FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

The Wade Right Fishing Belt

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Sorry I have gotten nothing up since Monday but several things got in the way.  Tuesday I was headed to New Braunfels to pick up the plate for the tunnel on the Mako.  And as usual it was not quite as advertised.  I love my boat but dealing Mako sure leaves something to be desired.

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

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So after the struggle just to get the part, it went a little crazy.  I get there and the parts guy goes there are 3.  3?  Hell I was just hoping for 1.  I actually wanted 2, but then the surprise.  In spite of the fact I had multiple contacts with the Mako parts manager at the plant the dealer said the plate was $122 each!  Wtf?  It is a fiberglass plate that is basically 15″ x 30″ and barely a 1/4″ thick.  The problem, the Mako parts manager told me they were $50.  And to make it more interesting laying all 3 plates on top of each other they were not exactly the same.  (Very typical of Mako’s quality control.)  I took the 2 best, paid the $50 each, and headed back to Victoria.

Wednesday I had to head to Austin to get the Boss’s car service so there went that day.  But the traffic, how in the world folks could fight that every day is beyond me.  The Boss and I have traveled to many of the big cities in this country, and quite a few in foreign countries, and nothing, and I mean nothing, tops Austin.  I thought Istanbul was nuts.  We lived in Fort Worth and it did not hold a candle to Austin’s traffic.  The guy who checked me in at the dealer said he lives around 15 miles from the shop and it takes him a good hour to get to work every morning.  What a hassle.  Think about it, 2 hours+ travel time everyday, ends up costing folks 400 hours a year going to work.  That works out to over 16 DAYS a year sitting in traffic.  No thanks, just hope it is worth it for those of you who live there.  But I digress.

So at least I have the part, and then Friday the marina called and the Mako was ready to go after the annual.  It now has 700 hours, which means I am averaging about 100 hours a year.  Everything checked out fine, and the compression is 125 on all cylinders, which is always a relief to hear that.  So I hitched it up and headed to the fiberglass shop to see how much it would be to get the plate mounted.

The owner came out and looked at it, and after I said I wasn’t sure what was used to put it on originally he said he did.  They used 3M 5200 and he showed me how.  And then something so unusual these days, he said you can do this,  (I can.)  and gave me a step by step process to do it, which will save me hundreds over his $120 hour labor.  Like all jobs like this prep is the answer.  So I spent yesterday getting everything I need and will do it in the morning as soon as I get a face mask.  Don’t want to lay on my back and sand fiberglass in my face.  So I will prep a couple of things, lay everything out, and hopefully knock it out early tomorrow morning as it needs to be applied at less than 90 degrees.  (Boy am I sick of that.)  According to 3M it takes a week to cure and I will not rush that.  Boat ownership is a blessing and a curse.

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Several of the boys from Austin fished POC yesterday and here is Robert’s report.

Tough day in port O’Conner with only two tides and winds gusting to near 30mph out of SE. I caught 4 dink trout, 2 rat reds to 19.99” and a lizard fish. water temp is 88 degrees . No topwater action .Multiple bites but no hookups on drift fishing only. Ran from froggies to Pringle to Fish Pond to JHook to Sunday beach to old coast guard station and back to ramp between 8am and 1pm. Water was trout green in Pringle lake area to murky most other places we drifted. Saturday, we are starting earlier and using trolling motor to work area harder along shoreline. I used red sparkle beetles from H&H with 1/4oz jig head and white bass assassin .Others used artificials with no success. Still nice to be on the water.

Sounds like it was a tough day but the boys know how to catch them and I  am sure today will be a better day.  So keep on keeping on and it will happen.

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I know I might rant to much about posting things on social media when you are breaking the law but there were a couple of prime examples yesterday.  A couple of guys in Florida caught a big Goliath Grouper and ended up putting it in the boat with pictures of the fish and them.  How stupid can you get?  It is illegal, and has been for years, to take one out of the water.  There were immediately comments telling them how stupid they were, and I agree.  Social media played a part in expanding this blog, and also led to meeting lots of great fishermen, but it can come with a price.  So before you hit send stop for just a minute and think about it.  I am sure by now that post has made it’s way to the Florida authorities.

And the other post just chapped my ass.  Someone wanted to know what to do with trespassers on a trail cam illegally hunting on their lease.  I could not believe some of the comments.  Things like if it is just your lease and not your land mind your own business.  Others basically calling them a rat if they shared it with law enforcement.  If that is your opinion you are not a sportsman, you are nothing but complicit.  What is wrong with folks?  It is people like this that give nut cases like PETA and other organizations ammunition to continue their assault on fishing and hunting.  We all have a duty to protect the resource and if you condone this type of behavior you are just as bad, or maybe worse.

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A little Saturday football is on tap.  Texas v. Oklahoma State, Auburn v. A&M, and Arkansas v. San Jose State, all with the potential to be good games.  The Cowboys have Miami tomorrow and if there was a local sports book I would definitely bet on the Cowboys no matter how big the line is.  Should be a butt whipping.

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Then Monday back on the water, and hopefully several other days.  Funny how busy one gets when retired.  How in the hell I ever got things done when working full time I do not have a clue.  So while watching football some new line on rods and some reel maintanance will be in order.  So keep stopping in, I promise there is more fishing to come, and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines