"Oh well. I can use the measuring device molded into the top of the cooler. The increments are a little longer than inches, but knowing that I can compensate for it. The pliers I've fished without before, but they sure make unhooking a red a lot quicker and easier."
Get to the island, drop the boat off the trailer, transferring my gear from the back of the car to the boat. This is when I realize that I don't have either lifejacket.
"Just go?"
"Going home and getting one would be cheaper than getting caught without it."
The places I fish, if I fall overboard without a lifejacket I can keep my head above water by simply standing up.
Leave the boat. Drop the trailer off the car, and head back to the house.
"You want to slow the hell down, Hotrod? Getting caught without a lifejacket would be cheaper than getting a speeding ticket."
"Didn't they just play this song on the way down?"
"Different station."
"Good thing we drove this time instead of taking a bicycle."
"Yeah well, in that case I would have risked getting caught without it."
Once more back at the island, I now have my pliers, measuring tape and a lifejacket.
"Would have launched almost an hour ago."
"Oh well, we still have plenty of time."
Was almost out to the Kelly Channel when a powerboat heading north cut through it to get across the bar.
So I skipped that and poled on out past the outside edge of the bar and began my drift. The falling tide spilling over the bar was just right against the SE wind to maintain a drift to the west, right down the bar. Did nothing doing this throwing a 52M and a Catch2000, so picked the pole back up and headed for the Old Shell Point Channel."There's a ray."
""Good afternoon, Ray.""
"Are all stingrays named Ray?"
"Yes."
"What about the females?"
"Fay Ray."
"Then if Ray is the family name, what is the first name of the males?"
"Sting. They're all rock stars."
"O-o-oh."
Fished around the Old Shell Point Channel with 52M, Catch2000 and 7M Mirrolures until low tide, then moved into the mouth of Walker Creek as the tide began to rise. Still nothing. Moved on back to the first oysterbars in the creek throwing just 7M Mirrolures because it was so shallow. Hooked up with a decent red at the second bar I tried, but it came unstuck.
"If you would set the hook with a little more enthusiasm, you'd have had that one."
And that was it for the fish. The main thing about today was trying the new pushpole in the canoe. A rousing success. This thing is the cat's... well, cat's something or other. Thanks again, Chuck.
