7 Attachment(s)
For Those With Absolutely Nothing Better To Do
The weathermen around here lie like old rugs, and many times I have missed good days based on their wonderful guidance, so now I do my own guessing. The skies were clear with cotton ball clouds, the winds were fairly stiff and steady, but the Sun was shining so I hooked up to the boat while she got ready to go. I planned a quick jaunt around our special little lake ( we wed along the shoreline ), not a serious attempt at fish mind you. After all I needed to test out some of my new “boat accessories” as she refers to them.
I am getting so much better at launching and landing the boat. Looked like I knew what I was doing. Tough ramp, too. I learned that a pair of rubber boots is the only way to manage that place. She saw me buy my boots and wanted a pair of her own, so there she went stomping around in the water’s edge while I did my thing with the boat. She wanted to bring her new waders but I do not like waders on a boat, old story.
We set off and the winds were stronger than I had imagined. Was going to long line troll behind the boat, but the way the wind blew us around that was going to be a recipe for a frustrating day. We just wanted to have some fun, so I decided that we would spider troll. Why not I just got my Elite Rod Holders installed a week ago or so and I did up my four rods and got started. Two small crankbaits, one with belly hook removed, one with tail hook removed and a spinner added in it’s place. Two jigs out the front, one with a spinner blade one without.
The plan was to just let the wind blow us wherever and we would ride along making no attempt to fight it. Good thing too because the wind was having it’s way and it would have been frustrating trying to accurately steer. She was telling me there were fish all over the screen and was telling me depths and such but they were not interested. Finally I started steering and took us in close to shore to escape the wind. She wanted to steer the TM and was pretty good at it, as she kept the furthest rod pretty close to the weeds without fouling.
Suddenly she says it looks like something was on one of the rods. Sure enough there was and then she wanted to hold it, then wanted to keep it for eating. So first fish ever in the livewell. Although, I was pretty sure the fish’s arrangements were only temporary. He did rather well down in there if I must say so myself.
There is a little spot we know of where a great big alligator has a hiding spot. He has made a little wallering hole but it is concealed. I spotted him Sun bathing about the same time he spotted us and there was this terrible ballyhoo, with him completely over reacting to our rudeness. Man he was impressive and she was scared because he was heading right under our boat. Later we saw him sulking and watching us. He really is very private.
We wandered about and floated around some and the Sun had her feeling good, so much so that she shed about seven layers and even got a slight Sun burn. I took some pictures and fished a little more and then we started getting hungry so we headed for the ramp. It was a day that the wind forecast would have lead me stay home, but she said it was one of the best days ever. Stupid weathermen. That Sun really did feel great once we got out of the wind. I felt it was a good day because now I know I can fish pulling or pushing equally as badly.
The Elite rod holders really are very nice. So pleased that I chose them over the other designs out there. Jesse makes several varieties, but I wanted the Crappie Pro HD design. 3/8” stainless steel, with beautiful welds. The system works by adjusting the black handles, two on each, and then pushing the unit forward to lock it in. Infinite adjustments, so they can fit anyone perfectly. I bought four of these. I have not purchased my rods yet, so have been using my surf fishing rods which are 13’ and very heavy. I added a two ounce sinker and even in the bobbing seas the rods were held solidly. I had made adjustments to position the rods apart prior and there were no tangles. Depth adjustments were not a problem to make either.
What really makes these rod holders exceptional is the adjustability. I can adjust them back into my lap, so I can lay a hand across multiple rods, or out and away. She sat up front and I studied her sitting there and the rods could be brought right in close for her, even being a tine little people. So when I do get a decent set of rods, she will be able to manage just fine. It was cool that I could swing them out of the way with a simple pull to lay them flat on the deck, and put them right back into their sweet spot by simply pushing them back. They retained their adjustments. I was also able to lay them forward against the boat to get them off the deck and that was easy enough as well. I can see now that I need to order two more as I am pretty sure I can manage six rods. Wasn’t sure before but now I am. So two more can easily be added because I chose to mount a heavy and dense plastic to the deck, and attach rod holders to that. I feel it will prevent enlarging the holes in the aluminum and weakening everything over time.
I plan to get six rods next month when I have a new credit card cycle and can pay for them. Not 100% sure of what I will choose, but I am leaning towards rods that are stiffer so I can use the 1-2 ounce sinkers I now make. Earball sinkers with a cork screw swivel on one eye going to the leader for the lure, tying line from the rod straight to the other. Made it very easy for me to change jigs around trying to find a color they wanted. While I never did make any discoveries in this regard, I suspect the problem was a presentation issue and not one involving electrified chickens and such.
She could not be any more happy with the boat, and that my friends is great. We plan to have many adventures this year, exploring the waterways here in Florida. We both love to discover and learn and we both enjoy getting away from the house. She was watching the birds and asking questions and considers herself to be a top shelf alligator spotter. I must admit she is pretty good at it. The boat was the wedding present we decided to give to one another when our families came up short on us.
So if that old weatherman kept you indoors on Sunday, February 21, 2021, I am sorry. Oh and that fish got released. Puny little devil. Probably went back and told his friends some crazy story about being abducted by aliens or something. Keep an eye out for future posts from me. I will not be showing any large piles of fish, but I plan to get into some interesting things.
Attachment 394991
Attachment 394989
Attachment 394990
Attachment 394993
Attachment 394994
Attachment 394995
