Last weekend was full of promise. Water was warming back up, and I heard the fish were on the chew again. The big thing was, I didn't have to work on the B-O-A-T that weekend. After working on more than a couple problems the previous weekends, and replacing all THREE batteries, I was set to have a full weekend of fishing. Just fishing.
I'll throw in a report while I'm grumbling:
Saturday AM was productive. I caught some stripers up to about 6lbs. I ran into NorCal Bob and his son. They were good luck, as I hooked up as soon as we recognized each other. They left briefly to hit a spot, but came right back. His son proceeded to lay waste to the stripers at that run.....oh, and Bob was allowed to catch a couple too.
We went opposite directions, and they went on to find some nice fish. I found some less than nice fish, but had a decent afternoon. Before the evening we ran into each other again, at the same spot, but most of the fish had sore lips from the morning session. Good to see/meet you Bob. Almost forgot. I ran into another friend I hadn't seen in a longtime. We talked about fishing together the next morning.Next morning I sleep in a bit. The fog is suppose to be thick, but by the time I'm ready to head out, it's clear, with overcast/high fog. It's warm(57 degrees), and zero wind. Incoming tide should be moving just right. It's going to be a great morning! I motor off across a large, lake-like section to one of my favorite spots. I get about a 1/4-1/2 mile away from the marina when my day comes to an end. Motor sputters, then dies. I do a little quick check, and try and restart. Nothing........oh wait, is that smoke? I go over and give a sniff. Yep, that's smoke coming out from the engine cover. I pop the cover off as fast as I can, and see a small electrical fire. My first thought is to grab the fire extinguisher. I look around, but think, "hey, why not just blow it out". Duh. That worked. But something is still smoking. The underside of the cover is burning. Blow. BLOW!! Still burning! Now I need the fire extinguisher!! A calm, but condescending voices pops into my head. "Uh, your surrounded by water!" A few splashes puts the fire out, but now I'm dead in the water.....literally. I wonder who I should call to get a tow back. Vessel Assist is just back by the marina. Same voice. "Duh. You have a trolling motor, stupid."
So I have a nice, quiet ride back to the marina. I contemplate what to do. I just paid for another month to keep the B-O-A-T at the marina, but I sure don't think I can fix it myself. It's Sun, and no local mechanics are going to be open. I have to tow the thing back home, but first I have to replace a trailer light.
The B-O-A-T is now at a mechanic's shop. No word on the cost yet.Yep. Just fishing.
briansII
PS, the bonus was I got home early and got to put the Christmas Tree up. yeah!
