Port-a Bote Monday

[Pegasus]

Shortly before the Answer arrived at my house, this port-a bote came my way.A folding boat. No trailer needed. It too , was destined for the flats and oio fishing. Had the impeller done on the 6hp johnson and tested it at Sand Island. Thought it might be able to launch at the ramp so we loaded up our stuff for a trip this morning. The ramp was a muddy mess. I learned from the park guy that a guy tried to launch earlier and was stuck for quite a while before he escaped. The port a bote was not that easy to get in the water either. The ramp disappears into the mud. We put it in and pulled it to the side and still almost didn't have enough water to float out of there. As we were putting it together, a small whaler came around the bend loaded with DLNR guys checking the water levels, etc. They have their own launch ramp down by the dam and I guess they can still get in.

We put things together in less than 20 minutes and headed for the dam area. What a different lake it is at 57 feet. Sure was lonely out there.

The fishing report : Hate to say it, but the action was awesome. We threw live bait all day and the tucs were all over it. Blowing up on it near the shore, jumping logs to get at it, two attacking the same bait, etc. All quality fish in the 3 to 5 lb class.
Got one tagged fish. # 3536 and he weighed 3 1/4 lbs.
Not quite as relaxing as a basstracker or a ranger, but great day on the lake. Got a little muddy, but it was a small price to pay for a private lake with great fishing action.
The shore guys we saw were catching too.
It might be too low to even launch this boat again if they dont stop the leak soon. Maybe a kayak and some muddy shoes will have to do.


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Would you launch today ????



Putting it together takes a while.....



Loaded up and ready to go.




DLNR on patrol !



Tagged fish # 3536




Hey Dude ! Where's my car ??????


What is that ? A helicopter blade ?

[roadwarriorsvt]

At least the fishing was good for you. Its also good to see the DLNR out checking out how "jacked" the lake is right now. See what one little phone call will do!

[Stan Wright]

Pegasus,
Here's the info on that peacock bass you caught... Thanks for recording the Tag number, Length and Weight... your fish has been around a while...


Just got this back from Annette.

Hi Stan,
Fish #3536 was tagged on 11/11/07 at Morgan's pt. It was 13 inches and weighed one pound at the time. At 3.5 lbs the bass should have measured about 22 inches in length - wow! The growth sounds about right according to the growth chart. That fish sure didn't have problems finding stuff to eat!
Thanks for the data!
Annette

[Pegasus]

Thanks Stan and Annette. It has been a while since I caught a tagged fish. Good to see that this boy has had a good life in our lake. Glad to help the study.

[fish4fun]

Pegasus u da man. Trackers, Kayaks, portaboats, flat stalkers, trips to el salto, and fishing the s. Pacifiic, AND the time to do it (and a supporting wife). Whatever u r doin keep doin it, as u r definitely doin something right, and living the life.
Btw also one of the nicest guys weve meet out on the lake. Good to see u found a way to get on it and got some good ones.
Nice fish, post up some pix of the 5 pdrs. I need my fish porn fix.
Three years on the lake and I can't break past the the 4 pdrs

Maybe this will finally be the year.

[Pegasus]

Five years ago, I didn't even own a fishing pole when I booked my first trip to El Salto. But I guess that I may have gotten a little carried away with this fishing thing ! As my wife likes to say, " Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish - and get rid of him the whole weekend ! " She is a keeper !
Some guys buy lots of reels, lures and rods, etc. I just look for different and sometimes crazy ways to get out to the fish.
That Monday was a great day and I will always remember it. That is why we fish... for days like that ! Good luck this year getting a big one !

[edde978n]

cool boat, I have been looking at those for a couple years now, they seem pretty cool. Ive talked to several owners who say they are extremely tough too. How do you like yours? how was the shipping to Hawaii? that is an awsome peacock man!

[Pegasus]

I find all my toys on craigslist. I am the third owner of this boat and the first guy shipped it here so I have no idea of the cost. Before I buy something crazy, I do all my research online. Port a bote has a good site and you tube has lots of videos of guys racing around in them and putting them together. I need to review that part again. Same with the flatstalker. I saw the link to it here and went there. It looked like something that would be really cool for fishing the flats for oio so I took a chance and bought it because I figured it was the only one in Hawaii. The port a bote is amazing. One guy kept his folded up behind his couch and the seats under his bed. I have put it together by myself and it works. Takes time, lots of parts. The thing is amazing because it folds flat, but when it opens up, it doesn't leak at the seams. It is made of thick polypropolene like a kayak and it flexes alot in the water. We had two guys both standing and fighting fish in it and it is pretty stable. And you don't need a trailer. Keep your eyes on craigslist boats and every now and then one pops up. Mine is the 12 ft model. Not as easy as a basstracker, but it gets the job done in an emergency. I want to take it out to the flats, but the tides have been bad.