Hey folks...I'm back (I hope) to a limited degree

Took a season or two off to clear my heart and head of the divorce after Queen No. 2 decided to leave. Things are on the mend and I have been fishing Ouachita again since the last part of February.

The lake has been 7.5 feet low until just this week. All my fav crappie haunts for the spawn are all out of the water. The good news is that the lake is only 5' low now and begining to recover somewhat.

I have not caught them in masses but have caught some big ones. The largest was a whopper...a 17.5"-er caught by brother Tom a month ago. Didn't get a weight but she is awaiting the taxidermist, fer sur. Runners up are a couple of 16.5 and 16.25"-ers and some 15's. We have just not caught masses.

Many are still over the brush in 8 fow or so. Patience is the key here.

My new Yamaha 90 (2.4 years old) bit the dust last week while I was on vacation. It got fuel in the crankcase oil and it fried it before I was aware of the problem. No warnings, no temp lights, no nuttin'. Thankfully, the four-strokes have a three-year warranty. I suppose I will buy the extended warranty on that motor, donchano. :)

Trader Bills' has been good to me, replacing several Interstate batteries that never seem to do the job. They replaced the axle, tires and wheels under my Nationwide trailer after it just wore tire after tire out, from the get-go. They are (again) replacing the axle with a cambered axle and new tires and wheels and fenders b/c the tires continue to wear on the inside, like the trailer is overloaded. It is a single-axle and the rig weighs 3,300 pounds...so they are (again) replacing everything.

Maybe...just maybe I will get back in the water in a couple of weeks.

I hope each of you are doing well. I am, as I said, am on the mend, thanks to the grace of God and a loving family. I hope to see each of you on the water sometime, when I get back there myself.

Blessings to you and yours. Be safe on the water and take good notes. :)

Arkie John

Welcome back John. I knew you hadn't posted in a while and I always enjoyed reading them. Look forward to seeing your posts again.

John, it gets better everytime. Between me and a friend of mine, we almost have enough x-wives to bait a trot line.

Boys, I'm doin' well now, but, as you know, it is touch and go for much of the time, early on. "Enough to bait a trotline?" BAHAHAHA! Well, I was married to Queen No. 1 for 24 years and to Queen No. 2 for 15. Now...the sunrises are a lot more beautiful and the crappie fight harder than ever. I reckon I could bait a limb line. :D Luvpt, I hope to continue posting on here. When I get my boat back and get out there, you'll be hearing from me. :)

aj

Welcome Back AJ, Good to see you on the Board agian.:)

AJ- It sounds like you have the wrong sized trailer under your boat causing the axles to bow and ,naturally, the tires will wear prematurely. I would suggest you note that to your dealer, or whoever, and see about replacing the trailer with a 2 axle one and I bet the problem will go away. It will save you headaches and whoever is doing the warranty work. JMHO and .02.

Glad you're back on the board!

Welcome back John

Been wonder'n where you were. Welcome back, look'n forward to see'n a few pics of those slabs.

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Originally Posted by cricket george

AJ- It sounds like you have the wrong sized trailer under your boat causing the axles to bow and ,naturally, the tires will wear prematurely. I would suggest you note that to your dealer, or whoever, and see about replacing the trailer with a 2 axle one and I bet the problem will go away. It will save you headaches and whoever is doing the warranty work. JMHO and .02.

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Hey George; when I bought the rig in November 2008, I asked for a tandem axle trailer and they told me it was overkill and that they 'never sell a tandem axled trailer with a 20' Sweetwater barge." Well, I relented and have regreted it ever since. However, Nationwide trailers have been good about it all, never costing me a cent...except some fishing time. THIS time they are replacing the axle with a cambered axle that is bent with the crown of the bent axle pointing up, so that when my boat is loaded, it will settle to the neutral position. That's the theory. :/ We'll see. I did a lot or research and it is plain the trailer is overloaded. The tires are splayed and worn on the inside only. That is why they are replacing the axle, tires and wheels and the fenders...again. :) IF It happens again...I will simply ask for a tandem trailer and (like you said) the problem will go away. :) Thanks for commenting. aj

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Originally Posted by NIMROD

Been wonder'n where you were. Welcome back, look'n forward to see'n a few pics of those slabs.

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Yup...been a little distracted but definitely on the mend. If it wasn't for a loving family and my Martin and music, I would not have made it. When I get my boat back, we'll have to get together. :)

aj

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Originally Posted by creekslick

Welcome back John

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Thanks, Slick!!! You still trollin' those 300 Bandits??? I will proabably be gettin' into that again when the brushpiles and condos fail post-post spawn. :)

aj

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Originally Posted by AgriHawg

Glad you're back on the board!

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Hey buddy! Glad to be back. Be sure tell Scrapper I said 'hello.' One day we will have to swap a Degray trip for a Ouachita trip!!! That would be fun.

aj

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Originally Posted by CrappiePro

Welcome Back AJ, Good to see you on the Board agian.:)

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I'm tellin' you, it's good to be back. I would not wish divorce on my worst enemy. But I have a clear conscience and still have my boat. :D

aj

Glad to see you back Arkie John, always been a fan. Still got my place up up close to Little Fir, maybe we can get together on Ouachita sometime or you can just come on down to Greeson and I will take you a fishing. God Bless.