
Anyway, The Duder and I spent the last few weeks working on my boat. It started with the purchase of a new trolling motor and turned into a complete overhaul of the front deck. We decided to pull the front deck off completely to clean up the wiring and I decided that instead of putting treated plywood back on there I would endeavor to test my sheet metal skills and go with an all new aluminum deck. Then, I decided that I wanted to incorporate some real storage in there...so I bought some hatches on clearance at Cabella's....then of course I had to re-carpet the front deck. So, we're done and just in time for the river to be down at a reasonable level.
Here's the original front deck & trolling motor:
And the new look front deck with hatches & 80# Minn Kota Fortrex:
Are you ready? I am!
-Mike
I'm planning on getting a trolling motor soon to use on boat rentals (14 ft jon boats) at Clopper and Black Hills next year. The year after that, I'm planning on getting a small boat, either a 10 ft Pelican or BPS Pond Prowler, or a 12 ft riveted jon the year after that. I'm leaning towards the Pelican/Pond Prowler style though...more stable, higher weight capacity. Only drawback is less room for gear, but I think the stability and weight capacity is more important, I can always bring less gear. I know 2 people with this style boat and they both say it suits them well, so I'll probably end up with that style.
So back in September as some of you probably remember I posted on here discussing options for buying a boat. I had originally intended on a small Pelican style jon boat until the advice I got here made me decide on a canoe. Well...I've thought it over for the last several months and I decided I don't want the canoe anymore. I really just want the stability that a jon boat brings. I talked it over with my parents and we agreed that if I wait til I graduate high school in 2 years they will help me pay for it as a graduation present. I know there is no way I could cartop it so when I get my license and get to pick out a used vehicle, its definitely gonna be a truck so I could put a jon boat in the back of it. I know it's not for two more years but obviously I'm really thrilled at the idea of having a boat instead of being tied to the shore. So I've been researching different boats. Now, what I'm wondering is, which is better: a true riveted jon boat, i.e. a Lowe 1236 such as this:
You see, I have a very steep driveway. And last night after returning from the river I pulled my truck up to the level area at the top, but the boat was on the incline. I've done this countless times before, so it isn't a big deal. This picture was taken from where I parked the boat, you can see where it was when I woke up:
Here is a closeup of where it was when I woke up:
Fortunately for me, this tree is at the bottom of the hill:
If the tree wasn't there, the boat and the truck would have gone right over the bank and down onto the road:
Here's some of the damage: (the trailer)
(my truck)
As you can see, this could have been MUCH MUCH worse. The worst part of the whole thing is I can't figure out how it happened. The first thing I checked was to see if it was in gear, and it was. My E-brake doesn't work all that well, but the truck was still in gear. We had a wicked wind and rain storm that night, so the only ting I can think of is that the wind rocked the boat enough to make it start sliding the truck down the hill.
-Mike
So, off to the reever this morning. Cold, spitting snow, water temp 37 degrees. The motor fired right up and up river I went. I started tilting the motor a tad to see if I could get a little more speed. After a tweak or two, I got her running as well as she would go.
I have a 1654 James River Jet with a 60/40 MERC 2 stroke. After I decided that catching a fish or two would be tough, I headed for the ramp, loaded the boat and headed for the ranch. When I got home, I decided to check the impeller clearance. She was set perfect at 1/32 of an inch clearance from the boot sleeve. I figured I had some time, so I dropped the boot to check the pump bolts in preparation for the spring feed..
Looks like we will get a good flushing out of this weekend's rain.
The Hancock river gauge is still climbing. She was steady at 3 feet on Friday and she is now climbing through 5 feet.
The Williamsport gauge was below 2 feet and she is climbing through 3.5
The Point of Rocks gauge was below 1.5 and she is climbing through 2.6 feet.
Hopefully, with the surge, the grass will flow downstream with it!. Now, not that I don't like grass, but.....
I think I will plan a feeshing trip for Friday..... Any guesses on where the reever will be at POR??
Choice 1: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2131684
Choice 2: http://www.dickssportinggoods.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1733925

My Granddaughter Kaylie, Jacob's sister, wanted to know why she is never in photos I posted here? I then realized I'd not taken her with me this year! So we took off for a local "large pond". Due to gin clear water, bluebird skies, and significant grass growing out to 20' deep, not to mention the wind, catching brim was not in the cards. Enough excuses?? So after significant "discussion" we decided who was going to drive or rather do circles back to the ramp! An hour latter, normally 15 min., we arrived. What a ride! I;m still dizzy. Today, Friday, I'll be taking Her to a local stream. Hopefully I can help her hook up with her first smallie & first photo with a fish!
Fished the UP with Spothogg (Dan) today. On the water about 11 and back off around 4 something. Was a cold day but definitely not as windy as yesterday so it turned out to be the better choice. I landed 2 on 4 hookups. First one was really chunky and the second was a decent fish. Big surprise...all my fish were on Beavers with the slider head. I tried to help Dan get on the board by giving him the same setup. I think he might have LDD or something. He kept wanting to fish a tube...then the beaver...then something else. Things got really strange when he started burning the hair jig. Didn't seem like a cold weather pattern to me but he said that's what he always catches them on.
Good day with lots of laughing and that's what really counts for me. If you ever fish with Spothogg ask him to tell you the Park Mills hunting story. It is one that cannot be put to paper. It just has to be told verbally.
Smalljaw
PS: Air temp 42 degrees water temp 42 degrees.




