Fishing Rhino

Ahhhh, but, are you old enough to remember Kukla, Fran, and Ollie? Correct, if you have a good lawyer.

I think, therefore, I am. "The phrase “I think, therefore I am” means that thinking is the one thing that cannot be faked. It is the one way that individuals know they exist. This phrase is an English translation of the Latin phrase “Cogito ergo sum.” It was first used by philosopher Rene Descartes." So, I know I exist. However, I'm not so sure about you.

The brain is a marvelous thing. It records everything we do or experience. It does it without us thinking about it, or even being aware of it. So, where am I going with this? I learned how to water ski in my sleep. My buddy and I spent a day trying to get up on water skis. We spent hours of trying, but never managed to get on top of the water. All the while, my brain was recording my efforts, and without input from me, processing them. In the middle of the night, during a dream of water skiing, I effortlessly got up on the skis. I awoke and could hardly wait to try skiing while I was conscious. Off we went. I put on my skis, laid on my back, folded my legs so my butt was on the skis, and the tips of the skis were pointed upward. My friend tightened the line, pushed the throttle forward, and without a wiggle or a waggle, I was skimming the surface. What does this have to do with fishing? The next time you are having a slow day, and a thought pops into your mind, try here or there, try this bait or that color. Listen to your brain and try it. It has been said we shouldn't over think what we are doing. Thinking requires a conscious effort on our part. Call it inspiration. Say a light bulb lit up in our brain. However, when you're struggling, stop, look around, take in your surroundings, and when that voice in the back of your head says that's an interesting looking spot, and it "suggests" a bait, don't hesitate. Listen to that voice in your head. Your brain might be trying to tell you something. It will relieve the pressure, and in the process, you may find you're having more fun.

And after all the high tech, fancy, custom made rod and gear carriers, there are the good ol' standby pvc rigs of yesteryear.

That's a common sight around here. What you probably didn't see on that rig is a cooler attached to the front bumper. You'll see a lot of those rigs on Cape Cod.

Dinner at Pickwick.

There is only one plausible explanation to the Curse of Oak Island. The borings, and the excavations are the work of some advanced civilization. How many times have the searchers been stymied by material too hard for their drills to penetrate? Guys with wooden shovels two hundred years ago certainly could not have excavated what all this equipment cannot breach.

I admire the perseverance, and determination of you guys.

Wow! It's amazing that you are doing so well considering what you've been through. Glad to hear you are recovering. Keep it up. Follow your care givers instructions to a tee. Do not be tempted to overdo. Slow and steady wins the race. You've got a few months before kayak time.

You could eliminate the C clamps by putting an eye bolt at each end. They could be placed where they would not interfere with a trolling motor. In addition to securing the seats while towing the trailer, they could be used for an anchor, or docking the boat. That would leave you with only the ratchet strap to to secure and release the seats. Another option would be to use carry handles in place of the eye bolts. They'd make it easy for two people to move the boat around on dry land.

What's your favorite way to cook 'em?

Use a C clamp at each end of the boat where you clamp on a trolling motor. Then, turn the seats so they face backward. Run a ratchet strap tie down from the bow to the stern with the strap between the seat backs and the seat. Hook the ends on the C clamps. Tighten it down, then fold the seat backs down, so the wind cannot grab them.

I put on my PFD before "leaving the dock". It stays on until the bow of the boat is "on the beach". There is one exception. I will remove my PFD in order to remove a layer of clothing beneath it. Then it goes right back on. I don't find it uncomfortable, or restrictive in any way. And yes, I will wear it even in hot weather. If I get uncomfortably hot, I'll dip my hat to fill it with water, then flip it over on top my head. Repeat as needed.

At 18'7.5" in length and sporting a 90.5" beam, Triton's new TR-186 is perfectly sized for weekend bass tournament competition on both the local and regional level. It's rated for 150hp outboards, has a fuel capacity of 36-gal and features Triton's legendary wood-free composite construction.

The inflatables mentioned are two different animals. One inflates when the "pill" gets damp enough and disintegrates, allowing the CO2 to flow and inflates the pfd. The hydrostatic version inflates when the pressure of the water is sufficient to trigger the inflating device. It only takes the pressure of being submerged a few inches to set it off. Just checked, it's four inches.

Before and after. The tired, old wheelhouse above and the improvement after some tender, loving care.

I've got a challenger for the winner of your match.

I'd be careful about wiping them dry with any type of cloth. When the water dries, you'll be left with tiny salt crystals on the lenses. Keep a bottle of distilled water on board. Flush the salt water from them, then wipe with a microfiber cloth. When I have a film on the lens, I breathe on them, then wipe with a micro fiber or a clean, soft, cotton cloth. What works the best for me are my skivvies. They are 100% cotton, and there is a plentiful supply in my dresser. Most of the time, using them dry works fine.

Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas to all of you.

Okay, here's a couple of ponds for you to try. Stafford pond is in Tiverton. In addition to largemouth and smallmouth it also has salmon and trout. It's about ten minutes from my house. It used to have a reputation of being a good/great fishing pond. I haven't fished it in a few years, but I rarely see any rigs in the parking lot, which tells me that the current fishing leaves something to be desired. The best pond I could recommend is Sawdy Pond. It's in Westport but borders on Tiverton so a Rhode Island license will let you fish it. It has smallmouth and largemouth bass. The past couple of years the fishing has dropped off. It's best fished with a kayak, canoe, jon boat, etc. The place is a rock mine and just getting from the ramp to the pond requires some careful navigation. Once you get into the pond, it is ten to twelve feet at the deepest. Rocks and ledges are plentiful as is vegetation. There is not a barren spot on the bottom. The ramp is at the left center of the image below.

Where in Rhode Island will you be living?

Count me in.