OK, it's Wednesday Oct 14 and I decided to get on the water.
But, also had to get new and old meds to help my gout and arthritis. So, I gathered the garbage as the dump is on the way to the Food Lion pharmacy in Mineral. Did a tiny bit of shopping at Food Lion and headed back to the house. I have a scooter (motorized chair) and hauled rods and other gear to the boat. Doing my best to rush, but everything seems to go Murphy slow, except my declining health.
OK, boat on the road to the Rockland Creek community launch. I know they were supposed to change the lock code, but maybe they didn't. Yeah, what other dumb thought can I have.
Called a neighbor and was able to get the code. I have to back the boat as close to the dock as possible so I can step into it. Don't want the boat to leave the trailer completely as I might not get everything right, per past mistakes? Now about 4 PM and the sun is hiding in the scattered clouds. Boat launched with line attached, gate closed, parked truck, and I'm on my way.
Pete said there was lots of gizzards at Tim's area, so I decided to head that way. I'd been there a year earlier and didn't know for sure where I was. Headed towards Christopher Run or Tim's is one duck leg both the same? The North Anna is like a snake with egg bulges with lots of turns that hides the channel from one bulge go another. Well, every lake seems to require some experience to navigate in the day. But, near dark everything looks the same. especially if ya get busy doing the activity - fishing. Once I passed Rose Valley, I was unsure of what turn to where? Called Pete R and got encouragement. Chose the correct fork to stay in North Anna river. But the river seemed to be coming to an end? Whew, a small channel off to the right and Tim's! In the exact area I was supposed to be. Gizzards flipping most everywhere and a few breakers.
I was at the location to seeing the gizzards flippin, cast a surface lure near by and/or into breaking stripers, maybe try my Sabiki to hook gizzards, run the modified Bugz Planer boards, and maybe boat a striper.
OK, Pete assured me I was on the right track. He led this old horse to water, but . . .
Decided to flip my frog (the surface lure) as it was already on the casting rod.
Lots of tosses, but nothing. Didn't see my pencil popper, so I put a realistic looking shad on and flipped it for a while. Nothing! Great, there were two pencil poppers in the box. Flipped it . . . where'd it go? A popper that sinks?
Murphy again! OK, give up on flipping for stripers.
Motored above the bridge to a huge open bay and lots of baits on the sonar an large arches. Deloying the trolling motor was working great the bow deck chair post to steady me. Loading the trolling motor with the rope was working well too. So, I just wandered as the sun set in the heavier dark clouds. Back below the bridge to the smaller bay and began trying the Bugz Planer boards that I added a second foam and the LED flashing light.
Got the planer on the water and the flashing light started as soon as it hit the water. Somehow, I got a photo above and the light is visible almost exactly in the center of the photo.
Didn't have a bait on the hook dragging behind the board and it didn't want to pull strongly to the side. Not sure why. Maybe the light on top changes the pitch of the board so it slips water too much. May need more weigh on the keel? Yeah, and sink the board just like my pencil popper.
Now dark and the cloud cover leaves little to guide me home. Got the electronics dimmed and I'm on my way. Running about 20 as I know there is an island with a Xmas tree on it. The only feature above water. The channel between the tree and the State park a series of S turns that I feel safer following. Don't like them sudden rocks tickling my hull.
The Navionics Plus graph performed great as I had a trail going to the location I fished to get me back home. The 208 bridge seemed like it took forever to actually see any features. Lots of cars, etc. and other marina structures, but nothing to light my way. Had to turn my bow spot light on to be sure. OK, passed the bridge, called my wife as she said she would meet me at the dock to load the boat. Then, I opened it up a bit in the familiar water and got by the Nuke Plant. The Dam lights are near blinding headed to Rockland Creek. Turned into the creek and there was car lights pointed down the channel. Sounds good, but at night, looking into bright lights is blinding. So, I zoomed in the navigation screen and dimmed again. Now Mel (my wife) has here flash light on too. She thinks I'm crazy being on the water at night. Yet, it's a learning experience for both of us.
Finally got the boat tied to the dock and then the real chore began. Backing the trailer down the ramp in the near dark. Forgot to leave the bow light on the boat that would have made it simpler. I forget lots of things these days. Mel is doing her best to light the dock so I can keep the trailer close. Finally got it about right and got the boat on the trailer. Mel got the cable hitched and I got to the truck and hauled the boat out the gate. Two tired elders (Team Elder School) hobbling in the dark to close the gate, work the combination, and head for the house.
No, it's not the end of the story. I parked my motorized chair on the side of the driveway where I could ride it back to the garage from where I park the boat. No one would guess that it sank in the dirt and seemed like the drive wheel was in a hole. Well, it was, and took both of us to get it back on the driveway.
Well, what left of this story can be written tomorrow or tomorrow. Rest for a day and maybe try again on Friday 16. At least it won't be Friday 13.
I will get an early start, and early start, and early start . . .
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