Okay, I decided that piecing together a boat I had that would do most of what I want is a whole lot cheaper than a new boat/motor/trailer, and a whole lot faster than waiting for the just the right used boat to come along.
When I get organized with TC on a trip maybe I can get him to bring a camera so we can get some pics of this thing posted. I believe TC has the Red Fishing Machine. Well this is the Redfishing Machine.
Anyway, after going to Live Oak Island this morning, then home. The sat dish guys came today, I now get 180 channels of which there might be 5 that I have any interest in watching. Then Panacea, home, Live Oak Island, Crawfordville, Live Oak Island, I now had all the right pieces to a boat and a registration. At 6:30 PM sharp the shake-down cruise began, nothing fancy, just a cruise around Walker Creek.
Falling tide with the bars well exposed. Stiff wind out of the south. Coming on sunset. I missed a couple strikes on a red/yellow TopDog Jr. while Richarding around with new stuff. At 7:30 a slot red, 20", decided to inhale a funny looking mullet and I should have lost that one Richarding around with the new Minn Kota, but he stayed on, somehow. At 8 I called it a successful shake-down and started heading for home.
Nice breeze kept the skeeters at bay, but in a sheltered area, like a boat basin, the little vampires will eat you alive.
On the ride home in the car coming through the refuge a little before 9 I saw a set of eyes reflecting in the headlights, then three sets. "Must be night-hawks in the road," I think, and start slowing. "CATS!! ON THE REFUGE!!" I start to stand on it, but wait a minute, these cats don't look right. Three less than half-grown bobcats, bouncing around in the middle of the highway like they own it. I thought about stopping and catching one, then immediately considered why this wouldn't make my top ten list of bright ideas. Instead I just stopped and watched them bounce on off the road and into the woods. I'm sure Mama was right there somewhere.
Walker Creek 8/30
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