I broke the #1 rule of boating.....

 Keep the water on the outside of the boat.....

The dark area of the carpet is the water line.

All right let me go back a little bit. This week I had everything ready for the maiden voyage, and instead

of running to Lake Michigan I decided to put in on my lake first. 

Really good move on my part....

So I went over and dropped the boat in on Tues.? After parking the truck I got to the boat and worked on starting the motor. A guy pulled in and backed down the launch and started his boat just to run the motor. We were talking while I tried to start my motor, it finally started. It definitely took longer than I would've liked but finally got it going. I untied backed out and started onto the lake. The boat was feeling a little weird, the steering was really sluggish. I looked back to see the motor and noticed my boat was filling with water😱😨. I wasn't that far out, I turned around and headed back to the dock. The guy was on the launch talking to a guy that was shore fishing. I tried to honk to get his attention but finally yelled, "I'm taking on water." He pulled his truck out, asked if the keys were in my truck, and which truck was mine. I got to the dock, and held on while he got my truck and backed it down the ramp. I slid back and over and loaded the boat. He connected the winch and winched me up. When I got out of the boat I went back to see where the water was coming out, it was coming out of the exfill for the livewell. As a matter of fact it was coming out just as fast as when I pulled the plug. 

WHEW..😒...

So now I've got an appointment to bring the boat to the Marina that fixed the gas leak to fix it again. Then when that's done I have to drive it to MI to another Marina to get the hose from the livewell fixed. I'm also hoping to have them check out the poor steering and see if they can fix that.

By the way the hose that leaked isn't the hose I drilled through and fixed......✋ nice try.

So, I'm not sure when I'll get my boat back😢, and when I do I'm going to raise my kicker up 3 or so inches, since it's already off the boat. 

One of my buddies, who now lives is Wis., (my boat guru) has a laser "engraver" sent this to me...

I thought it is pretty cool, I'm going to hang it on the wall.

I did get the battery situation all figured out and simplified but I have to pull 'em so the Marina can get to the access panel for the live well.

Here's the starting battery...

It's a little better than it was.....

On the bright side🌈🌄, the gold at the end of my rainbow is.... I got a call last week and someone turned in their draws for SD and Jake and I got them. 

I'll be SD bound in May to try for my Merriams.

 

Well......

 Honestly if I was starving and needed to go fishing to get some food.. that could be done. However as it sits I really need a couple days to one more week to get the boat completely locked up. So after seeing the weather for next week and the need to shoot my turkey gun.... I have made the executive decision to probably not fish and continue the work on the boat, and get over to the gun range. 

I was notified today that I did not get drawn for turkey this year, so same as last year. I'll try for no show's and a couple small chunks of public that don't need drawn for.

As for the boat I am redoing the battery hookups on both the starter and trolling.

I have no idea which hookup to hookup to which hookup. He really made this much harder than it should be.

 I also have to get the old hull numbers off and put new on. I got the boat registered and the registration sticker is here so that's all good to go. Really I don't have much to do to be ready, but I think I do need a couple more days.

Here's what I got done this week.

 

I spliced the water supply hose for my live well, that I drilled through while installing my rigger bases, last week. 

OOPS

I got my trailer guides finished and mounted.

And last but no least I got my kicker motor mounted and ran the trollmaster wire.

Is it kinda low.... yes

Does it still tilt up... no

Do I like either... not really

Is there another way around it... can't think of one 

So we'll put it in the water next week and see how it will work. If it's not catastrophic I plan on running it this year.

 if it needs changed?..... well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Runnin out of time

 Well, it's coming down to the wire with the last week in March next week. The good thing is I only have two more big projects to get done before I can get the boat out. I have to get the guides done on the trailer, I'm re-carpeting them, and I have to get my Kicker motor mounted on the boat. Which scares the heck out of me cuz I'm drilling holes in my boat, but this has to happen. No pics this week, got quite a bit done. I'll have a picture show next week, before the ShakeOut Cruise the first week of April. 👍

I think I should be able to make the first week of April. 🤞

Better at the destruction aspect

 I can prove it too....

picture of both taillights removed waiting for new (which I do have)

picture of one rail (the other is the same way) with everything removed and ready for install of rod holder tracks, rod tree track, downrigger base and stern rod holder bases.

outside of alot of stuff piled on my wheeler, the sides for my trailer that need re-carpeted (I do have the carpet) and I think I'm going to use new 2x4's also

Now keep in mind I do have all the necessary stuff to finish all these projects but I just really enjoy taking it all apart.... I guess if I have to give a reason it's because I can't screw it up during the demolition stage... 

I did get one thing done that I'm really happy with....

I got my big board reels off my mast and on the rails. Which will make deploying my boards much easier. I had to fab them to make it work but it was pretty easy.

 

So... next week I should be able to finish all the projects I started this week. I also had to order new tires because on the way home from the Marina I noticed one of the tires was really out of round. Fortunately it was just the tire and not the rim, or hub.

Have you ever heard...........Well, I went over budget but it will be worth it?

Yeah........

Workin' on the boat... need to clean the garage

 Going back and forth for tools to work on the boat, cleaning the garage would make it alot easier. However... Hold on there... getting the boat ready is first and foremost on the list. So, here's the progress....

yep I replaced that.... took 20 minutes

And I cleared both those rails, that took a minute also, considering the hunt time for tools.

 I'm not going to really do a whole lot to the set up until I fish it for a while. The next thing will be getting it outside to see where the Bimini will set so I can take that last track off, and start putting on rod holder track, and downrigger bases. Then I'll get into the taillights which need changed and I've got to replace some marker lights that are broken. With the weather taking a spring like turn next week I should be able to make some progress.

I'm old

 Not just because I had another Birthday this year, but my body continues to kick my own ass. Let me esplain this to ya...

I went coyote hunting on Tuesday down at Mississenewa. I saw it was going to be warm but wow I didn't think 60's. Anyway, I had some spots to hit, since I think that's where I'm going to put in for my Turkey draw this year. 

Oh... did I mention I didn't get drawn for the Merriams South Dakota turkey hunt this year? Yeah, so that's not happening.

So, I walked and scouted in the heat of the day, through the mud and what little snow was left. When I got home I showered, ate and went to bed. The next morning... that's when the payment was asked for. My right calf was so sore I could barely hobble to the kitchen to start my coffee. It's not like that was the first time I walked this year..... Agreed I'm not in great shape but good enough to go downstairs... or so I thought. 

Anyway, that was the big part of the week the other thing... (side note I didn't see a yote) was this is how my garage looked on Sunday after work..

Yep missing a boat....

This is how by garage looked on Monday....

What are the two happiest day's of a boat owners life? When he buys a boat and when he sells a boat.

Last week I was very happy... I bought this one Feb 3rd and put it in the shop for the engine to be gone over and sold mine a week ago Monday.

This is my third Spectrum, I really like these boats. I got another foot on the length, 5"s on the height of the side and a newer Merc strapped on the back.

I have started the overhaul to a fishing boat and will really hit my stride in March to be ready for fishing in April. Which brings me to my next joke.... What does BOAT stand for? Break Out Another Thousand. Then there's the other one, a boat is a hole in the water to throw money into. Not sure which one is better but they are both true, and I don't care for either of them.

Here I go again.

Short day

 Well, I went to Mongo coyote hunting just kind of late in the day just kind of looking to see what's around. See if I can find any tracks,  I did find some 🦃 tracks and I did cut a bunch of coyote tracks.I did not call anything in, I had to call it a day after I realized my Red Dot on my shotgun, the battery was dead. My shotgun was all I brought cuz I figured I was going to hunt a bunch of close in shots nothing long range or rifle shots. I was going to hunt some scrub, well I got about I don't know three or four five sets in and had to call it a day. It was a fun time, I didn't see anything, next week's supposed to warm up 💩 but I'll let you know what happens then.

Coyote hunt and a start on March clean up.

 Tuesday I went coyote hunting, did alot of walking and only called in Eagles, Hawks, Blue Jays, and Woodpeckers. I hunted sun up to sun down and the only fur I saw was 1 grinner.... truly almost smoked him, but he showed right at the beginning of my set. The weather was pretty mild in the mid 20's to start and ended in the 40's, not great calling weather.

Next week is 12 on Monday and 18 on Tuesday so I'll be getting out a couple times I hope to try and put some fur down.

 

Took a day to clean up the garage a little, even got all my waterfowl gear put away. So when the snow melts I'll be able to get it on the pad on the side of the garage.

 

By the way... yes we have snow... it's actually snowing right now.

 

Hope everyone is well and warm.

Another season

 Yesterday was my last day for goose in the 24-25 season, because of the ice storm that moved in last night.

However, yesterday was a really fun hunt. I actually almost got out of the house at a decent time, thereby getting to the field at a decent time. I ... oh wait... update... I said I was having trouble with my wheeler a couple weeks ago. Well, I called a mechanic I ask for advice and he said check the gas flow, which was good. If that's not it check the spark plug, well that was my problem, it was covered in carbon. So, I put a new one in and it ran better than when I first got it. Very happy... back to it.

I put out all of my full bodies and a 12 pack of silo socks and that was my spread. I shot my first 3 geese,on the phone, talking to my buddy that now lives in WI. He was waiting for his son so they could go drill some holes in an ice cube and sit on it..... 

Well, after his kid got there he hung up and I finished my limit with 2 more birds by 9a.m.

 

 THIS IS WHERE THE VIDEO IS.....

 It was very enjoyable to take my time, to break down the spread and not be in a hurry.

While I was getting ready to leave I did have a visitor that was lonely. 

Yep, I could've loaded the truck yesterday.

Well, even though I'm running out of seasons I still have coyote and fox 'til the end of the month.

Then it's March clean up.

Another day at the river

 Really windy yesterday at the river, and the wind was coming from a direction that didn't benefit me. I got to the spot around 10ish got my decoys set up and waited..... Had a couple flocks of geese around but nothing that really wanted to play the game. Then I it... a honk.... I looked all around 👀... but couldn't see th... holy moly, they're flyin' right at me down the river. So I waited and 💥..💥...💥.... 2 dead geese. Then I went home. The end.

Next week's the last week for goose then I'll start to hit coyotes again. Then there's "fix it month" otherwise known as March.

The day started at 3 degrees with -15 to -25 windchill

 Yep, that's how it started and it didn't get any better as the day rolled on. This was Tuesday and with the cold temp's coupled with the high of last week, I again went coyote hunting. The only difference with this week's hunt, is the outcome. Short story short, I called in 4 Eagles, 7 Redtail hawks, and many woodpeckers. I did alot of walking and didn't cut 1 fresh track, but these weren't my best spots, so there's still hope. 

Wednesday I finished my chili, went to the Walmart (again) for some stuff I missed on Monday, and had it in my head to get to my river spot by noon or 2. Well, as you may have guessed that didn't happen. I didn't get there until some time after 3. When I got there I heard geese on the river, so as quietly as a person can on crunchy snow, I snuck down a hill and up the other side to put me in line for a little jump shoot. When I crested the hill I shot 3x's and put 3 geese down.... or so I thought. 1 revived and flew upstream, I lost track of him because I was trying to keep another one tacked down. I hurriedly went up the bank and let 2 more rounds go, then I got the canoe loose and down the embankment to the river. I went around and started downstream, to chase another of the geese. I passed 1 goose floating head down in the river, I knew I could catch him. I paddled downstream a couple hundred yards and could not come up with the swimmer. So, I headed back upstream to gather up the only goose that died where I wanted them to.

When I got to shore in front of where I was hunting. I had a flock of a dozen or so geese lock up and start to come in, until they saw me. If I would've been there when I wanted to, I would've at least had my deke's out and had a really good shot at getting a couple of 'em. 

Anyway, as time ticked on and started getting closer to sunset I heard a lone honk. By the time I saw him he was almost right overhead and doing mach 3. I threw my muff down grabbed my shotgun and let 2 rounds loose. The first was right overhead, with no reaction, the second was one of those bending backwards almost touching the backs of your knee's with your shoulder's kinda shots. HE FOLDED INSTANTLY, I couldn't believe it, it was by far the best/luckiest shot I have made this year. Oh, yeah did I mention it was through the tree tops? Yepper it was....

He was moving so fast he landed on the island in the middle of the river, 

THIS IS JUST A FILE PICTURE FOR REFERENCE.

The island I am talking about is in back of me to the right, covered in snow

I thought there was going to be a need for a follow up shot.... but no, he was ready for me to go over and pick him up. 

I was ecstatic. 

That was the last round I fired, it was a great day.... I need to start being on time....

Chilly

 That was all the talk this week.... it was going to be cold. 

Since my goose hunts were not so productive last week I decided to take advantage of the cold and do some coyote hunting. Of course I started out the day getting to the field late, and I didn't even let it stress me out. I made my first stand and by the time the the 15 mins was up I was feeling the chill. My toes were a little chilly in the 3 degree weather, even though I did layer correctly. Fortunately that was the only time in the day that I got cold. Matter of fact by the time it was 11 am it had warmed to a balmy 15 and I had to shed clothes.

Anyway, I only had 4 stands under my belt when I walked in to my 5th spot of the day. As I was walking in I cut some fresh coyote tracks and followed them since that was the way I was going. I got to the last field set up and started calling, it wasn't 6 min when I saw movement in the brush. I shouldered the gun and looked down the scope and saw the yote come out of the woods at 100 yards. I centered the crosshairs on his chest and squeezed the trigger. He took off like a shot down the field, I chambered another round and sent it..... I don't know if I hit him but he piled up right after the shot. 

He ran over 50 yards..

I've never had a Hornday 50grn V-Max blow up like this, usually it never has an exit hole. I texted my furrier with the pic and apologized about the sewing he was going to have to do.😂

As I was dragging him out I looked back and saw the trail.

He's leaking a little.....
Anyway, I hunted the rest of the day and only saw some deer towards the evening. 

Super fun day. 

Next week I want to get in at least 1 goose hunt... the temps are looking chilly again so I am also going to try and get in another coyote hunt.

SNOW

 That's why I got loaded up and headed to town on Monday, just to wait on snow and geese. I saw a couple early flocks and finally I had a flock that wanted to work. They landed 30 yards from my furthest decoy, needless to say it was too far to shoot. I had hoped they would walk in to visit but that was a bust. The only other trick in my bag was to stealthily get out of my blind and try to reap a goose. I was able to get out of my blind crouch walk to a decoy, that I picked up and put in front of me. Then I started to slowly close the distance on the closest goose. When I was just about in range the rest of the flock freaked out over a bald eagle and picked up. The one I was looking to get stood up, looked around, I took aim and .... bang, dead goose.

So now all I had to do was wait for the snow...... unfortunately all that showed up was sunset. So I got my pic and started putting the spread together. 

one goose on an all day sit..... 👍😎

I went up to get the wheeler and it made the noise nobody wants to hear, you know that reer...reer...reer...reer noise. So I grabbed a sled and headed out to get the spread old school. After I got loaded I tried the wheeler again to no avail, and ended up pushing it into the trailer.

By the way the weatherman was WRONG again, does anyone know the definition of insanity?

So we were supose to be getting some more weather on Wednesday. So, I decided to try my river spot since everything should've be locked up tight by then. I'm not sure how true that was but it looked like everything was froze and the snow did show up off and on during the day, so that was awesome.

 I just don't know where the geese were. I could've loaded the truck with ducks but I only saw a couple flocks of geese and they wanted nothing to do with me. So I watched the ducks and a couple muskrat through out the day but no geese. I did have a nice lunch....

Then a large cup of cappuccino

Then I sat down and waited for the end of shooting, before picking up and heading North.

Couple of good days hunting. 😊

HAPPY NEW YEAR....

And I'm starting out on the wrong foot, no hunting this week because of the warm temps. 

Here's a rundown of my week... starting with Sunday after work. I got out of work and it was again raining hard out of the North. I went and set my traps, got home soaked, went downstairs to hang my clothes and noticed water on the floor. It was coming through a water pipe hole from the kitchen. I went upstairs to the kitchen and found water on the countertop and on the floor. I moved everything off the counter and put towels down then I saw where it was coming from.

 Here's the video

Here's the pics

The water was coming from the PVC pipe.

The leak was really weird it wouldn't just run the whole time, it would run for a minute or 2 then stop for five to ten minutes.

So I called the people who put the roof on and they came out the next day. Come to find out they only have 3 installers, so the people that put my roof on were subs, which makes sense. The other weird thing is I've had this roof on for 2-3 years with no issues, but with the North wind and hard rain the chink in the armor was found.

So that was Sunday night.... Way to go... 💜VIKINGS💛 🙌

Monday I checked my traps and had a grinner. Tuesday I did many of my to do list tasks.

Today I went and checked and pulled my traps, we've got a cold snap comin' in and everything's going to freeze up.

COME ON WINTER

Got couple more days of duck season and goose should start to get hot the colder it gets. 

I'm ready.