Escape to Willard 6-21-16

[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I recently got a Dave Scadden Escape (tube/toon). Finally got it tricked out with the PVC goodies and decided to try it at the south marina on Willard. Been a while since I fished the south marina and figured with all the new water it might produce.

But the big old full moon just grinned at me as I drove up to the ramp. Oh well, I was there mainly for a shakedown cruise on the new ride.

Launched by about 6:30...along with several boats. Met up with FatBiker heading out in his boat. Air temp was 71. Water temp was 75. Felt good to be waderless...knowing it was going to heat up soon. Almost like being back in Arizona. The bad part was that when I went to put on my sunglasses I found that the left lens was missing. Oh snap.

Saw few fish on sonar and caught even fewer on the way out of the channel. Dragged a minnow on one rod while alternating between crankbait, plastics or Gulp minnows on the second rod.

Headed straight out from the dike into water from 13 feet to 20 feet. No love on the minnows. Had a few "whack-n-whiffs" on the Gulp goodies. Also had one good chomp and rip on a crankbait...but the fish was inexperienced and did not know how to hang on. Felt like a wiper. Heck, let's say it was a 20 pounder.

Finally found one small zone that held a few frisky kitties. Got several on the minnows. The first fish I got in the new Escape was my smallest of the day. It was only about 14 inches. It and the next few I brought to tube were all released. Just as well. The cleaning station is still covered at the south marina.

The bites stopped and the heat was getting higher by 11ish. I had made some notes on some modifications I wanted to make on my new setup and I had avoided the skunk on my maiden voyage. Catfish don't exactly smell like roses but they are better than those striped kitties.

FatBiker was coming back in about the same time I did. He reported finding a few walleyes and wipers in his boat.

I Escaped the heat and escaped the skunk. Good first trip for my new Escape.
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[Piscophilic]

It sounds like you will be escaping a lot now. I'm glad your maiden voyage was a good escape[]
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[fish_fear_me2]

Looks like a nice set up. Glad you got your new ride out for a test run and avoided the smell of skunk on the new toon.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Yeah, I know. I started it.

Now how do I "escape" all the silly followup stuff?
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[RockyRaab]

Superman had an "S" cape, too.
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[remo_5_0]

Sweet new ride Pat []
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[a_bow_nut]

There always is the "ESC" button on the keyboard if you don't want to read anymore responces.

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[WaveWolf]

Nice ride ....... You will probably get a few more mpg out of it. My renegade doesn't have near the drag as a tube.
Is that your old chair or is that the one that came with the escape?
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Yeah, but I don't look good in spandex.

Then there was a snail that bought a race car. Had an S painted on the side...so the crowd would yell "Look at that S car go."
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]I used the factory seat yesterday...just to see how it worked. Typical. Does not provide the back support I need for my back. Will be using one of my chairs in the future. I don't know many Scadden craft owners who like the seats...except for skinny, wimpy young folks with more flexibility and fewer issues. Almost everybody uses some kind of seat "enhancement".
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Thanks. Wanna get together on the water one of these days?
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[TubeDude]

[quote remo_5_0]Sweet new ride Pat [][/quote]

[#0000FF]Thanks. But you wouldn't like it...or would have to make some upgrades. No cigar lighter or ash tray.

You shouldn't have any trouble seeing me on the water next time we meet up. Deadly red.
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[Northman]

Dave Scadden should get with you to make a "Tube Dude signature series" Complete with all the custom engineering. []
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Not likely. He is very much ego involved with his stuff and would never put anybody else's name on it. I talk with Dave about my likes and dislikes. He is aware that I have some ideas for potential changes. But he readily admits his line is made specifically for fly fishermen and not for silly folks who do not wave fairy wands. And he sells a ton of stuff...all over the world...so it ain't all bad...for him.

I love the big pockets but can't live with the design of putting the dual zipper openings at opposite ends on the two pockets...one opening forward and the other opening backward. That simple design difference caused me no end of grief yesterday. The backward opening was on the left side...where I have my sonar and battery...and wires. So...I am redoing the pocket for that side so I can use it the other way. No biggie.

Dave has been a leader in the field of tube and toon design for many years...fishing machines designed by and for fishermen. He does a great job. It is impossible to address every potential wacky design need...for all the wacky anglers.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Got it looking really sharp Pat, you do great work on setting up a ride.... Truly the master of the tube and the PVC king... and not a bad fisherman either... Hope it treats you well... Later J
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[Bduck]

I too made a mad escape to Willard yesterday with a couple of friends. We launched out of the south marina about 4:30pm. Trolling along we caught 2 eyes, 2 wipers & 1 trout in 82F water.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Glad you found a few.

There are a few trout caught every year at Willard. They wash down the Ogden and Weber Rivers. But they don't live long in the warm summer waters...if they escape the predators. What kind did you catch and how big?

Also a few tiger muskies that wash down in high water years.
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[TubeDude]

[#0000FF]Thanks Jeff. After yesterday's trip I have some new ideas I am going to try.

One of the big things I am doing with the Scadden craft is attaching the PVC rod holders and utility rack directly to the removable pockets.

[inline "ROD HOLDERS.jpg"]
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[Bduck]

The trout was a bow with same color of a silver bullet. It was of descent size 12" but agree with you that they won't survive very long in these tepid waters. Next trip is Friday to the berry.
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[Tin-Can]

Hey Pat, bet I know one reason you took your new tube to Willard for a test float..............cause at UL you would have to walk too far to get into deep enough water to float......................[sly]
Just joshin ya...........have not made up my mind yet, but may make a quick run to UL and back on Friday.
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