When it rains, it pours.

[Mike S.]

I had one of those nights that you just wish you could say never happened last night. We fished the ROI Thursday nighter. My partner and I are doing pretty well. It has been a lot of fun. But last night was special in its own way.

We launch at 5:45 on White Lake. It's raining, well it was a nasty drizzle. All is fine, except for my partner who has forgotten his rain gear. The wind is ripping pretty good as we find our way to our first spot. After about a half hour, we run to another spot, and my partner is immediately hooked up. I net the fish, and start filling the wells. One of the pumps sounds funny. Next thing you know, my bilge pumps are on.

Since it was raining, we didn't think much of it at first. Then every minute or two, the pump was on again, and the port side would not fill. We get a limit in about 25 minutes, and decide to go shallow and I hop out of the boat to make sure the plug was in. It was. Upon further inspection, we see that the pump has come out of its cup, and I have a hole in the bottom of the boat.

I now have a new Cortex 101 on the boat. Not used to the stabilizer bar on it. We go to take off, and I bring the trolling motor up, and the bar takes the butt of one or my Carrot Stix right off. Wonderful.

10 minutes after that, the cable for my front transducer snaps. It got pulled tight somehow, and just couldn't take it anymore. So now, I'm blind up front.

As the night comes to an end, I catch my first fish. It was all of 10 inches. We go to weigh in, and walk away with a 3rd place finish. Not bad. I was so happy to have the boat on the trailer. Glad that night is over.

[YpsiBass]

Can't catch a break, can you?

[Mike S.]

I think my wife is going to take my truck and boat away, and not let me play with my friends anymore. She also says I have to buy rods and reels at yard sales from now on. Just kidding!  I do think she's going to take my boat away though. 

[LipRip]

HA! Thanks just an average day of fishing for McCarter! If you hear some of his stories you might not feel so bad......

[Mike S.]

That just tells me that under no circumstances should McCarter and I get in a boat together. Ever.

[thedude]

must have been the weather. i went pre-fishing alone and of course launched the boat with the plug out, blew up a spool of 1 week old floro on my cranking rod, lost a 15$ crankbait and had an uncanny ability to cast wacky rigged senkos right off the hook in short succession.

[Genie]

I feel ya ... actually fell asleep on the couch and slept great!  That crap never happens ... darn weather!

[Mike S.]

The boat is done!  It's better than it was when I went to the lake last night. I was at work and just couldn't take knowing my boat wasn't right, so I took a half day and came home to work on it.

The aerator was a job. I had to pull 2 batteries and the oil tank out. Then I had to pull an aluminum sub floor out. Once I got to that point I saw that the locking clips on the side of the pump were broken. It was junk. Turns out they don't make that pump anymore.

Then, it was up front to change the transducer. Luckily I had the one from my old Humminbird still lying around. It works! 

If only I could fix the rod I broke now. That would make my day.

[djkimmel]

You did catch 3rd place?!? 

[Waterfoul]

I know what you mean Mike.  My tach quit working last week.  Got a new one the next day but heck if I've had time to put it in.  Well it rained last night... perfect time to put the new tack in.  Done and working again.  I feel better.

[motocross269]

Tough days make us appreciate the good ones......
Good job in the tournament and glad you were safe...

[6 lb Smallmouth]

Mike- great job in spite of what you had to deal with.  If I have a bad day fishing but everything worked well, I always think it could have beeen worse.

Dude- your story made me feel better.  I was fishing by myself last weekend and launched my boat and lost ahold of the rope.  First time I ever went swimming for my boat. 

[Mojo]

Mike - it needs to be noted that I was NOT on your boat that day or that week.  When I was young in the sport, everyone reported on GLB odd happenings such as what you had happen on the days following me being on the boat. It became 6 degrees of Mojo -  

Poor Revtro, I still apologize for fronting him when he joked about it cause it was out of control !

[Mike S.]

If it weren't for my partner doing all the catching, we would have been in big trouble. He kept standing in the back of the boat laughing at me, and telling me he has had bad days, but nothing like mine.

I forgot that when we got to our first spot I tripped over the step to the front deck. Hard to run the trolling motor with your face. Then when we got to our second spot, I unstrapped my rods and the strap caught one and flung it into the water. I caught the end of it though, so it wasn't lost. After that, all the real fun took place.

If nothing else, it gets laughs from people. After its all said and done, I laugh too.

[Skulley]

Mike - it needs to be noted that I was NOT on your boat that day or that week.  When I was young in the sport, everyone reported on GLB odd happenings such as what you had happen on the days following me being on the boat. It became 6 degrees of Mojo -  

Poor Revtro, I still apologize for fronting him when he joked about it cause it was out of control !

And if you remember Mojo, you and I went out fishing during that time and everybody was telling me not to go fishing with you because something bad would happen.  Well if catching over 100 fish on Lake St. Clair's south shore in a day between the two of us is bad "Mojo", I'll take that any day, any week, any month, or any year.          Also, to all the forum members out here, Mojo is one of the best back boaters you could ever have.  There is never a problem with sharing expenses.  He always brings this huge grocery bag full of snacks.  (Personally, I think he steals his kids Halloween candy or something, but you didn't hear that from me.     )  And if you like a non-stop "chatterbox" not to be confused with "chatterbait" on the back of your boat, fish with Mojo.  He does have a lot to say.   You haven't lived life until you have fished with Mojo.  I will say this, it certainly ain't boring.


BD                                      

[Mike S.]

For sure. I had Mojo in my boat on LSC in May. He was a riot. The bag of tackle he brought was the equivalent of another person in the boat. It was enormous. Total entertainment.

I was really bummed that I didn't get to fish with him while he was on White Lake last week. If I would have known he would be here, we would have fished several times. Next year, Mojo, call me when you make your reservations. We will fish.

[Mojo]

You guys Just made my day. Thanks UAW and Mike. I hope to get out with the both of you very soon.

[djkimmel]

If it weren't for my partner doing all the catching, we would have been in big trouble. He kept standing in the back of the boat laughing at me, and telling me he has had bad days, but nothing like mine.

I forgot that when we got to our first spot I tripped over the step to the front deck. Hard to run the trolling motor with your face. Then when we got to our second spot, I unstrapped my rods and the strap caught one and flung it into the water. I caught the end of it though, so it wasn't lost. After that, all the real fun took place.

If nothing else, it gets laughs from people. After its all said and done, I laugh too.

And still... no video?!?

[Mike S.]

The way things sometimes go for me, I should mount a camera to the top of my outboard. It would save me a lot of time on here.  I could just post the video, and wouldn't have to type anything.

[djkimmel]

Consider 2 cameras - 1 on the top of your head. But, provide some padding or something for the camera so we can still recover video...