Seems like lately when I fish with ol’ Catten Addict, something unusual always happens. Well, it maybe normal in his life, but very out of the ordinary in my protected life.
Normally I get my 80 pound Power Pro line wrapped around a good snag a couple times when stalking the big boys, tonight was no different. After trying to float my sucker and 4 oz weight free without success, I pulled out my trusty wooden dowel, wrapped the line around it 7 to 10 times and started walking to the front of the boat. Normally, because Power Pro has zero stretch, it breaks, pulls free or brings the snag to the boat. This time it seemed like it was just stretching like a rubber band. I got a new a closer to the hook grip on the line and told CA to turn his head because of the possibility of the business end popping out of the water and heading for our flesh… Again I made it to the middle of his 18 foot River Pro. I figured the line was tight enough and I gave it a little jerk. I’ve never seen anything like it…and if CA is done laughing by now, I think he would tell you the same. It sounded like a 22 going off and sent me heading to the front of the boat. I thought I caught myself on the front deck of the RP, but it was just my legs hitting the front deck. Once they cleared, I continued on towards the front and the water. Eventually I did stop with about two feed or less of boat to spare. I’m really glad we wear our life jackets…always! If I would have made it into the drink, I doubt CA would have been any assistance as he was on the floor hurting from laughter. Ended up with a good gash on my shin.
After teaching a couple suckers and river chubs how to swim in one area with out a cat checking them out, we were headed towards the Hastings Dam area. You have to remember that CA has a River Pro. He has tendencies to forget about the red and green cans, the wing dams and many other things that us boaters that have props and skags worry about when on the river. So, we’re puttzing along maybe doing 10 – 15 miles an hour…maybe slower. I’m running the light, but CA has a clear direction (although dark) as to which way to go. I really can’t recall what I was doing as the boat seemed to start rising out of the water. I know my first thought was WING DAM! But it just didn’t fit. No rock grinding noise on the bottom of the boat. The sensation of going up and up and up…THEN down and down. I think I know what the sailor in a sub feel like when the breach the surface! The front deck of the boat didn’t quite break the surface on the way down… This all happened in a two second event. After another split second that we both took to see if we were ok, we put the light on behind us. There laid a log…no…it was a TREE! About 6 foot of tree TRUNK…at least 2 feet in diameter sitting solidly on a sand bar! If this had happened in my Lund, my transom and motor would still be laying there next to it!
I wanted to get a picture but CA was in too big a hurry to get fishing. I hope to get a daylight picture in a few days. Once you see this thing, you won’t believe a boat went over it.
These are amazing boats. Sean’s taken me sand bar skimming and now tree climbing…what’s left? Dam jumping?!
At the end of the night, in examining the River Pro we couldn’t find a scratch or dent. However, that’s not the case with my shin…both dents and scratches 
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That boat is truly a RIVER PRO!
PS we got skunked on cats
, i will admit it took a couple minns to ask if you were ok, just couldnt get enough air to talk. 
. dont know how we could of missed that thing sitting there. just really glad we able “jump” it and no one getting hurt. 
when your in a parking lot and no other cars, do you cut across it to get where your going and not worry about whats under the parking lot, of course you do, same thing with these, if there is water you will get there. 
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