In the mind of the tourney angler, first day out…
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by gunner |
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I hear my alarm sound,
waking me from the full 55 minutes of “almost sleep” I had. Wiping
sleep from my eyes, trying to focus on the clock, forcing myself to sit up,
then wiping my eyes again, realizing what time it is… |
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Jumping up and getting
dressed, then running around looking for my shoes (of course, finding them
where I KNEW I did not leave them), grabbing something to eat...cereal,
leftover pasta, just a few bites… |
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Grabbing the keys, I start
a mental run-down of everything I need from the house. Boat keys, wallet, sunglasses, cell phone,
cooler, Pepsi… |
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Get in the Blazer and try
to find some soft music for the ride to the garage, where I hook the boat and
trailer, while again going over my checklists in my head. Everything is packed, checked and loaded in
the boat and Blazer. I start to smile,
as I think about getting on the water, the sounds of nature, the smell of the
morning lake, the boats and motors… |
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Pulling up to the garage,
I look around...and I don’t see my partner’s car. Well, no matter, he will be here...I
hope...he is NOT a morning person. |
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I back up, hook the boat
to the Blazer, and lock it down. While
I’m waiting, I again mentally go over my checklist. A lesson I had to learn the hard
way...never be caught out on the water without something you need.
Livewells—working...batteries—ready...lifejackets—check...fire
extinguisher –check...safety flag and horn—check...full gas tanks, both boat
and Blazer—check...anchor—check...tow rope—check... |
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Now on to the tackle
boxes, rods, reels, line, electronics…I always have the hardest time with
this part, because even though I wanted to take everything I knew I had to
pick the chosen few. If I took them
all, I would have no room for my fishing partner! |
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So, while I wait, I keep
busy by going through the boxes I have everywhere. This is when, if I am not careful, I will
start to second guess myself. This is
where “doing homework” will pay off.
Things like watching fishing shows, checking weather reports, calling
for lake conditions, talking to the guy at the local bait store by the
lake...all of this starts to come together right here in tackle
selection. So, after I sit and go
through every box, second-guessing and remembering what I have heard and
watched, I am pleased (as pleased as I can be) with my picks, so I move on to
the rods and reels. |
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When I studied the lake
maps prior to today, and when I have fished a lake before, I will mark down
certain “honey” areas that I will hit during the tournament. With these spots in mind, I know what pound
test line and rod action I will be using for each one. I put new line on the reels two days before
so they have a chance to work out the stiffness, and I rig each outfit up
with a certain type of bait for my initial pattern search. Crankbait, spinner bait, jig, topwater,
etc…all prepared and ready to go. |
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I see headlights...and
there is my late partner. I help him
grab his gear out of his car and into the boat it goes. He makes a quick check of his gear, and
seems to be happy with his picks for the start of the day. Loaded and ready, off we go… |
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Five minutes into the trip
I remember that I did not check the trailer lights…so I pull off the side of
the road and he steps out to take a look.
Yes, brake lights, both turn signals and tail lights are all working
properly. |
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Loaded and ready, off we
go...again… |
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Somewhere along the way to
the lake we started talking about breakfast, and how it sounds good right
about now… so, 24-hour McDonalds, here we come…four sausage and egg biscuits,
hash browns, and colas later… |
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Loaded and ready, off we
go…again… |
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I am driving down the
highway at 69 mph eating my biscuit, and somehow I end up behind an
18-wheeler. I have a guy on my left
that is riding the lane but will not pass, he just rides there...I look at my
watch, dropping part of the biscuit in the process, and I try to see a way to
get over. Time is running out, and if
I stay behind this truck we will make it just in time to get there and watch
the rest of the boats blast off... |
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I flip the turn signal on
and start to ease on over, hoping that car will just back off or speed
up...but he does not move, he just stays there. After two more attempts he finally backs
off just enough for me to move over and step on it...just in time to make the
BIG two-mile hill that I should have gotten a running start on a mile or so
back… |
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Clearing the hump at the
launch ramp, we see that we somehow made it in time. Not as much time as I would have liked...so
there will be no in-depth checklist now, just a quick once-over… |
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I am now temporally
blinded by some new guy’s inability to shut his headlights off while he sits
in front of me, watching, as I back my trailer in the water. I find a parking spot, stumble through the
floaters in my vision, and somehow make it to the boat… |
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Seated, life jacket on,
rods ready, water now in the livewells, I start the boat. I get in line to be boarded and checked for
any live bait and/or bass in the livewells.
We are issued a number to tape to the side of the motor, get the
thumbs up signal, and we are clear to get in line to start. |
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I look at my watch and see
that I just barely have time to pour a few sips of coffee-flavored sugar (one
of the very few times I drink coffee).
I get a chance to glance at the sun just as it is hinting its way over
the trees...and for a moment, I don’t hear the boat motors idling or smell
the gas and oil. I hear the birds
singing, and I smell the pines and the water...that is when it hits me, every
time...this is what it is all about, and everything leading up to it doesn’t
matter. |
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I glance over at my
fishing partner and ask, “You ready for this?” |
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Hope to see you out there… |
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gunner |
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