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Only took my second trip this year to boot the skunk out. Pretty day, kind of cool, but not too bad.
Rolled up one momma Wiper and one Cat. Promised a coworker I'd give him some fillets if I caught anything today. So both fish went home with me. Wiper was better than average size (for me anyway) so just before putting the fillet knife to work, ran a tape from tail to mouth, 21.5 inches. And weighed just over 3 lbs.
Was using a new (to me) for Christmas Rat-L-Trap that both Wiper and Cat hit on.
[inline "(06) 26 Mar 16 1117AM Wiper #1.jpg"]
[inline "(09) Cat #1 ate half the lure.jpg"]
That was first time that lure had been in the water, and after the momma Wiper, and cookie cutter cat were finished with it, the back treble was so badly mangled, I had to replace it. But was a nice day. For me anyway. Got into the marina and noticed a dad and young boy trying to row their dead in the water boat into the dock. The wind was pushing them close to the point east of the docks, right into bank tanglers, and pointy rocks.
I asked if they needed a tow, (which they obviously did), and had them toss me their rope. After a bit of pullin and tuggin, we managed to get their boat tied up to the west dock, then got their rig down the ramp at a angle so we could pull the boat off the corner of the dock more or less straight onto the trailer. After a bit more jockeying the dad was able to get the winch strap hooked up and cranked the boat about 1/3 of the way on to the trailer. But fiberglass doesn't slide too easy on dry trailer bunks, so the cranking came to a halt. With the winch strap tight, and me holding the tow line, dad backed his tow vehicle back down in the water enough to get the bunks wet. Then cranked the boat the rest of the way up on the trailer. I was glad to see this dad had properly fitting PFD on both kids, and himself. And the older kid, a boy about 10 seemed to know just what to do when I asked him to throw me a tow rope, and then asked him to tie his end off on a cleat. Dad, you seem to have taught your son well. I don't know if you ever look in on BFT, but if you should, and you see this post, I only have one piece of advice. Although several pieces of multicolored ski ropes tied together did work in a pinch, I suggest you get a new hank of rope, all one piece, about 50 to 75 feet long, tie one end to an inside the boat cleat or D Ring permanently, and leave it there for the next time either you need a tow, or you come across someone else that does.
A pretty day...........Happy Easter all.........[fishin]
[inline "(07) 26 Mar 16 Beautiful day 1148AM.jpg"]
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Fine report and fine job helping that crew out. I don't know if I believe in karma or not but if it exists you earned some.
Those rattle style lures are one of my go-to's .... They are great for covering water and looking for active fish.
I'm going to try and get out for my first trip of the year in the float tube next week sometime. Did you launch from the south or north?
Cheers!
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Nice job Forest sounds like you did a lot better than I expected on the bay today. Later J
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A big thanks to Tin-Can for saving the day! The boat started and ran just enough to get us into the channel. When I saw you coming in I noticed the BFT flag and immediately knew you would offer assistance. I was too proud to ask when another boat passed by... I was only expecting a tow, however Tin-Can stayed and helped until I was completely out of the water, giving great direction at a moment that my nerves were more than frayed. I am very grateful for your hand today and I will make sure I pay it forward whenever I see someone that could use some help. My boy Trey is a very handy First Mate! He is extremely observant and told me that it was Tin-Can that helped us. He said "Dad I know what he's going to write on his next post" haha. After everything was done and as I was driving out I realized that I did not ask if I could help you. I apologize for that... When we arrived at the house my daughter ran into the house and told her mother "that was not fun". After digging a little deeper it appears to be a fuel delivery issue. Something that is beyond my abilities so it's off to the boat shop to get fixed on Monday.
Thank you again Tin-Can you were a hero and a great example to me and my kids today!
Kevin
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Karma, or no Karma. I come from a long line of sailors. Although I was the odd man out in my family and joined the USAF, I heard from my Dad and uncle many of the sea stories they told. But they always repeated the unwritten law of the sea (or any body of water big enough for boats). A vessel in distress is a vessel you render assistance to. Friend or Foe, known or stranger. Because you just may be in that same situation some day.
I have tried lots of other lures on WB over the past 12 years. But Rat-L-Traps have been the most consistent producer, for me anyway.
Yesterday I had started trolling with a couple Flicker Shad, but got no love on either of them. So I figured I should at least get my Christmas presents wet, and hooked up that chrome and chartreuse 2" Rat-l-trap. Took about 2 passes thru the deep water over on the west wall at varied speeds from .60 mph with the trolling plate fully deployed down, to just over 2.0 mph with plate at the 50% notch. At just under 1.0 mph, with the lures bouncing the bottom, that one Wiper hit it, but not with the usual "hit hard and head for Salt Lake". I actually thought I was snagged at first cuz the line was a steady pull and the slow pole bend, but no drag singing. Once I got hold of the pole and the drag tightened down a bit and started reeling, then momma Wiper came a bit more alive.
There have been quite a few tubes and toons out on WB the past 2 trips. If the weather will calm and the water warm up some, it should be a nice trip for ya.
I went out the south marina. As it's closer to most of the spots I like to fish, has 3 ramps, and parking for us old guys close to the docks.
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ZATARRA, I believe you and I have communicated a couple times here before. Sorry I didn't recognize you as a fellow BFT member. But member or not, there wasn't anyway I could have in good conscience left you and your kids in that situation. I have 5 kids, all grown and moved out, and have been quite fortunate that I've not needed assistance on the water either when they were young, or more recently when I'm by myself. Trey is a sharp young man, and your daughter sounds just like what mine would have said [sly].
Did I post anything close to what Trey expected?
You were a bit distracted to worry about helping me. Beside, my little TinCan is quite easy to handle one handed.
I'm not a hero, never want or try to be. But I believe part of belonging to this organization of fellow anglers places a responsibility on all of us to advance aspects other than catching fish. Such as safety on the water, assistance to member and non member alike, and enjoy the good natured banter and trash talk without getting our knickers in a twist.
Hope whatever the malfunction with the boat, you can get it corrected at minimum expense, and be back on the water soon.
Hope you had a good Easter. [fishin]
P.S. I should have remembered you, my oldest son is same first name...............
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[#0000FF]You are a fine fellow, sir...and an inspiration to us all. I'd like to think that most of us on this board would have also rendered assistance but doing so without a second thought...or "What's in it for me?"...is something that is an ingrained personal trait not often found amongst our general population.
Got a funny personal story...along the same lines. I was once coming back in to the ramps at the south marina...in my float tube. There was a large "Daddy's boat" full of youngsters...loud and "lubricated"...just launching. As they pushed off from the dock they were pointing at me and making all kinds of comments...none flattering.
Payback is a you-know-what. After a couple of attempts to fire up the big motor there was only a clicking sound when the driver turned the ignition key. Dead battery. And the increasing southerly breeze was pushing the boatload of youth out towards the channel.
It was late afternoon on a weekday and there were no other boats in the water nearby or on the ramp. So...without a bit of hesitation...I turned my tube around and power kicked to the front of that boat. I reached up and took their bow line and started kick towing them back to the dock. That rowdy bunch became very quiet.
I tell ya it was a strain pulling that big heavy boat against a strengthening breeze the 50 yards or so back to the dock. But I didn't let them see me sweat. I wasn't really surprised when nobody on the boat even said "Thank you" as I left them and kicked back over to where I got out of my tube.
Over the years there have been several times I have helped boaters launch, trailer their boats and even to retrieve boats that blew away from dock or shore and out into the main lake. The good news is there have been a couple of times when boats helped me out when I was caught in sudden severe winds and had trouble kicking back to shore.
I do believe in Karma. But even more, like yourself, I believe in helping those who need help. If ya got a decent bone in your body ya just gotta.
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Well Pat, that wasn't the first time I've towed someone. And it probably won't be the last. Honestly, I don't mind helping out someone in their situation. In this case, it wasn't due to bad boat handling (like running up on the rock or sand bars at the north end during low water times, and no depth finder on board 'cause "hey we ain't fishin, we don't need a fish finder") But it was kind of the "perfect storm" scenario. Heavy boat, motor dies unexpectedly, 2 youngsters to be concerned with (even though Trey was quite adept for a boy his age) and then the real fly in the ointment, the wind.
But all's well that ends well. Kevin and his crew got home and I didn't even get my feet wet [sly]
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[#0000FF]No surprise that you have aided others before...or that you anticipate doing so again in the future.
Always a pleasant finish to the situation when everyone goes home unscathed...and with more fond memories. All too often we hear about problems on the water that turn deadly...through sudden accident or circumstances that are beyond anyone's ability to prevent them...or to help afterward.
It's okay to minimize your role in the situation but the truth is that without your timely assistance even a seemingly harmless irritation could have turned into damage for the equipment...and/or the occupants. It is good you were there to prevent things from becoming worse.
A PROBLEM is when something happens to someone else. A CRISIS is when the same thing happens to you.
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