Upon my arrival my fishing partner states " the transducer holes didn't line up, but I JB welded the old ones. It's still a little tacky, so we'll have to keep an eye on any water intake. BTW the only thing not working is the bilge, but we can still go."
Well after spending two hours "unsticking" his frozen steering (first time boat has been run this winter) we are on our way. On the water a little after 3:00.
First stop was Pinhook, where I produced a 4.5 lb red. I checked the water intake, and noticed about 1/2 inch worth. We then found some pups, and proceeded to loose a lot of $ worth of tackle while catching three of them.
The bite turned off so we decided to move.
Moved into some creeks west of Pinhook, and caught three or four more. Water seems to be about 1/2 inch in the back of the boat, so we agree that is all it's going to leak.
Sun is getting low, and temp is dropping, so we decided to head to the honey hole for another keeper then head in.
On the way to the honey hole we bellyed up on a rock pile/oyster bar niether of us knew was there, and proceeded to stick the boat. All the rocking in the world would not get the boat off, so I grabbed the paddle, and pushed us off. When I sat down, I decided to check the water intake, and
OMG it had quadrupled! After a quick "get this beeyotch to the hill" from me, my partner pointed it torwards the hill.He hit the throttle, and the prop over spun
. My first thought was we were already to heavy to get on a plane. I was on the front of the boat trying to balance the weight, and he trimmed the motor down some more, and we slowly got on a plane. Thank God I thought to myself. Needless to say running WOT on an outgoing winter tide back to the hill was a little hairy
, and my partner yells "you know this is not the place to be hauling a$$, I could destroy my boat!" I yell back "well we could ease back in, sink it, and destroy it anyway!"I scanned the water for other boats, and of course we were the last ones out there, so I turned my attention back to looking out for rocks.
When we hit West Pass, I felt a little easier, but was still anxious to get back to the ramp.
Coming up the river, three boats were anchored fishing, and had safe passage blocked fron running. We had to slow to an idle (bad rocks!), and my partner tells me water is pouring in worse now! I'm starting to think we lost the plug, but at least there are other boats we can board if it starts to go down.
Needless to say we cut in front of the two boats at the ramp, and I put the trailer in the water. Once the boat is pulled out I discover the plug is gone
! I guess all the rocking around on that bar some how pulled the plug loose.Water poured out for what seemed like thirty minutes.
I explained to the guys at the ramp the reason for cutting them off, and they were all very understanding. Partner had one of those flip up type of plugs, which I don't care for, but it's never been a problem in the past. I even remember in being flipped up the right way (torwards the sky) before launching.
All I can say is be careful out there folks. We could have spent a cold night, and while I dressed for the day, I wasn't for an all nighter!
Finally tally: 1 keeper red, 7 or 8 pups, and one angler glad to be home.
Anybody want to go tomorrow?
