Thread: Back to Basics

As many of us here I came from humble beginnings when it comes to boats. The first boat I ever ran on my own was a canoe when I was in the Boy Scouts. I knew then that my days on the bank would be numbered if I could get afloat. Small Jon's and a couple of canoes kept me afloat when I first got out on my own and thru the early years of my Marriage and started having kids. Just was never the money that I needed to get the one I wanted, and that always changes. Time went by and I finally took the plunge and moved up from there to what you see me in today. It's very comfortable but has it's limitations.That big a boat has disconnected me from the smaller lakes that surround me. I changed that last weekend. I bought a 15' Grumman canoe that's in great shape.
Today was the day to see if I was clean out of my mind or just a bit twisted. Had the canoe loaded last night and all ready to go so all I had to do was open the gate and drive. Got to the park at Monroe and it was after 6 and a no show by the guy with the key so I crossed to the other ramp and got busy. Worked out better due to the fact that the other park has a sandy area that's more friendly than concrete for moving into the water. I've done the big boat so much that I just think of it as part of the day. It seemed like I was in the water in seconds compared to The Other Woman. I can move it around fine alone and will be better when I get a dolly and trailer for it. Filled a cooler with water as a counterweight to keep the nose down and headed out. The sun hadn't even warmed the sky, truly 0dark30. Found a light close by and threw a jig at it and was rewarded with a 12 1/2 or 13" fish. First in the new boat!! WOOOHOOO!! Admired him and slid him back without a sound and 3 or 4 casts later got his cousin about the same size. Same deal, slid back. Having fished lights before I know the initial bite is always good but the activity spooks some of the others and that was true today. Somewhere about 4 or 5 they weren't much interested in what I was offering and I moved on. All this time the wind is nada to very light, couldn't ask for better. I moved around and found a few more, including a good copperhead 'gill and a warmouth that thought he was a Goliath grouper, all 6 inches worth. No gar or greenfish showed up today. About 10 the wind started to be an issue and this thing is truly like a leaf in a parking lot so I called it a day. Total catch was 11 and could have made dinner but not much more, but a great first trip. The first time in 15years that I have been in a canoe, and I call it a success. Those fish in the small lakes close by will be getting a visit soon. Thanks for visiting with me today and I hope you smiled reading this, I sure smiled a lot this morning........Skeet.

Harold, I know what you mean about overloading one. Battery and TM will be the extent other than needed things. SIL has some double ended kayak paddles and I'll try one of those soon. PVC dolly will help move it around and the Wife found me a trailer that I picked up last night for $50 so moving just got easier. I couldn't find a decent set of roof racks for that money. Everything for a reason, I think that I'm supposed to visit this idea for a while.