Started off New Year with a Whimper!

[Blue Raider Bob]

     Cabin fever was crushing me yesterday so I hooked up and headed for the nearest body of water which happens to be East Fork Stones River, The headwaters of Percy Priest Lake. Air temp 39 deg. and plummeting with gusty winds. What was I thinking? Absentmindedly I unhooked my trailer rope, backed in, got out of truck to watch my boat float off the trailer with no rope! Two choices......go home and shop new boat, or,........well I choose 2nd option. Caught boat waist deep and pulled to bank. Water was very, very, cold. parked truck, hopped in boat and trolled out to river channel. The water was murky after recent rains so I decided to catch a few Shad for the pond and go home. Since I stink so badly with a cast net, it took forever and frozen fingers to get twenty. I pancake one out of thirty casts. With numb fingers, the ratio was worse. Amazingly, I wasn't the only nutcase out there. There were at least six other boats! Every time one would zoom by, the Shad schools would scatter and I would say bad words. It got me thinking, Is this an addiction, disease, or just good honest sport? Do I have something eating away at my remaining intact brain cells? Well, then paranoia set in  🙂.  The bait monkey is eating my brain!  When my fingers were hurting more than I could stand, I went back to ramp and loaded up, peeled cold, wet, blue jeans off of bright pink skin, cussed/thanked daddy for starting this all encompassing live-style, cranked up heater, and headed for the house. The little woman was not a bit surprised at my appearance. Think she has seen this movie a time or two.

[Fishlegs]

So you come home from fishing with no pants on, and your wife isn't surprised? I don't think my wife would let me fish any more. 🤣

 

Glad you made it back safely, and I hope you've warmed up.

[Alex from GA]

That was my morning chuckle, thanks.  Yes, it's an addiction.

[Blue Raider Bob]

1 hour ago, Fishlegs said:

So you come home from fishing with no pants on, and your wife isn't surprised? I don't think my wife would let me fish any more. 🤣

 

Glad you made it back safely, and I hope you've warmed up.

I wore my undies!

[GreenPig]

Extra pair of rolled up jeans in the truck, don't take up alot of room. 

[Blue Raider Bob]

30 minutes ago, GreenPig said:

Extra pair of rolled up jeans in the truck, don't take up alot of room. 

I've got an emergency bag with clothes but I was too wet/frozen to put them on. By the time I thawed out, I was almost home, but yes, definitely keep extra clothes in truck.

Thanks

[Swamp Girl]

I look forward to the day I can start your day with taters and sausages and then put you in the bow and put you on fish. 

[pdxfisher]

@Blue Raider Bob that is hard core! 

[Pat Brown]

Jeeze - I'm impressed you went out and tried to net shad - wet blue jeans in 40° air temps = maybe next time for me.  😭

 

Glad you are okay - winter hasn't been very fun this year!

 

Either been too hot or frozen and to me inconsistent weather is probably the biggest killer of a good seasonal bite.

 

Oh well - hopefully it just means the spring is gonna be lights out this year!

[Blue Raider Bob]

On 1/10/2025 at 10:15 PM, Swamp Girl said:

I look forward to the day I can start your day with taters and sausages and then put you in the bow and put you on fish. 

I look forward as well. Thank you for the offer and it is never far from my mind. Maybe life will let it happen sooner than later. I'm really pumped about taters and sausages! Oh, the fish as well!

[Functional]

I've showed up to my house in wet boxers before and no boat to manhandle a kayak in my truck. I too, know the look a wife will give when she sees that sight. It's a not surprised but "wonder what happened this time" look. 

[flyfisher]

Ummmmmm….W T F  did I just waste time reading. Taters and sausages, no pants? I mean first of all jeans in cold weather just shows a lack of intelligence and the rest is like the start of something out of penthouse forum.

[Blue Raider Bob]

14 hours ago, flyfisher said:

Ummmmmm….W T F  did I just waste time reading. Taters and sausages, no pants? I mean first of all jeans in cold weather just shows a lack of intelligence and the rest is like the start of something out of penthouse forum.

BR stories are NEVER a waste of time and my intelligence being questioned is old news. I've got someone at home that practices that daily.   🙂   She's convinced me there's an issue, but that can be said of all anglers at some time or another!

 

[Reel]

I bet you slept well that night.

[TOXIC]

I have found that since I retired and can fish whenever I want and I am not limited to weekends and holidays, I tend to pick my days with a little more emphasis on comfort.  Before, we would head out in any weather or temperature.  My fishing partner is still working and he’s a little miffed at me for not wanting to go when it’s sub 20 degrees.  Now if we are on a trip like St Clair in May when you can get snow, winds, etc., I will gut it out no matter the weather.  I was all in on combat fishing when I only had the weekends….now, not so much. 

[MIbassyaker]

At least you started!  I'm a minimum of 2 months away, probably 3.