Finally got my toon tooned up the way I wanted it and headed out for my second trip at Lincoln. Nice day with calm seas at 7 a.m.. Launched from the rocks at the first spring and had my first (and last) cat about 100 yards out, He was a small kitty so I just lifted him up without a net and released him.... I did notice he flopped a bit on one side of my toon upon release. All is well.
Didn't go another 50 ft when I noticed a definite listing to one side... the poor loser cat I just released managed to poke a hole in my toon as a parting shot. I immediately put all of my effort into to getting back to shore... fast. A Minn Kota electric does not go fast when one side of the toon is dead in the water. I hugged the good side of my toon and contributed what I could with my fins but made very slow progress toward the point of the launch channel. I briefly considered jettisoning my 100 lb. battery along with the Minn Kota but did not. My butt was wet and my boots were full of water. The toon pocket I put my camera and my phone in was on the deflated side and totally soaked. Finally made it to the point where I could stand up... tried to take a step, which ain't easy in fins, and fell on my face triggering the CO2 cartridge in my PFD. Finally hauled everything up the bank and then hoofed it a half mile to my truck, loaded up and left.
I'm not a toon fisher. Man was not meant to fish on a bubble. I'm gonna find a small aluminum boat I can load and unload in a few inches of water. Ya'll can have your tubes and tunes.
Insult to injury: Driving home I swerved to miss a skunk in the road and managed to hit his companion that was hidden on the side of the road dead center.
Total cost in wet $$: New phone and camera-- $4-500, CO2 cartridge for PFD-- $26.00. Went to church today to clean up issues of band language used during trip.
I'm not done with the cats yet. I'll find a way to reach the deeper water but it won't be with a permeable air bladder.
Fish on,
BLK
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Yeah those kitties can puncture a bladder. Why I always use the net and lip grippers. Also they are reparable too. Don't give up too soon. Although I do like the aluminum boat idea. But me thinks the dinghys still run too deep. Maybe a jon boat???!
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[#0000FF]Hey, ol' friend. Don't know whether to laugh at ya or cry with ya. Evidently you din't read the instructions in the CD...about fish control...nets, grippers, etc.
If it's any consolation, getting spined and deflated is a prequisite experience before you can consider yourself a REAL floatation fisherman. It's one of those thing we gotta learn by doing. And just like telling a kid not to touch a hot stove...it don't work to tell someone until they experience it themselves.
The bigger cats have blunt spines on their pectorals and dorsals...from rasslin' in the rocks. But the smaller ones are still sharp as needles and will definitely poke holes in you and/or your air bladders. Been there, done that on both counts.
Sorry about your financial losses and even sorrier about all the hassle just to get out of the water and back to safety. Wouldn't blame you for having a bad feeling about it all.
Good luck. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
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To help keep certain things dry I have decided to leave the phone in the car and the camera goes around the neck. I use chest waders do the camera when not in use just hangs down the inside of the waders.
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TD, Albino-- Lesson learned. I read the CD info... several times. The problem lies in something called "transference of knowledge" or lack thereof. Also known as dumb. I knew those smaller cats were sharpies but just failed to act on what I knew.
Anyway, I've got the toon patched and loaded for another go at it tomorrow. I'll have my PFD wrapped snuggly around me as usual. Also picked up a camera-- a cheap one-- just so I can get a photo of that big'un when I ketch 'im.
If I make it back I'll be sure to post up a report.
BLK
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Oh you'll make it back with a pretty good fish story to go with it. Now that you have the beginners luck past you, you'll have the time of your life....[cool] looking forward to the report tomorrow.
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[#0000FF]"Let he who is not stoned cast the first sin."...or however that goes. My "point"? Hindsight is always 20-20. Shoulda, coulda, woulda. And if a pig had wings it would be a pigeon.
Okay, enough of that nonsense. Just wanted to reassure you that a temporary lapse of sanity (not netting and subduing a catfish before bringing it aboard an inflated craft) is almost a prerequisite of us fisherman types. Happens to all of us. Otherwise, our fishing reports would not be nearly as exciting (or funny).
Lemme know when you wanna join up down there and I'll bring the video camera. Might as well get some money from putting it on a funny videos program. Too bad you didn't get the last episode. But glad you survived it. I'm sure you realize that it could have been worse. Glad it wasn't.
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One thing I have used for years and has saved many a phone at this point is a simple ziplock bag. Backpacking, fishing in the tube, or flyfishing it goes in one. Before that habit I had a summer of 5 phones get ate up due to fishing.
Sorry for the troubles, that's a rough weekend.
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I have one of those water bags for camping that is made for phones. Has a window to see and everything. I found it just gets in the way and if I want some peace and quiet it isn't going off all the time bothering me if its in the car.[bobhappy]
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I almost feel bad smiling while reading your report but since you survived, it does make for quite a fish story. It's pretty easy to read the reports by the experts of inflatable fish craft here and forget that it takes practice and preparation to iron out all the potential disasters associated with spiny fish and inflatable boats. My first season I didn't carry a net or lip gripper. I have both now and still manage to come home every trip with a bleeding hand from some ungrateful fish I'm trying to release. It's been pure, dumb beginners luck that's kept me afloat so far but hopefully I'm getting better.
I hope you keep trying and that future trips are safer and more fun. A big fish on a toon is really hard to beat from an excitement standpoint.
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Hey BLK glad you made it in okay, that sucks to have one going flat on you, I was with TD when I got that fun experience on Willard... Luckily mine was a slow enough leak I made it to shore without the fish finder getting wet.... Sorry to say I've been getting pretty complacent with fish handling again, so I appreciate your story to wake me up again... My leak was from over inflating rather than a fish poke, but it had the same result, shortened fishing trip... Well I'll be looking forward to your take two... Don't give up too soon and if your motor will keep running I'd drop the fins they are such a pain.... (I'm expecting feed back on that comment because I know most folks love their fins for positioning.) Anyway good luck and have fun... Later J
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Wow! That is a lot of bad luck all in one trip. I'm glad you weren't farther out in the lake or fighting a strong wind!
At least it is behind you now!
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Ahh...bummer today. I got on the water just in time to get blown off. Made a few changes in the position of my seat and had everything important in zip-locks all prepared for a serious assault but the waves spooked me right back to shore before I could get in trouble.
Looks like a little rough weather coming later this week but I'll be back after 'em asap. Let me know when you will be there TD and I'll be there too to provide a little comic relief. I'm getting the hang of this toon thing a little better every time I go out so I should be able to focus on ketchin' instead of surviving.
Thanks to all for the encouragement.
BLK
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[#0000FF]Is that what they mean by "all dressed up and no place to go"? I have had a few of those trips too. You get there early, get your gear put together, ready to launch...or already launched...and Mama Nature pokes her head up over the horizon an starts huffin' and puffin'. Diabolical she is.
October is usually my magic month at Utah Lake, both for bigger cats and walleyes too. October is smack spang nigh upon us so as soon as the current weather defugalties settle down you and I gotta gang up on 'em. Have your peeps stay in touch with my peeps and we'll work it out.
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You're getting there.[
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TD -- You're on! ...or, we are on -- which ever.
Lots of guys working the wallys out in front of the orchard so they must be catching a few. Good times comin'... I think??
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Mwahahahahaha.....
It is a comin[bobhappy]
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I went out saturday on my kayak. Got nothing! I did see all those people in front of the orchard. Now at least I know what they're after. I'll probably try that place again.
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BLT I was wondering if you know anybody that has a lightly used pontoon boat for sale?[
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I had one that was for sale --really cheap -- a few days ago but the sale is now on hold pending further developments. Will keep you posted.[unimpressed]
BLK
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