BassERT
Well-known member
Got out a few times during the wind in central Florida.
Tried to stay close to home and comfort zones, so I decided on C-54.
Calm mirror water morning and 70 degree water.
I got to the ramp just after sunrise and slipped the boat in the water noticing the extreme lack of weeds and reeds and other vegetation.
I decided to press on realizing the spraying was way worse than I had ever seen before down here, but thinking that the fish have to eat etc...
I warmed up the motor for about a couple of minutes as I readied the net and electronics, trolling motor and seat.
I headed the boat west in the canal to try a few of my fav spots and as I slowly and smoothly applied power to get to my cruising speed, I felt a bump.
You know when you hit a small patch of floating weed or whatever, that was what it was like.
Then another smaller bump and then smooth sailing again. Checked my water pressure and motor peeing and all looked normal.
I had noticed a few gar cruising on top and maybe that was a bump I felt.
I arrived at a culvert system on a delta and immediately using my fav sticko and trokar combo, I got one about 3-4 lbs and right after, one about 5+.
I took pics and wanted to check another spot, but I thought I should at least tilt up the motor just to check it.
!!!((*&^%!!Braid line wrapped like a giant spider web was on my prop!
Made me nervous, so I decided to cut it off.
No matter what I did, I couldn't reach it to cut it so I cranked up and slowly headed back to the ramp. Maybe 3 miles or so.
I turned the boat backwards toward the sandy ramp and cut the motor and tilted up and drifted to the shallow sand.
That is when I saw the missing chunk off one ear.
I got the boat on the trailer with help from a racing motor guy that shows up regularily in TN for the Jasper run among others.
The canal is his testing ground as it is protected from the wind and is straight for to 10 miles or more.
I went to my boat guru and we removed the prop and about 40 feet of braid.
Thank goodness the seals were alright.
I thought it was a fisherman who had lost a rod overboard and the floating braid made me catch it. I thought it could have been someone who had to cut a long backlash out. I thought a lot of things that may have been factors like the sculling teams that have been granted access and buildings for storage at that location putting out markers for training and their regattas there.
The next day, I have a new prop!
11X15P from an original 10 3/8X14P
What a difference!
I like the performance.
Now, I went back to the scene of the crime to finish a day of fishing and trying out the new prop.
While I was fishing, I noticed a weird weed line on the water and fished it up with the end if my rod.
Braid! The same color and size as my last bad encounter. One side tied somewhere to the side of the canal, and the other some 40+ feet later through all the weeds and anchored by a 2lb piece of concrete chunk.
I took it up and when I finished fishing for the day, I went to the ramp and the guy that helped me the first time was there. Since he tests there he was interested in what I found.
He thinks it is the guys putting out milk jugs or whatever for marks for the rowers.
To be continued with FL Wildlife Commission notification...
Anyhoo, I had about 19 for the morning and a few bigguns mixed in with the little 1-2lbers.
Hit Lake Washington for a slow day of 4 fish for 4 hours the next day.
Bluebird skies were forcing me to fish heavy cover.
Just for the folks that watch match fishing and other shows that feature vegetation fishing in FL, I was working my best in Hyacynth patches amongst the other weeds. I just slid the unweighted worms off the weed and let it fall. Simple and effective I had 14 nice bass, the smallest at 2lbs and up to 5+.
Cranks are working along with gold willow and silver colorado 1/2oz SBs, but the best has been plastic.
Maybe another month here and I will run back to East Ridge for the fishing fun in TN.
I'll have to see Mr. Eaves about fixing my spare prop when I get back tho
Here are some pics I took
Thanks for reading
emoCool
Tried to stay close to home and comfort zones, so I decided on C-54.
Calm mirror water morning and 70 degree water.
I got to the ramp just after sunrise and slipped the boat in the water noticing the extreme lack of weeds and reeds and other vegetation.
I decided to press on realizing the spraying was way worse than I had ever seen before down here, but thinking that the fish have to eat etc...
I warmed up the motor for about a couple of minutes as I readied the net and electronics, trolling motor and seat.
I headed the boat west in the canal to try a few of my fav spots and as I slowly and smoothly applied power to get to my cruising speed, I felt a bump.
You know when you hit a small patch of floating weed or whatever, that was what it was like.
Then another smaller bump and then smooth sailing again. Checked my water pressure and motor peeing and all looked normal.
I had noticed a few gar cruising on top and maybe that was a bump I felt.
I arrived at a culvert system on a delta and immediately using my fav sticko and trokar combo, I got one about 3-4 lbs and right after, one about 5+.
I took pics and wanted to check another spot, but I thought I should at least tilt up the motor just to check it.
!!!((*&^%!!Braid line wrapped like a giant spider web was on my prop!
Made me nervous, so I decided to cut it off.
No matter what I did, I couldn't reach it to cut it so I cranked up and slowly headed back to the ramp. Maybe 3 miles or so.
I turned the boat backwards toward the sandy ramp and cut the motor and tilted up and drifted to the shallow sand.
That is when I saw the missing chunk off one ear.
I got the boat on the trailer with help from a racing motor guy that shows up regularily in TN for the Jasper run among others.
The canal is his testing ground as it is protected from the wind and is straight for to 10 miles or more.
I went to my boat guru and we removed the prop and about 40 feet of braid.
Thank goodness the seals were alright.
I thought it was a fisherman who had lost a rod overboard and the floating braid made me catch it. I thought it could have been someone who had to cut a long backlash out. I thought a lot of things that may have been factors like the sculling teams that have been granted access and buildings for storage at that location putting out markers for training and their regattas there.
The next day, I have a new prop!
11X15P from an original 10 3/8X14P
What a difference!
I like the performance.
Now, I went back to the scene of the crime to finish a day of fishing and trying out the new prop.
While I was fishing, I noticed a weird weed line on the water and fished it up with the end if my rod.
Braid! The same color and size as my last bad encounter. One side tied somewhere to the side of the canal, and the other some 40+ feet later through all the weeds and anchored by a 2lb piece of concrete chunk.
I took it up and when I finished fishing for the day, I went to the ramp and the guy that helped me the first time was there. Since he tests there he was interested in what I found.
He thinks it is the guys putting out milk jugs or whatever for marks for the rowers.
To be continued with FL Wildlife Commission notification...
Anyhoo, I had about 19 for the morning and a few bigguns mixed in with the little 1-2lbers.
Hit Lake Washington for a slow day of 4 fish for 4 hours the next day.
Bluebird skies were forcing me to fish heavy cover.
Just for the folks that watch match fishing and other shows that feature vegetation fishing in FL, I was working my best in Hyacynth patches amongst the other weeds. I just slid the unweighted worms off the weed and let it fall. Simple and effective I had 14 nice bass, the smallest at 2lbs and up to 5+.
Cranks are working along with gold willow and silver colorado 1/2oz SBs, but the best has been plastic.
Maybe another month here and I will run back to East Ridge for the fishing fun in TN.
I'll have to see Mr. Eaves about fixing my spare prop when I get back tho
Here are some pics I took
Thanks for reading
emoCool
