Thread: Lemonade

When God gives you lemons, it's a good idea to just go ahead and make lemonade and not sweat the small stuff. Ernie showed up as scheduled at 0600 and after a cuppa we headed out to get things ready for our day. Having worked in the grudge yesterday, movement wasn't one of my strong points today. Got moving, went for gas and headed for the ramp at SR44. Dropped in, Ernie goes to park the truck and I get things ready for a ride North.

Great idea, except the outboard wouldn't crank. Rolled over just fine but wouldn't catch. Tried all my options and still nothing but lemons. Ernie and I both needed this trip and I wasn't taking no for an answer, so I dropped the TM and headed out of the ramp area. I turned north to find the river running South. I had heard someone else comment on this a few days ago, I think, but this is something that I have rarely seen. Lots of birds came and went, an Otter swam by seemingly without a care in the world, and the Manatees made a show several times as the day wore on. One Green Heron fed pretty close to us for a while, looking very comfortable with us nearby. I took a small mesh net with me today in hopes of finding some grass shrimp but only found one and he was tiny. I'll keep trying as they are the best ever, so many have told me. Dipping long rods didn't do much, short rods and brighter colors also got just a little attention. Wound up near the bridge posts, pitching 1/32 minnow heads with BGBS bodies and stayed with them til we left. To my surprise, anything chartreuse didn't produce at all. The overcast conditions is all I can attribute their wanting a natural color combo. Could have gotten minnows and gotten a few more but we just didn't. Floats didn't work, although we did pick up an occasional fish with some cricket looking bodies.

So we kept pitching and moving, not finding a pattern yet. Finally I caught a throwback size crappie, and we did a little better after that. Moving and pitching and just easing back and forth, and I get a genuine thump. Set the hook and the 7' rod doubles and the fish doesn't move. Do I have to tell how my heart rate went up, a little "here we go!!" comes out, head shakes, drag slips some and he comes close to the top. I can't see the jig and give a good heave and my luck holds as he clears the gunnel. Tipped the scale at 1lb 14oz and got to visit the live well. Just a short while later I look over and Ernie's rod is bent pretty good and the tip is shakin. He the strong silent type, hasn't said a word. I get a look at this dinner plate with fins and drop my rod and head for the net. He gets close, the net does its job and as I swing the net over the boat, the jig goes airborne. Gotta love it when things work. Get the scale to find it's a carbon copy of the other at 1lb 14oz. I like how this day is shaping up. Move and pitch, ease around some more and once more I get a thump. Another good one but not as big as the others. Never scaled but clearly over a pound.

Now Ernie isn't one to be outdone and he keeps pitchin and glidin, looking for another good hit. And he got it. Rod goes up partway and stops, shakes, and the drag slips from some authority on the other end. I said "Catfish" as the rod tip went for the surface once more. Lift up and reel down, and again, and he begins making headway. I already have the net, he comes close but isn't ready yet, and on the third try he is scooped and aboard. Just under 4lbs with a dark black back and whiskers. We hollered at some folks on the bank and they said "heck yeah, we'll take him" so we headed over. Come to find out that's what they were after. Probably made a good superbowl snack. Neither of us could think of a better way to end the day so we headed back to get the boat on the trailer, something new without an outboard. That went off without a hitch and we headed home, 3 good fish and a keeper in the box.

Somewhere along the way I got to relax and lose the wound up feeling that's been following me around for a few days. We didn't load the box but enough for a real good dinner. The best part was the smile on my buddies face when we headed back, I guess he needed today too. To finish the story of why no outboard, I hit the breather with a shot of starting fluid at the house and she fired right up. I guess I have some issues with the choke system to work out. I have said in past posts that somehow I am always given what I need, and today was no different. Good weather, good company, good fish, and all done and back home by 12:30. Hope you have enjoyed taking a ride with Ernie and I today, and Thanks for taking a moment to read this. Here's Ernie with the 2 big fish of the day.......Skeet.