The barn is empty

**wicklundrh** · 08-04-2016, 02:53 PM

Well half of it anyway!

Dad came down and finally retrieved his brand new (never seen the water before) boat. This was only after his number one son (don't let that fool you, he only has one son) installed a new fish finder, 3D imaging, trolling motor, 3 bank charger, electric anchor winch, VHF radio, antenna, and three batteries that each weigh more than my daughter. I'll spare you the details of the installations but lets say not all went as easy as planned. 90 degree heat plus a barn doesn't bode well for working. I did hope to lose more sweat weight than I did though. I will say the new "Ulterra" is pretty cool and I can't wait to see down image in 3d.

I can now get my boat in and out without moving around my kubota. Or, I can get the Kubota out without moving my boat. Now, If I can just manage to get Brian to buy a house and get his boat out of my barn then I'll have plenty of room for more stuff of my own! It is however amazing to see the amount of cardboard that can be generated from outfitting a boat. We need some rain so I can burn it all.

We did hit the water yesterday evening for some fishing however the stingy one didn't want to get his new boat dirty! So we took mine. I'm still upset about breaking my favorite custom crappie rod last week to a freak milkcrate accident but I have since ordered the replacment and it is here but yet to be built. I was forced to cast with some other piece of crap I have relegated for visitors in years past. Boy can you tell the difference. I missed tons of fish while casting with this joker.

The water temp was 81 degrees on the surface. We concentrated on waters from 10 to 16 feet. We targeted depths of 8 to 10 feet using minnows and gold aberdean hooks and a 1/16oz split shot. We also utilized 1/16oz jigs but caught far fewer fish on these rigs. I'm amazed at how my long line catch rate has increased by eliminating a jig and allowing the minnow to move freely with a hook. The fish were very hungry and if they didn't swipe your minnow on a swing and a miss, you could rest assured that he would bite again. We trolled at speeds of .4 to .6 and the fish would not hit it if it was verticle and not moving.

Long lining slip bobbers produced very little and as I said before, casting also produced little. The slow troll produced good sized fish ranging from 10 to 12 1/2 inches along with several throw backs. In the end, we kept 18 fish for them to take back home.

Sorry, no photos, someone had to work today! Hopefully, mom and dad get the break in period started this weekend on that new motor. You will see them (and the boat) up in Cadillac in the fall. I'll be leaving Sunday to start pre-fishing for the upcoming Sault Ste. Marie tournament starting on the 12th. Kevin will meet me on Monday.

**crp4570** · 08-04-2016, 05:02 PM

Really enjoyed reading the report. Thx

**"D"** · 08-05-2016, 12:17 AM

I started to edit your thread title to " The barn is slightly less full" How about a pic of that barn from the outside and dimensions. Here is a pic of my "barn" 44ft by 44ft with 13 ft walls. At one point I had a 19 ft Stratos and a 18.5 ft duracraft crammed in behind the 10 ft door and a 39 ft 5th wheel behind the big door. Behind the walkin door(can't see) is my sink, freezer, fish cleaning table, work bench, shelves, ZTR and various gas powered tools with another door to go out the back for the ZTR. Anyway my point is they are never big enough. I do now only have the 20 ft boat in the pic, sold the other 2, but still have all the rest of the stuff. Wish I had put up a 50 x 60. Danny
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**ready2fish** · 08-05-2016, 08:18 AM

Title says "Barn is empty"

Sounds like it's time to clean it ,lol

Your going to be going right by my favorite inland lake "Burt"

**ready2fish** · 08-05-2016, 08:19 AM

Originally Posted by "D"

I started to edit your thread title to " The barn is slightly less full" How about a pic of that barn from the outside and dimensions. Here is a pic of my "barn" 44ft by 44ft with 13 ft walls. At one point I had a 19 ft Stratos and a 18.5 ft duracraft crammed in behind the 10 ft door and a 39 ft 5th wheel behind the big door. Behind the walkin door(can't see) is my sink, freezer, fish cleaning table, work bench, shelves, ZTR and various gas powered tools with another door to go out the back for the ZTR. Anyway my point is they are never big enough. I do now only have the 20 ft boat in the pic, sold the other 2, but still have all the rest of the stuff. Wish I had put up a 50 x 60. Danny
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Nice boat and barn

**wicklundrh** · 08-05-2016, 08:23 AM

Mine is 30x44. I had two 18 foot boats with full windshields, a 17 foot boat, a 4600 Kubota tractor with bucket, corn planter, sprayer, my entire jig business, two deep freezers, carpentry tools, and everything else imaginable.

I'm walked in there last night to grab a few things and was amazed at how big it looks inside again. Who knows what I will do when I'm down to one boat and the tractor.... Might just have to buy something else to fill her back up again.

**crp4570** · 08-05-2016, 08:33 AM

D, that is a nice rig.

**"D"** · 08-05-2016, 02:11 PM

Thanks guys. The boat was my retirement gift to myself 5.5 years ago. Rich, man that is a lot of stuff in one barn. I keep mine pretty manageable for working and walking in. But you know, like I do, they will never not be "full". Come to think of it, I always wanted a tractor....... lol

**Bug Officer** · 08-10-2016, 08:11 AM

Rich's pole breaking was partly my fault. I sent him a last minute invite to join me on a tiny lake by my house, carry down access and little parking. His pole broke turning in to meet me, then we get back to the lake and all three open spots are full! What the heck? I almost always have this lake to myself. Anyway, we get the boat in, Rich still grumbling about his pole, and proceed to drive people nuts catching crappie. Rich grumbles some more about his pole. I bumble about missing fish (happens frequently, slow reaction speed, dumb, I'm a Marine, whatever other excuse I can conjure) which gets Rich laughing at me. I'm still learning to crappie fish (and walleye) from Rich. He's a great person to fish with and I'm glad to know him.
Let me know when you want to work on that pole, Rich. I do feel responsible....somewhat.....

**wicklundrh** · 08-10-2016, 05:01 PM

It would sting if I had to buy it from a rod builder. Finding the time to rebuild it is hard when I fish all the time! No ones fault, I have back ups. Heck, I'm still working on a perch rod that I started two years ago

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