Get that Boat Ready!

Ok, I have to admit. Secretly I have been working on my tournament boat all winter. A little rigging here, fixing there. There must be other out there. LOL

This is eveyone’s chance to admit they have been struck by the T-Bug and they can’t help but be excited about hitting the water prefishing for that first tournament. For me it is March 24th-Spring Valley, Il.

I think you already know I have been sleeping with my Lund book every night. The wife thinks I’m nuts. “Its just a boat” she says. I asked her what color is the sky in her world.

I have already been dissecting my Lakemaster software for the Wave Wacker. And also reading up on past bite info and trends. I wont be doing any T’s before then but it will be here before you know it.

Guys, I am ready!!!!!!

Gaor Hunter

Ohhhh yeah. Count me with the “T-Bug”. Even though I’m a co-angler this year… I’m still getting my rig ready. April 1st is the date I get her back!

The boat is in the garage, ready to hit the river on any nice day. All my rods and reels have been cleaned and the tackle has been inventoried. Bring on warmer weather.

I’ve been talking to the little C-liner every morning as I pass her. Told her she is getting a new kicker in March, that really got her excited. She keeps asking me when I’ll get the new graph and marine radio installed. I keep saying as soon as it gets to 20 degrees outside. For some odd reason my wife thinks I talk to the boat too much…..

April 24th and 25th on Mark Twain. Already made room reservations, can’t get the boat running though it’s -5 here this morning. Actually plan to get her going to soft water in only 6 or 7 weeks. Not far off, remaining optimistic.

Don’t do a lot of the tourneys but have the boat all geared up and ready to roll for Spring guide trips. With the colder weather that’s been around for what seems like a year already, I’ve had the chance to get every thing inventoried and organized…………..I’M READY TO ROLL!

Dust,
See if you can’t “roll” a 10lb’er my way on 3/28, eh?

Steve,

I told you we were gonna shoot for 12lbs . If we don’t get it a 10lb will work I guess

10,12, 14?
Not being a ice guy it sure will feel good to haul a few walleye in again. No matter what the size!
My boat will be in “dock rash” repair mode until the end of April. Then a few buddies and me will be chasin’ the bronzebacks out of Evert’s. While we’re chasing the replica mount walldad, maybe you could you could give me the high sign if we happen to travel over a couple of decent bassin’ spots? I liked that spot down on Pepin last year. Don’t know if i could remember it a year later. We caught some nice’ uns that day.

I hear you….With this broken ankle, it has seemed like eternity since I been out last. As busy as my schedule looks like on the calendar for fishing this year….I can hardly stand to be cooped up right now.
Tournies, guide trips and even a couple vacations planned makes for a great year! Cmon spring.

That look I give my boat each morning as I pass her in the garage is priceless! I have got a brand new power head to break in as soon as the weather hits above the mid 20’s!

Just have to install the new GPS unit….pick up some white tubes and yamamota hula grubs and I’ll be ready to go

How do you like to rig the hula grubs? I bought some crawdad colored ones. They look like the real deal. It’s got to be hard for a smallie to pass them up.

I rig’em carolina style with a 1/0 or 2/0 Mustad or Gamakatsu superline worm hook on a +/- 2′ 12lb. P-line leader….works great on smallies and largies. I do stick with the 4″ instead of the 5″ in smoke/red fleck or pumkinseed/ green fleck or any variation of natural colors, just seem to get more bites with the 4″. Chompers make a good twin-tail hula grub but the Yamamota if my first choice. It seems to work great when smallies are in a negative mood.

New power head Steve?? You must still be driving a black one

Wise guy….
I decided to run her one more year!
This power head is a new 04′ powerhead. They come with thumb screws and quick dis-connects for quick interchanging.

Screws?? They should make them like toner cartridges in a printer…. When they are shot you pull it out and slide in a new one

My boat is my wife and unfortunately she sleeps outside and I sleep inside. Can’t wait for spring so we can be back on the water together again where we belong.

Thanks, Bill

My garage isn’t big enough to fit my boat and the vehicles. My boat gets the garage in the spring, summer, and fall. The vehicles and ice fishing gear use the garage in the winter.

That’s OK though, I don’t think I could walk by my boat everyday during the winter. Scott, it’s a good thing your boat can keep mine company during these lonely months. Make sure you say hi the next time you go by her.

I worked the Walleye Searchers booth at the Rochester Sport and Boat Show both Friday and Sat. nights and right across from us was this resort booth with two TVs with open water tapes running to make a guy really want 60-75 degrees weather again. Then to make it worse I spent some time Sat. and Sun. during the day with Nate at the Smitty’s Marine area and theres a red Lund Mr. Pike 17 there and that really made me want to be out in the boat in nice weather fishing. Talk about mixing fun and torture in together all weekend. Then it snows today and reminds you that its going to be awhile yet for spring. Oh well, thats what dreams are for– -fishing in nice weather catching nice eyes in your boat all day longgggggggggg. Is it bed time yet?

Thanks, Bill

YAWN……. I don’t get very excited until the first day of prefishing of the first tournament of the year. No real reason to get excited then either it’s just another day on the water. I assume you all believe me when I say that..

Oh by the way there is a new piece of Real Estate I have just decided to sell, many of you may recognize it. “THE Brooklyn Bridge”.

All you guys and gals that are chomping at the bit try not to burn yourself to a crisp before the tourneys even get started. I spend my time this time of year booking guide trips and re-doing my tourney schedule three times a day. Found out years ago it saves on wear and tear on the boat paint. Not so much hugging and kissing it morning and night.

But heck tournament or no tournament I get excited everytime I go fishing and amaze my customers and tourney partners at how thrilled I am about any fish that comes into the boat. When you fish almost everyday 10 months out of the year you never have to think far back to remember the last day when you were absolutely convinced that a fish was never going to bite again.

Hope you all have a safe and fun tourney season.