Keaton NFGFC March 11&12

[Jumptrout51]

I am finally rested enough from Keaton to post a report.
Up at 4 a.m. Friday.
Messed around until time to pick up TinCan at 6:30.
Down 27/19 to Perry and the first stop at Wilsons for some bait.
Second stop at the Huddle House for breakfast and to pick up a shiny rebuilt prop.
Third stop Huddle House toilet.
Fourth stop Keaton ramp.
Idled down the ditch in a 25 mph wind and cold cold 30 degrees.
At the end of the pier we see the Dark Island rocks floating on top.
Go wide and around and head towards Fishermans Rest.
Fifth stop,Tincan hooks up with a 31 inch red in 18 inches of water.
We figure the game has begun.
Two hours later and fishless except for the big red we stop at the Doghead.
No love here either.
We pack up for the long run to the Warrior.
Out in from of Deckle the FWC pulls alongside for a license check.
He did not believe my suspicious looking partner when he told him we had no fish.
He insisted on looking in our coolers.
With no apologies to Tincan for the cavity search he fired up his twin 250 Mercs and blasted off into the horizon.
As TC was zipping his pants we idled into our fishing hole.
Its' now about 1 o'clock.
A few drifts on this spot produces 4 upper slot trout that we saved for the impending fish fry.
Back at the ramp about 4 p.m. it takes TinCan 4 filet knives to skin and prep 4 trout.
He has become such a complainer.
After the fish cleaning we move on to our abode and unhook the boat.
Head back to the marina to prep for the fish fry.
Bows'Up has his 5 gallon deep fryer set up and getting hot.
With assistance from everyone the fish start a-fryin'.
Fresh fried trout,hushpuppies,french fried taters,coleslaw,tater salad,smoked fish dip,smoked pork loin,homemade desserts and cold beverage consumed by 50 or so anglers.
Off to bed about 8:30 asleep about midnite and up at 5 a.m.
Back to the ramp and wait for 6:18 for blast off.
Thirty four boats oozing down the ditch in 29 degrees and NO wind.
We run to our first spot and give way to the spots owner while we fish the perimeter.
Within minutes 4 other boats are all around us.
Everyone was catching upper slot fish for a couple hours.
I personally delayed my catching to allow my partner the opportunity to contribute to the days tally.
At noon I realized how he was struggling and quickly made significant contributions to the cooler.
We caught and released many over 20 trout and under 17 trout.
Back at the 3:30 weigh in a 20 and 1/64th inch trout was turned down on a courtesy measure leaving is with a still respectable weight of 10.49 pounds for 5 15-20 inch slot fish.

Those who were not there missed a fun time and some good fishing.
See ya'll at Econfina on April 9.

[Reel Cowboy]

I'm tired all over again after reading that.

[Gulf Coast]

[lizbeth]

JT, you could have left the third stop OUT of the report...LOL

[SHOWBOAT]

nice report JT. Sounds accurate except for you late day contributions. I've fished with you enough to know better than that.

[tallykenj]

Great report, JT. The food was great. I was glad you and others caught some fish to cook for everyone. It was very yummy. This was my first time fishing the area. My daughter and I had a lot of fun. Man, that wind on Friday was crazy. At night, it seemed someone flipped a switch and made the wind disappear. It was great seeing everyone at night. I wish people had name tags; I not good at remember names and it would be nice to associate people with the forum and other events. Or course, you don't need a name tag as everyone knows you.

I'm looking forward to the next Keaton tourney already.

Ken

[leonreno]

Great report and some cold fishing. Rejecting a 20 1/64 trout is not very courteous.

How deep did you catch the trout?

[tin can]

I am finally rested enough from Keaton to post a report.
Up at 4 a.m. Friday.
Messed around until time to pick up TinCan at 6:30.
Down 27/19 to Perry and the first stop at Wilsons for some bait.
Second stop at the Huddle House for breakfast and to pick up a shiny rebuilt prop.
Third stop Huddle House toilet.
Fourth stop Keaton ramp.
Idled down the ditch in a 25 mph wind and cold cold 30 degrees.
At the end of the pier we see the Dark Island rocks floating on top.
Go wide and around and head towards Fishermans Rest.
Fifth stop,Tincan hooks up with a 31 inch red in 18 inches of water.
We figure the game has begun.
Two hours later and fishless except for the big red we stop at the Doghead.
No love here either.
We pack up for the long run to the Warrior.
Out in from of Deckle the FWC pulls alongside for a license check.
He did not believe my suspicious looking partner when he told him we had no fish.
He insisted on looking in our coolers.
With no apologies to Tincan for the cavity search he fired up his twin 250 Mercs and blasted off into the horizon.
As TC was zipping his pants we idled into our fishing hole.
Its' now about 1 o'clock.
A few drifts on this spot produces 4 upper slot trout that we saved for the impending fish fry.
Back at the ramp about 4 p.m. it takes TinCan 4 filet knives to skin and prep 4 trout.
He has become such a complainer.
After the fish cleaning we move on to our abode and unhook the boat.
Head back to the marina to prep for the fish fry.
Bows'Up has his 5 gallon deep fryer set up and getting hot.
With assistance from everyone the fish start a-fryin'.
Fresh fried trout,hushpuppies,french fried taters,coleslaw,tater salad,smoked fish dip,smoked pork loin,homemade desserts and cold beverage consumed by 50 or so anglers.
Off to bed about 8:30 asleep about midnite and up at 5 a.m.
Back to the ramp and wait for 6:18 for blast off.
Thirty four boats oozing down the ditch in 29 degrees and NO wind.
We run to our first spot and give way to the spots owner while we fish the perimeter.
Within minutes 4 other boats are all around us.
Everyone was catching upper slot fish for a couple hours.
I personally delayed my catching to allow my partner the opportunity to contribute to the days tally.
At noon I realized how he was struggling and quickly made significant contributions to the cooler.
We caught and released many over 20 trout and under 17 trout.
Back at the 3:30 weigh in a 20 and 1/64th inch trout was turned down on a courtesy measure leaving is with a still respectable weight of 10.49 pounds for 5 15-20 inch slot fish.

Those who were not there missed a fun time and some good fishing.
See ya'll at Econfina on April 9.

You may have realized I was struggling at noon, but you didn't contribute until 1:30. And 1 fish does not qualify as significant contributions. In an effort to be a good partner I had all my stuff in order and was ready to fish both Friday and Saturday mornings. I thought you would do the same. I never thought that on tournament day you would feel the need to check ALL the line on your reel after every cast. I also thought it was rather rude that you commented that the new line that our wonderful host gave you Friday night, and went to the trouble to put on the reel for you, was junk, and discarded it during the ride to the first stop Saturday morning. However, it was very courteous of you to "ALLOW" me to run the front of the boat all day.

JT, It was a heck of a weekend. I appreciate the ride and would do it again in a heartbeat.

[reelbad]

Dang Tin, your just to nice to the old grouch. All kidding aside, I agree with tallykinj, it was a great weekend. Let's all do our best to have another one when we get together at Port St. Joe. See ya'll at the Econafina.

[tin can]

Dang Tin, your just to nice to the old grouch.

Someone has to take care of him. He's kinda like an old dog. He's outlived his usefulness but you don't want to put him down.