Well, almost...
Seems I can't catch a break on the weather these days. I've either fished in 45° rain or 25MPH winds (or both) every time I've been out for the past month! Yesterday was no exception. I launched at Lake Norman for a late morning on the water. I was supposed to meet Stu, but couldn't get motivated after a long night (wife's 9 months pregnant...you know what I'm talking about if you've had kids too :rolleyes:). Anyway, I fished for about 4 hours in the main lake body before calling it quits. Boated some dinks so I at least avoided the skunk. I did break off yesterday for the first time in over a year. I guess that's what I get for busting Stu's chops for breaking off twice recently. I'm relatively certain it was a cat, so no love loss there. I did get several bites that didn't materialize and had one sharp hit from a fish I think to be a striper. He ran 20 to 30 yds. of line off my reel, then the line went limp. Guess I gave him TOO much drag...pretty bummed about losing him, but that's how it goes some times.
Here's some pics from yesterday so you can see what I was up against. I was taking 2' and 3' swells over the bow of my boat for most of the morning. :eek: There were a few times that either my rudder or fins would cavitate completely out of the water depending on the width and height of the waves. There's been some discussion on other forums about the weather and being "hardcore". Guys, this aint the weather for a canoe, or Coosa, or even a SIK with low sides for that matter. Make sure that your vessel is seaworthy; ask yourself if you'd take your rig through a surf launch in those temps...that's a good litmus test for days like this. Also, make sure your boat remains perpindicular to the waves. The last thing you want to do is get parallel in a trough and take a roller over the side. Just use your head and best judgement out there and be safe.
Bo
P4130005.jpgP4130006.jpg P4140013.jpgP4130001.jpg
Seems I can't catch a break on the weather these days. I've either fished in 45° rain or 25MPH winds (or both) every time I've been out for the past month! Yesterday was no exception. I launched at Lake Norman for a late morning on the water. I was supposed to meet Stu, but couldn't get motivated after a long night (wife's 9 months pregnant...you know what I'm talking about if you've had kids too :rolleyes:). Anyway, I fished for about 4 hours in the main lake body before calling it quits. Boated some dinks so I at least avoided the skunk. I did break off yesterday for the first time in over a year. I guess that's what I get for busting Stu's chops for breaking off twice recently. I'm relatively certain it was a cat, so no love loss there. I did get several bites that didn't materialize and had one sharp hit from a fish I think to be a striper. He ran 20 to 30 yds. of line off my reel, then the line went limp. Guess I gave him TOO much drag...pretty bummed about losing him, but that's how it goes some times.
Here's some pics from yesterday so you can see what I was up against. I was taking 2' and 3' swells over the bow of my boat for most of the morning. :eek: There were a few times that either my rudder or fins would cavitate completely out of the water depending on the width and height of the waves. There's been some discussion on other forums about the weather and being "hardcore". Guys, this aint the weather for a canoe, or Coosa, or even a SIK with low sides for that matter. Make sure that your vessel is seaworthy; ask yourself if you'd take your rig through a surf launch in those temps...that's a good litmus test for days like this. Also, make sure your boat remains perpindicular to the waves. The last thing you want to do is get parallel in a trough and take a roller over the side. Just use your head and best judgement out there and be safe.
Bo
P4130005.jpgP4130006.jpg P4140013.jpgP4130001.jpg