Right toy - Wrong playground

[up2specks]

Two weeks back, while fishing/catching up with bud AJ, my 24V MK trolling motor stopped recognizing I-pilot directional command. Historically having the repair b4 replacement mindset, I decided to have a pay for analysis done. The results from 'Set the hook' MK authorized repair center revealed a bad control board/motor drive unit. The just under $600 repair estimate yielded to a no repair/new toy decision= MK Riptide 24V- 80/54 ULTERRA!! Coupled with the massive amounts of candle-blowing/cake-eating ceremonies & the "can't take it w/ya"/money that sometimes "burns holes in my pocket", I surrendered! My replaced MK Riptide 24 V I-pilot was golden for the 8/9 years of ownership but I went Platinum with the well-reviewed Ulterra's Stow/deploy niche. Playground chosen, after much thought, yielded to Jesup's diversity accentuated by the extensive twin bridge-span. Noon start-up modus operandi included, l/l'g ~red wigglering ~s/p bridge pillars. Lake's water level @ ramp was disappointingly LOW(-3.5' ) The canal cut to lake was SKINNY and my enthusiastic/air-filled balloon started hissing! Getting to my l/l'g area, I was hissed-off(even more) to see SKINNY 4' of water everywhere! While placing the 3rd of 10 rod-arsenal(5.5 - 16') in it's holder, something caused #3 to arc. After net-massaging the fat 12" crappie, I thought oh yeah OR is this a bad sign? 6 hours of experimentation(lure colors/jig head weight/line lengths- 3.5 hours of drive time yielded ONE crappie, ONE whisker-fish, ONE long-nosed gar. Don't know what your math skills are...what I DO KNOW is I chose the WRONG PLAYGROUND/testing grounds!! Two things that WERE unsurpassed = Wind/weather(10) Ulterra(10++) Even with the LiveScope, bridge pilings marked scarce, unwilling biters(even down-sizing to my 1/64 hair jigs!) Not even a bite after 45 min.'s of multi-spot bobber-"wiggling"! Should have gone to Woody or Griffin maybe! . Momma said there'd be days like this although she never mentioned the financial part!
Due to the slick conditions, I easily saw why Jesup has the Gator #s reputation!

u2s