Crappie.com - Fishing with Monroe's MVP was

another day to remember with the "MostVisitedPiscatorialist" = Pontoon Pappy!

This return trip was prompted by the need to return a rod re-repair I made for PP a few months back. Don had broken a very nice spinning Carrot Stick while Bass fishing many moons ago, that left him with only 70% length remaining. I asked him if I could try to repair/modify it to crappie-sized quarry. I had an Ugly stick rod in my DIY parts/salvage array that I configured to Don's new "Ugly Carrot"! (Carrot stick has Orange blank/black wrap, so I configured the Ugly Stick w/new guides/tip with orange wrap)

Don was pleased with my parts-only reimbursement.

We met @dark o' thirty after my 90 minute, vehicle only, easterly drive. As we sometimes encounter "those days", yesterday proved no exception. After arriving 10 minutes late because of a 1.5 yr. old MAJOR road redesign(including mega bridges) and subsequent traffic backups, I noticed PP was uncharacteristically, just dropping his rig in @ramp, he's ALWAYS early, chomping at the bit ..

I unloaded my few things as PP parked. His remark, which preceded my question, was "My truck('95) ignition key wouldn't turn after shutting down to tie the boat off"!

That's never happened before!! PP Don's unconventional fix-attempt was the infamous WD-40 "shot-in-the-key slot"!

... Guess what = caCHING!!

OK...there's the 1st "clue" for the day's itinerary-

Beautifully serene, calm conditions welcomed us to one of Don's l/lg areas although his numbers have been mostly disappointingly low this Summer. My 1st mate duties usually include everything except touching the steering wheel or net!

After putting the 15th rod in it's rod holder, my capable eyesight was validated by Captain Don's bullhorn "All hands on rod/FISH ON!" While PP was scrambling for his net-duty obligation, I proferred my 13"r prediction. Captain's ruler assessment confirmed my lucky guess.

Sometimes it just happens that way- quick, nice-size 1st fish then NADA, Zip for the next hour!

Fifteen various offerings with ZILCH = Excuse me Captain, any chance of trying somewhere else?

OK then, wanna maybe try some Stripers? I was already reeling in the weaponry!

He helped with rod deployment to hopefully get some company for our lone prisoner being held in solitary confinement. Sixty seconds later, I saw a small swirl near the boat...and the AIR RAID sirens started blaring!!

I was looking for the other 13 crew members to help, as almost EVERY rod was pretending to be Maestro's wand during the Flight of the Bumble Bee rendition! We got crazy, fun BUSY with having way too many knives for this gun-fight! We managed to land 9 with Four being Bruisers.

Unfortunately, we then had the untangle/cut/retie aftermath payback that follows. Perfect windlass, overcast conditions easily helped this bite, but after all was back to snuff, the blistering sun/scorching heat and no more rowdy Stripers were seen here. So, I suggested that we air it out a bit, while my favorite line of clothing, Bimini Bay, dry out! My short-sleeve shirt looked like an Olive-oil soaked piece of Phyllo dough, spray-painted on my torso.

We traveled a bit to another crappie spot to again 15 line it with windless, scorching conditions. Another hour of Nada, zip, Zilch = off we go to next spot. PP uses his small 25 hp Yammy to backtroll with his rods positioned around his bow. Unfortunately, he got a tad shallow, and severely wrapped an unmarked catfish trotline that brought us to a complete STOP!! Luckily, his new Yammy has a slip-clutch lower unit or the shear-pin would have been toast. Now, get out your calculator and multiply the Striper-fiasco X 10! PITA in scorching, windless Florida sun. Now, refer back earlier to my "one of those days" forecast.

After 20-25 min. downtime we persevered to yet another area and appreciatively found reward. Ended up adding 7 more wide-shouldered crappie with a surprise 9"cnbg. On finally a closing note, the Ugly-Carrot rod held up beautifully with it's apparent Biggest Striper assignment!

Thanks for ridin'/readin' along on this day to remember...