A lot of miles and casts for one ole Ketucky

[Matthew Madura]

My adventure started Friday, March 25.  I finished mowing the grass and trimming the yard just in time for the Fed-Ex man to deliver some new A-Rigs.  A-Rigs are new to me and I’m determined to learn them.  I thought well the days are longer, wife’s out of town; I’m going fishing!

I live in Springfield you see so I figured by the time I hit the water I’d have 2 ½ or 3 hours to fish, worth it to me.  Southbound to Highlandville that feeling hit me, I forgot my fish finder in the garage, I really wanted it even though man has caught fish for 10,000 years without one.  I turned around, and thought well heck I’ll just top off my tank for fishing tomorrow while I’m already delayed.  Pulled to my ethanol free pump and realized in my rush, I don’t even have my wallet! It appears the fish are safe for that evening.  A minute or two later I get call from a buddy to join him in the partaking of adult beverages and I was obliged.

Saturday morning I leave Springfield for Table Rock, with all provisions including wallet and fish finder.  I put in near my folks house down Gobblers Mountain around 1030am.  Gear up my 1648 Tracker Duck Killin Fish Slayin boat, launch,  park the truck get in the boat start floating off the bank and I squeeze the bulb, choke the engine, pull the cord once, twice, three times…..27 28 29….56..NOTHING.  I’m not happy at this point.  I went through it all, kill switch, fuel line, spark plug, carb, primer bulb everything…and this lil 20 hp motor was just re-done and ran fine a week earlier.  So I call my guy and I explain my situation he’s at a loss, and says he’ll be there to noon come on by if I want.  So I loaded up, drove BACK to Nixa and to realize it was a simple fix of the needle in the carb was stuck, no gas to the carb. 

Not letting this get the best of me and it only being 12:30, I’m southbound AGAIN to the lake.  Put on, boat ran great all day!

Now to the fishing; you heard me mention this was A-Rig trip.  Reading up on forum, You-tube videos, advice at Fin and Feather, hell, I’m a pro now!  Started in the back of Schooner Creek, water temp 51 bluebird day, and my third cast lost the A-Rig on old underwater oak!  Okay that’s fine it happens I keep telling myself, re-rig and pound the banks, cast in deeper water, let it sink, reel fast, reel slow, NO BITES.  So I move off to point straight east of KC campground launch fish the point, the drop off and I caught a rock, but not one fish.  Move to another point just before Whites Branch, nothing!

Finally, moved into Whites Branch, fish right in front of our dock (blue, 24 slip) and BAM FISH ON!  All the miles and headache justified in that glorious moment.  The kind of moment you’re looking around to see if anyone is watching, the kind of moment you’re thinking what type of fishing jersey I should by later…sponerships…the works kind of moment.  I mean c’mon this a 15 inch fish. 

Make several more casts just as did I before and nothing, the moment has past.   Move over to the cove just across from to fish some timber, nothing.  Then I made a hard cast the kind of cast where you think, Dang! That’s a beauty, just to have it come to hard stop and the biggest birds nest since the California Condor.  That’s it for me!  I’m done!

I’m not giving up!  I’m not going to back to fly-fishing for slimy trout that taste bad.  I’m going to laugh at myself and keep trying.  There’s a lot of pain in this world and those folks I bet would give anything for a bad day on the water.

My head is held high!

[Flysmallie]

Way to stick with it.

[Bill Babler]

Are you reliving my life or is it just a Co-Inkey-Dink?

[Nitro 750]

Thanks for the report, and I thought I was the only one that had days like that!!!!!

[pvspmo]

Sounds like a normal fishing trip to me...  Thanks for the report!

[m&m]

Matthew M, thank you for the story.  My day on Friday didn't sound so bad after all.

Mike

[*T*]

Fun report to read anyway.  Good fish.  Thanks

[dan hufferd]

That sounds like 75% of my fishing trips. It is easy to get goal oriented, like work. Just be glad you are able to get out on the water. I get mad too. Good read

[Donna G]

Oh, my, my.  Glad I was only eating my lunch at my desk and not slurping down a beverage - it might have reappeared.

I admire your spirit and commitment.  I also really appreciate the laugh at the start of my workweek.

[dtrs5kprs]

This has a genuine Galaxy Quest vibe about it.