Re: [bolger] Toby the Gull's Maiden Voyage
In a message dated 6/18/02 1:24:04 PM Central Daylight Time,
david@...writes:
Makes for great "arm-chair" boating, but I can't imagine going through all
that excitement just to retrieve a rod and reel - or was it losing the fish
that made you so impetuous? I've never been married, and so may be a bit
naive about things matrimonial, but are the consequences of losing one's
spouse's rod and reel so dire as to warrant risking one's life? Talk about
lose-lose situations: 1) you abandon the rod and reel and face whatever
terrrrible retribution that might entail; or: 2) your wife finds out about
your desperate daring-do in recovering the rod and reel; result: even worse
retribution (like having your boats taken away); or: 3) you drown. I think I
can understand why the third alternative may be the most attractive of the
options, but I think there is much to commend staying single.
Ciao for Niao,
Bill in MN
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
david@...writes:
> So now what? In one hand I've got I've got a rod with a fish unknownMy Goodness! What an exciting adventure! Thank you for sharing it with us.
> dimensions, and with the other I'm paddling towards an oar about 25
> yards away, and the boat is another 25 yards away from the oar.
Makes for great "arm-chair" boating, but I can't imagine going through all
that excitement just to retrieve a rod and reel - or was it losing the fish
that made you so impetuous? I've never been married, and so may be a bit
naive about things matrimonial, but are the consequences of losing one's
spouse's rod and reel so dire as to warrant risking one's life? Talk about
lose-lose situations: 1) you abandon the rod and reel and face whatever
terrrrible retribution that might entail; or: 2) your wife finds out about
your desperate daring-do in recovering the rod and reel; result: even worse
retribution (like having your boats taken away); or: 3) you drown. I think I
can understand why the third alternative may be the most attractive of the
options, but I think there is much to commend staying single.
Ciao for Niao,
Bill in MN
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> In one hand I've got I've got a rod with a fish unknownI'm glad you are not a cat. If you were, your skimpy allotment of
> dimensions, and with the other I'm paddling towards an oar about 25
> yards away, and the boat is another 25 yards away from the oar. On
> top of that, the fish is pulling me in the wrong direction!
nine lives would be about used up. I swear I never heard anyone who
had some many "adventures" in pursuit of a little marine recreation.
PHV
FBBB -
Although my Gull is not completely finished, today offered conditions
that could not be passed up. Bright blue skies, a small swell, and
light offshore winds forecast to become onshore in the afternoon. I
loaded the Light Dory onto the roof of my car (rather easy because it
is *light*) and headed down to the beach.
"Toby" was much admired by both friends and strangers, and I'd be
lying if I said that I didn't enjoy the attention. I fixed the
oarlock sockets in a trial position, loaded my fishing gear into the
boat, and then waited for a lull in the waves. After about five
minutes, I pushed off the beach, hopped in, and started threading my
way through the channel.
Normally the channel at Ditch Plains is easily negotiated, but the
sandbar to the West has been built up and the swell running today has
more South in it, so getting out was a little tricky. The increase
flair and freeboard of the Gull, as well as it's faster speed were
very much appreciated as I pulled through cresting breakers on my way
through the impact zone. Once outside I was in heaven. Terns were
working here and there, the water outside deep green-blue, and the
breeze was just switching to onshore. I started casting a bucktail in
the hopes of finding dinner.
I intend to set up some sort of rod-holder for trolling, but haven't
yet. I foolishly set my rod down and left the bait in the water as I
rowed to a new spot. I was sure the the drag was light enough that if
a fish picked up the bait it would just take line. It wasn't.
Suddenly the rod (my wife's by the way) shot out of the back of the
boat like it had been fired out of a gun. I took off after it with a
dive, trying to ship my oars as I went. I swam after the butt end of
the rod that was showing just above the water, but just as I reached
it, it disappeared under the surface. I had a pullover kayaking PFD
on so it was all I could do to dive after it. As I swam down I could
see the silvery flash of the real. I grabbed and let the lifevest
take me back to the surface. Even before I bobbed up I could feel the
rod throbbing. Fish on!
So now what? In one hand I've got I've got a rod with a fish unknown
dimensions, and with the other I'm paddling towards an oar about 25
yards away, and the boat is another 25 yards away from the oar. On
top of that, the fish is pulling me in the wrong direction! Finally I
get myself, the rod, the oar, and the fish back to the boat. I got
the three of them into the boat, but I was stuck on the outside. No
way in without swamping. I had my tackle box inside, and I didn't
want to risk trying to roll in and end up loosing twenty years worth
of plugs, feathers, etc. So there I am, swimming my boat in to the
beach, hoping one of my friends might paddle out and hold the rail
for me so I could climb in. Finally Jim, a boat builder of the first
order from the North Fork, paddled out and helped my in. After that
he complimented me on my boat and I towed him back to the lineup.
Getting back in required a lot of patience. The tide was higher than
when I launched and should have made it easier, but the swell seemed
to have come up with the tide and the larger sets were shutting down
the channel completely. I circled and circled like a salmon troller
waiting to run the Columbia Bar on a crappy day. Finally my chance
came and I pulled hard for the beach, keeping an eye out for the next
set. Toby the Gull behaved much better the Teal Lil'Winnie with a
following sea and I was able to get a nice boost from the smaller
waves without feeling like the boat was in danger of broaching. The
next set came breaking all the way across the channel, but I was
already well inside and nearly on the beach. I hoped out in knee deep
water and hauled the boat up the beach before the larger waves could
reach the shore.
I had teased Sue about wanting to add floatation to her Gull. The
boat is so pretty it seems a shame to ugly it up with such
considerations. Jim had some clever ideas for hiding the foam with
luan, and I just might give it a try. I'm certainly going to work out
some sort of rod holder arrangement!
YIBB,
David
C.E.P.
415 W.46th Street
New York, New York 10036
http://www.crumblingempire.com
(212) 247-0296
Although my Gull is not completely finished, today offered conditions
that could not be passed up. Bright blue skies, a small swell, and
light offshore winds forecast to become onshore in the afternoon. I
loaded the Light Dory onto the roof of my car (rather easy because it
is *light*) and headed down to the beach.
"Toby" was much admired by both friends and strangers, and I'd be
lying if I said that I didn't enjoy the attention. I fixed the
oarlock sockets in a trial position, loaded my fishing gear into the
boat, and then waited for a lull in the waves. After about five
minutes, I pushed off the beach, hopped in, and started threading my
way through the channel.
Normally the channel at Ditch Plains is easily negotiated, but the
sandbar to the West has been built up and the swell running today has
more South in it, so getting out was a little tricky. The increase
flair and freeboard of the Gull, as well as it's faster speed were
very much appreciated as I pulled through cresting breakers on my way
through the impact zone. Once outside I was in heaven. Terns were
working here and there, the water outside deep green-blue, and the
breeze was just switching to onshore. I started casting a bucktail in
the hopes of finding dinner.
I intend to set up some sort of rod-holder for trolling, but haven't
yet. I foolishly set my rod down and left the bait in the water as I
rowed to a new spot. I was sure the the drag was light enough that if
a fish picked up the bait it would just take line. It wasn't.
Suddenly the rod (my wife's by the way) shot out of the back of the
boat like it had been fired out of a gun. I took off after it with a
dive, trying to ship my oars as I went. I swam after the butt end of
the rod that was showing just above the water, but just as I reached
it, it disappeared under the surface. I had a pullover kayaking PFD
on so it was all I could do to dive after it. As I swam down I could
see the silvery flash of the real. I grabbed and let the lifevest
take me back to the surface. Even before I bobbed up I could feel the
rod throbbing. Fish on!
So now what? In one hand I've got I've got a rod with a fish unknown
dimensions, and with the other I'm paddling towards an oar about 25
yards away, and the boat is another 25 yards away from the oar. On
top of that, the fish is pulling me in the wrong direction! Finally I
get myself, the rod, the oar, and the fish back to the boat. I got
the three of them into the boat, but I was stuck on the outside. No
way in without swamping. I had my tackle box inside, and I didn't
want to risk trying to roll in and end up loosing twenty years worth
of plugs, feathers, etc. So there I am, swimming my boat in to the
beach, hoping one of my friends might paddle out and hold the rail
for me so I could climb in. Finally Jim, a boat builder of the first
order from the North Fork, paddled out and helped my in. After that
he complimented me on my boat and I towed him back to the lineup.
Getting back in required a lot of patience. The tide was higher than
when I launched and should have made it easier, but the swell seemed
to have come up with the tide and the larger sets were shutting down
the channel completely. I circled and circled like a salmon troller
waiting to run the Columbia Bar on a crappy day. Finally my chance
came and I pulled hard for the beach, keeping an eye out for the next
set. Toby the Gull behaved much better the Teal Lil'Winnie with a
following sea and I was able to get a nice boost from the smaller
waves without feeling like the boat was in danger of broaching. The
next set came breaking all the way across the channel, but I was
already well inside and nearly on the beach. I hoped out in knee deep
water and hauled the boat up the beach before the larger waves could
reach the shore.
I had teased Sue about wanting to add floatation to her Gull. The
boat is so pretty it seems a shame to ugly it up with such
considerations. Jim had some clever ideas for hiding the foam with
luan, and I just might give it a try. I'm certainly going to work out
some sort of rod holder arrangement!
YIBB,
David
C.E.P.
415 W.46th Street
New York, New York 10036
http://www.crumblingempire.com
(212) 247-0296