3 hour trip Empire

[capt hoop]

Had storms all around so painting the house was out of the question. With 2-4 inches of rain daily mowing the lawn without a life jacket was out of the question. I had no other choice but to go fishing. After coffee and breakfast I hooked up the bay boat and went to Delta marina which is almost next door. I went to Empire fuel (better known as The Ugly Duck)for ice. When I went in Charlie was having His redwiser breakfast so I asked if he wanted to kill some time on the water. He grabbed 2 buds for the cooler and off we went.

Once thru the flood gates I powered up. I went a few hundred yards and shut down. BIRDS! Did not even have to use the trolling motor just drifted and put down the power pole. My first cast turned into a nice 15-16 inch trout only to be lost before getting it to the boat. Charlie gets hit and looses one also. We are off to a fantastic start. Maybe we should have just sat at the bar and been better off. A few more casts and I have a just barely keeper in the boat.



We never went far from that area and picked away at them. Well I did anyway. Charlie kept missing them almost all day. The birds vanished but the trout remained in that canal so we just worked that one area. It was close to the dock as the storms approached or charlie ran out of beer. The box started to get some color anyway.



We managed 19 in the box before the sky got dark and the wind shifted. I could have not gotten that many without Charlie's help. I got 2 shorts and he actualy got 2 keepers. I think he was having withdrawles. I got him back to the doctor and all was well. I only burned 2.5 gallons today.



Back at the home there was a lot of activity. My Glaicer Bay is in the shed. Lee's Ameracat is here getting cosmetic repairs. My Avenger Had fish to be cleaned and boat to be washed and Justin showed up with his Worldcat. This would have been a real mess if I still had the old curved 9' wide driveway.



Scott from Ameracat has a helper with him that has his 8 year old boy for the summer. The boy spent time in our pool and helped his dad as best he could but when I pulled in with the bay boat and the fish I could see it in his eyes While dad is working tomorrow I will take the kid out for some catching action. Hey I have no choice do I.

Look for tomorrow's report and pictures.

Life is Good!
Fishing is not a matter of life or death. It's more important than that.

CAPT HOOP -- OUR FREEDOM