I just had to go to Lake Shelbyville yesterday, especially once I saw that the thunderstorms were nowhere to be found. Sure it sprinkled a little off and on as I drove over towards Sullivan and even though I was running behind (I wanted to be in the water by 6:30 AM and I didn't hit Sullivan until 7:05) I knew I could get minnows (backup) and put in there by Skeeters or Fox Harbor - which I thought was one and the same.

Stop at Hardee's and get breakfast and lunch (it takes me a LOT longer than Birdman) and then on to Marv's for bait. Nope, they are closed and its on to Findlay but then I remember Leprechaun Landing and get not only some bait but some of those excellent Mid- South tubes. Turns out I know the owner and assistant from back when I grew up in Champaign. Man, time hasn't been kind to him...LOL!

So I am off to the the marina there where Skeeters is located. Never been there but this must be that Fox Harbor I was told about but no one is in the office so I cruise around till I find the ramp. Man is it a rough one and just as I am about to put in I think about parking and making sure I have permission. Since its near 8 AM I went back to the office and ask. Nope. No how. No way and this isn't Fox Harbor. Okay, where is Fox Harbor I wonder and call a friend and it turns out that is what they call Sullivan Beach and sure enough its closed.

Now what?/!

I have just driven 90+ miles and all I have is my Jon Boat with two batteries and two trolling motors. The forecast is for winds and my hope had been to put in by Skeeters and work that area in the hopes that the strong south winds will be blocked or minimized by the narrow east-west channel there.

I put the boat in at Whitley and start across the waters towards Skeeters and know right then that I better keep that second battery for the return trip!!!

I try to work the north shore before the bridge and catch a few but not what I had hoped for. In addition, that pesky wind made it difficult and here I hoped to be off the water by 1 PM for a change. Then I concentrated on the south shore past Skeeters and also caught a few but again nowhere near what I had hoped. Found a nice brush pile along the way and tried to fish it but kept getting snagged and when I worked my way back to where I started I saw another boat pull up and begin to catch fish – a lot of fish at this same brush pile! Talk about rubbing it in...

After they left I just had to see for myself even though I had already tried and they had cleaned it out. And while I found it sticking out of the water earlier it was nowhere to be found. I went back and forth and nothing on the sonar either. This must be the Mary Celeste of brush piles...

Finally, it was near 5 PM and my dogs bladders were near the bursting point back at home so I decided to head that way. First I had tried to fish around the docks and it took an anchor and full power of the trolling motor to semi-hold and I knew it was time while it was still daylight...

With winds of 15 MPH (Weather at Shelbyville Link) out of the south, I head across the open water with just one battery (I had changed over earlier) and a prayer. Actually, it wasn't too bad as I was moving south and west at a couple of miles an hour but will the battery hold out!

You know that scene in the wizard of Oz where at first the Emerald City looks so far away and not getting any closer. Well that was how I felt about a third of the way across. And, as I crossed maybe the halfway point, was the motor at the same speed or was it slowing down? I stayed the course and to assist the draining battery I tried to learn how to sail and tack the winds with my bulky body and quarter across in the hopes of getting to the southern shore before the battery went. At least the waves weren’t breaking over the sides!

Well the Good Witch must have stepped in as I made to within 20 yards of the south shore and still had plenty of power, or so it seemed. Being the idio...I mean, being the dedicated (obsessed) newbie I am I decided to fish my way back. Now a sane person would probably break down, crying to God and thanking his lucky stars for making it but not me! Nope, no way. I decide to keep fishing as I had at least another 45 minutes of light and after all I was within a quarter mile or less of the ramp...

Caught a fish here and there and watched as the remaining boats leave and decided (again) it was time and started over to the ramp..........
































And I made it!

Ha, Ha! I bet you all thought I had pushed the limits again and screwed up (again). But like in the movies, I “chose wisely” (for a change) and caught my limit for a change. Learned some new spots, saw how to work the brush piles and laydowns (to some degree) and realize I better start out with full batteries and a “working” motor for trolling motors are nice but I don’t want to depend on them for my life!



PS I hope you all understand the obsession that has evolved in me these past six months but I do try to error of the side of safety even though I admit I cut it pretty close sometimes...