleto.  It was up, but the water is slowly getting to the end of the pier.  If this does not slow down some it may be another winter of tough launching.  This has been one crazy year on Coleto.  Actually I am happy from one standpoint, it will make for some good winter fishing.  Hope springs eternal.  Man we need some rain, we are 11 inches down and my yard is a ugly shade of brown.  As I type this it is raining a little, hope it keeps up.

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As usual good to hear from Mac.  As we get older the memories are all we have left.

Doug–Too hot to fish, golf, too early to dove and teal hunt, Pre season football sucks, so I just got through reading your words on kids and their fishing. Memories of my youth really popped up. My brothers and I were lucky to live on Mary’s Creek, a small stream where we caught grasshoppers and caught mostly so called perch and small catfish. We were barefoot most of the time and cut off bluejeans was what we had on. Life was very simple then until one July day, one of my brothers came home with a 5 pound bass. Before , we had never seen a bass in this small creek. His tackle consisted of a steel made rod equipped with a Zebco 33 reel and a red and white Lazy Ike lure.
My other brothers and I turned at that point to become die hard bait cast anglers.
We worked one summer for a farmer who thought fishing was a waste of time, but he paid us good to help bale his hay. Our money went to purchase fishing equipment

Brother’s Steve and Tim went with Zebcos and I thought different. I went with a Heddon Baitcast reel. BAd DECISION It took over a year to get over the “birds nests” caused when casting. The only line in those days was black braided cotton line.

We all agreed on certain baits. A spinner bait called a Shyster was used more than any other bait that was not a top water. Top water bait of choice was a black Jitterbug . We all played around with a rubber frog whose legs moved back and forth. We never caught anything on these but they were fun to watch. Baits were overall expensive and we did everything not to lose any. I just remembered Steve creeping out on a tree limb trying to retrieve a Lucky 13 prized plug only to encounter a so called water moccasin . He hit the water fast. I bet that bait is still there today.

WE has no video games, cell phones, or fancy cars. Our mode to the fishing holes were bicycles or foot. If asked then what a serial killer was, we probably would have remarked Tony the Tiger!!!!!!

One thing I will always never forget. Rubber worms were just beginning to appear in the seventies and my Dad found out a brilliant way to fish with them in the hot summer. We went to different lakes and slowly drifted over the middle of the lake with a weighted rubber worm dragging on the bottom in the deepest areas. We did well! I haven’t done this in years, Maybe I should try it again. -hot as it is – One thing is for certain. I can’t go back to fish Mary’s creek anymore – it is polluted and there are no more perch or catfish there. Mac

Love it!  It was the way we rolled in those days.  Reminded me of when I saw my first “rubber worm.”  I was in high school (1971) when stopping at a sporting goods store there was a jar on the counter full of all different colors, no bags back then.  So I bought 5 for .50.  Took them to a pond and threw one out and they just kept “ticking” it, but none ate.  Not knowing then they were inhaling it and all I had to do was set the hook.  But I learned and my love of lure fishing was set and has lasted a lifetime.

You know us old guys talk about the good ole days.  Maybe they weren’t all that good at times but it sure was simpler and a hell of a lot safer.  But you comments and others over the years have me thinking about writing a book.  These memories need to be taken down before they are lost.  It is not the big fancy boat, or all the cool gear, that makes  someone a real fisherman.  One way to tell a “real” fisherman is are they a one trick pony?  Facebook is full of that.   It is about the love of the sport and not a pissing contest.  To many have forgotten the real reason we all fish.  There is something that touched us as kids, being outdoors, seeing the topwater bite, fishing with friends, or the simple love of the anticipation.  And access has become one of my pet peeves.  In those “Good Ole Days” a kid on a bike could fish the creeks and ponds, usually without a problem.  That is a lot bigger issue today, just try wading some creeks or getting access to a pond and see what that gets you.

And last your comment on the condition of Mary’s creek.  When I was young we waded Big Creek.  It was beautiful.  Hard bottom, holes, riffles, and grass beds.  It was really good bass fishing and wading.  Then came the straightening of many of the creeks in Iowa to expand field size.  Now nothing more than a mudhole.  We are losing our water at an alarming rate and I feel for the kids to come.  Thanks for sharing.

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The Knockin Tail Lure with a built in tail rattle!   Look for it this winter.

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So here I am, 2 boats and no fishing.  Some days I just want to give up on this fishing thing.  Keep 2 so you always have one, and then when you need it a recently serviced motor overheats.  When you do it all by the book and then it doesn’t work out it is kind of disheartening.  But there is no cure for the fishing disease no matter how irritated I am.  At least if this all is happening all at once when we are going to hit 107 heat index today, not the best weather to be fishing in.  Not sure how this is all going to work out but maybe a little mountain air will cure what ails me.  Keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines