Bottom line- I went fishing two days- four fish total. One nice one, two mediums and a dinkie. I use my fish tank thingie so I can ride them around the lake before setting them loose.
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Saturday- Started out pushing from the front. I ordered some new rods- (4) 16’ rods which arrive this week sometime, so still using my heavy surf fishing rods- 13’. They never indicated a single time. Made to cast five ounce sinkers at extreme distances, I am not disappointed in them. They have helped me practice. My surf fishing buddies are screaming to buy them now that I am all freshwater and all.
I was able to make some adjustments to my single rod holders and maneuver the ends of these heavy and stiff rods to almost touching, and laid my hand on top to cover both, as seen in pictures. That was when I began feeling bumps occasionally. Hook sets are free, so I began trying to set at every bump. Began catching some fish. Also got a good lesson in just how fast they can hit and turn back loose on yah. I wondered if they might be shad or bluegills as well. I opened up the jig hooks some using pliers and figured that might help, but it really didn’t seem to matter. Too slow.
This was the first day this year that I felt the Sun was actually roasting me. Like a rotisserie oven as the boat would twirl about. I worked on varying the speed and the fish thumped the lines best at the faster speeds. I could see the devils on my sonar, all about six feet deep in a ten foot lake. I set my jigs a little higher, and sometimes right at them. I played around some interchanging my jigs and such. Got a little system going now.
Watched an eagle trying to get his lunch when a rival flew over and there were some nasty words exchanged. Saw the local alligator hanging out mid lake. He just kind of sunned himself until he slipped under. Saw lots of things that were of interest. Met two very well seasoned men, in a Tracker boat. They bass fish the weeds and talked about stocked fish with reward monies for returning the tags. Ten pounders for $100 and such. I catch a ten pounder I will not require no bounty. Anyways it was nice to make some new friends.
I tested out my new hat.
You get the idea. It wasn’t all that bad to wear actually. Walmart was closing them out at $4. I think it is made for turkey hunting. Speaking of which, have you seen all the turkeys ? They are everywhere. Saw a huge gobble on the way to the ramp early morning. He was strutting and gobbling and had a fine harem in attendance. I was envious of him a little.
I decided to try pulling out of the back instead.
This went well enough and the lines didn’t tangle. I was able to kind of mess around some varying the amounts of line out. Came across a snag and saw how all that is going to go at 1.8 mph. Ended up landing an old plastic float people tied out as a marker of some kind. Mud came out so that told me about the bottom. No fish. I think pulling is easier to manage than pushing, because you don’t have to react so quickly. Learned that if I set the TM to straight ahead, that I can use the steering wheel to move the engine and drive. Hand controlled TM for now. I like it.
Sunday- Visited one of the premiere lakes in the region- Lake Orange. My wife was able to come with and she was impressed with how smooth I looked launching the boat. I must say I am getting much better. Got my system down now.
The lake is a virtual garden of hydrilla. Huge plumes go under the boat as if they were drifting clouds passing overhead. Here a patch there a patch. Makes me uncomfortable to just plow right through, but that is what everyone else seems to do. So we ride out and look for open water and start searching using the sonar. There wasn’t a fish anywhere. Can you believe that ? Not a one showed on the screen.
I set the rods out the front and motored over to a fishy looking area, and as we got close, the hydrilla did as well. TM bogged down, and all four rods started bending over, and she says I got a fish. Well.....technically no honey. I ain’t actually got a fish. So I clean up the mess on the lines and then the TM. Still no fish on the screen. After about an hour of this she decides that I am never gonna catch a fish and wants to look for alligators. Well OK. So I stowed my rods and such and we made for the shoreline.
We approached the Seven Sisters area and I stood on the casting deck and could keep the TM prop just in the water with her and the rest of the boat following. Took us thru some sick hydrilla farms. No gators but we saw fish swimming off as we got close.
Then we saw a boat come screaming out of the swamp and I knew that must be Cross Creek. I had read the book Cross Creek when I first moved to this area in 1997. Sat in a cabin I rented on Lake Santa Fe and really enjoyed the idea of living amongst the moss filled trees. The depth of the creek is 1-3 feet most everywhere we ventured. Surely there would be gators here, but they were all hiding from her.
As we went under the bridge we heard the craziest noise. Yup....rods were sticking up. Clackity clack clack they went. No damage to them, but I was a little embarrassed. We motored along slowly looking and after a while we turned back as she said she was getting hungry. Back under the bridge, only this time I looked like I expected it. LOL
I took this picture just then.
Cool huh ?
Then we stumbled back upon the haunted house. She likes skeletons and such so it was sooooooo her. Then those silly peacocks got to squawking.
Then we headed back out to the main lake and she wanted to ride around some and work on her tan. I am finishing up the break in on the engine, getting ready for the 20 hour service deal, so I was happy to ride around some. I took a few pictures just of her sunning herself. She imagines herself catching a stupid fish. HAH.....there ain’t no stupid fish. I must say she loves the boat now that it isn’t cold when we go.
She had a great time, not catching any fish, and we want to explore more places. We live in Micanopy and I really want to take a cruise to Murphy’s Creek so we can spot some gators. A certain time of year they gather there and it is a sight to behold. My family owns a house on the canal near George’s with a boat slip. I also want to explore the scenic areas that are South of there on the river and such.
I would love to get some ideas of places to go, not necessarily to fish, but just a pretty boat ride. I mean it is her boat too.
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