Boating for fun, work or fishing

Thank you Sir, the reports we have been seeing are saying that harpooners are catching BIG fish (100+”) not many rod/reel guys reporting catch. I’m guessing the terrible weather has a part in that. I’ll be honest it’s gonna be difficult to get a fish that size into the boat but will gladly deal with that if the situation arises!

 

Spent the afternoon on the lake. We pretty much had it all to ourselves.

Lake people. Lol

 

Beautiful Tom, I am sure you had a good day!

 

Take pictures, even if the fish don't cooperate!

 

Yeah, and I think I fell asleep about 20 minutes later. Lol.

18 holes of Golf, day drinking and boating and heat take it out on you.

Ready for day 2 after a great night's sleep. Just gotta put a few gallons of gas in the boat. The hard way, with a gas can. Pulling this boat into a gas station isn't the easiest. You have to pick the stations and then hopefully you can get an end pump. I'd rather put a few gallons in this way and not run out. I don't know how accurate the gauge is in the newer boat. And I don't want to find out the really hard way. It's really good on gas, I can say that, but I can't see the level myself like I can with the nautique.

 

I have come to know that devices are available to help with refuling. It's one thing to lug a five gallon jug down on the dock, another holding it to fill.



I been fighting the break out another thousand urge this year. I have this feeling that I need a jonboat or the like. I know it's not a great decision, but the draw beckons. I need to hurry and find me a dump truck to alleviate funding.

 

Just to make y’all fell better about your fuel economy. The truck gets 6mpg hauling for the 4hour round trip to the big lake and the boat gets 2.8 mpg on plane and holds 120g. We buy LOTS of fuel!

 

My very simple fishing fleet includes this 1960’s StarCraft powered by a 2.5 Yamaha. I can easily load it into the back of my pickup and put in just about anywhere. This picture is from last Monday when our oldest boy and I were out fishing bluegill on their beds and crappie on the weed lines.

Up north I have an 1980 F14 Alumacraft powered by a 6hp Suzuki, and two canoes (an Alumacraft and a Wenonah) for BWCAW overnights and day trips.

Simple rigs - but pretty much indestructible, and effective for the types of fishing we like to do.

At the end of the season I just flip them over and run the gas out the fuel lines and carbs. They never need washing or much maintenance other than an oil change every 2-3 years, and a few impellers so far on the 2007 Yamaha. I had run Johnson two strokes prior, but the four strokes have been pretty good to us as well.

I am going to get some clamp on swivel seats for the benches now that we are getting a little older and could use the back support if on the water for more than 3-4 hours.

 

I thought about those things as I put a few gallons in this am. On the trailer, the boat isn't moving at least. It was a good workout to lift the gas can up that high, at least.

I really should get one of those.

 

All day on the lake today. I'll have to check my hour meter, but we're at trip 5 to the lake so far. 4 more times on that lake and we're ahead on the yearly launch pass. It just turns summer today, so that will not be a problem.

 

Update:

Left town at 02:00, got to the launch at 04:00, had bait by 06:00, made the 12mile run to the spot we agreed on, saw fish jumping around mile 10, stoped and immediately hooked up with what turned out to be a Mako(protected), guy that makes the payments said “let’s play with the sharks” caught mako, porbegal and I had a thresher on but it popped shortly after I got a look at it under the boat.

I’ll get some pics up but it’s honestly kinda frustrating with the platform the forum runs on. I gotta crop everything to size acceptable then go back and reverse it… wah, me problems…

 

Able to get Mom out today. Doesn’t ask for much so when she wants to go fishing , we go fishing. She picked up two of the biggest tigers 22" and 23” I’ve ever seen. Also her biggest cabbie by far, loose guess 8-ish pounds. Big smiles all day, by the end I had to help hold her rod up. Super fun day.








Ended with 24 crab in four pots but no pictures in the wind and spray.

Fish on, hoarders.



Owl

 

I hear you about having to crop/ resize pics. First world problems.

 

Wow, from the picture, it looks just like the ones from the two stroke outboards that I grew up with, those probably go back to at least the 60’s or 70’s (1960’s and 1970’s )

I saw those things everywhere, and in abundance growing up, I am surprised they are that hard to find

Good Luck
Doug

 

Google Search

WEST MARINE Two Prong Fuel Line Connector for Mercury Outboard Motors, 3/8" Barb, Female

 

Every Mercury dealer either online or brick and mortar worth their salt should have several on hand at any given time. A dealer may not be the cheapest but should be the correct part. If you have one failing check the O ring inside, sometimes it will roll and lose the seal.



Owl