Well....

Yet again fishing has eluded me this week. Monday wasn't too bad as far as the wind goes, however, the temp never got above 40 which doesn't really bother me. The main issue was I slept allll day, or so it seemed. I fell asleep in my chair at 8pm Sunday woke up at midnight and went to bed, and slept until 11am Monday. So no fishing Monday, I did, however, get my lawn cut. I honestly think this is the first time in over 30 years I cut my lawn before I put the boat in. Maybe I am getting old, anywho it is the first day of Turkey season so I went out to my magic 5 and wow were the birds on fire this morning. I finally got to work a bird at 10am he stayed about 100 yards out strutting and gobbling. After an hour of this, I thought the only way to make a move on this bird was to slide down the side of the hill and set up. I got 10 yards from the edge and saw the Tom 2 ridges over. When he saw me it was all but over, so I went back up top and sat until noon, then I packed up my gear and headed for the house. I kicked myself all the way home and still am right now but I don't think that bird would've ever come in. He was pretty happy where he was, the best thing I could've done was sneak up to where I saw him gobbling at and set up, the bad thing is I would've been off property. When it's only 5 acres there's very, very little room to move. Anyway, I've got tomorrow and until May 7th to get it done, that's kinda why I didn't hang out all day today, and if it's raining in the morning I might just sleep in.
Well, I didn't sleep in but I didn't get a bird either. I heard 2 gobbles this morning and didn't see a bird, but it was kinda cool and very little sun. So I'll go to work for 3 days let the birds get back into a groove and try again on Monday.
Wish me luck

Seriously??

Here it is the 3rd week of April and I have yet to wet a line. Lake Michigan has been giving up fish for those who live close enough to get in a couple hours fishing trip. However, I have yet to get a good day to hit the water. And if that isn't bad enough Turkey season starts next week, so guess what I'll be doing? The boat is ready and loaded all I need is a good day, and hopefully, it will get here before the gas prices go back up. I should be driving to LM every day in the hopes of getting out, with the gas prices this low. Anyway, next week might be a doubleheader surf and turf blow out. I'll keep you updated, keep watching for next week's blog I hope it'll be a doozy.

OOOOhhhhh.....

Just dropped 550.00 on 2 new trolling batteries.... stupid coronavirus. 👿

I did this....

Even though I haven't been hunting or fishing I have still been getting stuff done.
Before we get into that though I have some good news and bad news. The good news is Ohio has allowed 3 rods per fishing license on Lake Erie this year. The bad news is I have since had to buy 2 new rod setups and more lures to accommodate more rods. So on a year that I should have only spent a couple bucks for "needed lures and accessories" I'm already a couple hundred in. I think I'm going to set up a poor fisherman "go fund me account", or maybe I'll be getting some of that covid 19 money to help cover my fishing addiction. Either way, Ohio did something awesome that affects me in a bad way. But with rods and reels on their way and over 100 bucks in lures already boxed I guess I'll be ok... it's only money.

So with the beginning of March the "thinking" process began on what needed to be done to the boat, and more importantly, how it was going to be accomplished.
That's how we got to the "I did this" section.

yep, pulled it out with the Explorer

The tree I took out was a pussy willow... Before I get the hate mail for taking out a pussy willow let me inform you that every other year the tree would get pussy willows. And every year in the summer it would weep a substance that would turn the bark black and attract every wasp, bee and fly in the neighborhood to my front door. When you walked by, it sounded like it was going to take off because of the buzzing. Anyway, I got tired of the insects and in general, thought it was an ugly tree.

I planted a rose bush where the tree came out.

With most of the ciphering done on how to upgrade the boat, I got started.
First thing was to install the new onboard battery charger.

easy

 Then it was time to carpet the battery box and install my step permanent like.

a little harder but still pretty easy

even hinged the step for storage.

With the onboard charger installed and the battery box completed, I only have 2 things left to do.

One is to make my brag board, I got a nice piece of cedar for the job.

due to the tools involved and time to poly and dry, this would grade difficult

The last thing is to install my new trollmaster, which I'm kinda dreading. I have almost all the details knocked out but if I screw this up it's a couple hundred bucks down the crapper. So I'm saving it for last and working out the details before I even begin. Oh yeah, I also got new spark plugs for my kicker I gotta put those in too. That'll take all of 3 minutes.

Well, with only one official week left in March I might squeeze it out to include the first couple days in April. Then have the first official shakeout cruise on the second week in April and make it 2 weeks. From the way the weather looks that's probably my best bet anyway.

Finally get some time off...

Well, this is the first week of the clean up/boat prep month. Last week Sean and I went down to Mississinewa for the day. We worked sunup 'til sundown through the snow squalls and wind, only to come up empty-handed.

 I only got out 2 times for coyote this year but that couldn't be avoided. Anyway, I had a pretty good year with some really good friends. I just want to say thanks to all those who made this year special.
I have some improvements to the boat to get done and of course, Turkey season is right around the corner. This will probably be the last entry until April Coho starts so take care and I'll get back on this the first week of April hopefully with a full brag board of Coho. : )