Some Simple Pleasures...

[Codger_64]

We got aced out by storms Labor Day weekend, but did go to the river for a swim between showers. And spent some time in the yard working with quail wings on a fishing pole. Jake is now up to 27 word commands. He is becoming more and more civilized.

I was hoping to make another canoe trip this morning if the weather had cooperated, but woke to early morning showers. I may go ahead and load in anticipation of clearing by midmorning. It has been quite a bit cooler lately with highs in the low to mid 80's as opposed to the near 100 degree temps of a week or two ago.

If the weather doesn't clear I may make a trip to Jackson to pick up a new, lighter check cord and maybe even a Whiskyjack laminated paddle.

I've always wanted one but never could bring myself to lay down the jack for one. But now seems like a good time. The last time I was at my favorite outdoor shop, I coon-fingered the rolls of climbing rope and saw some of considerably smaller diameter that might make a good check cord. I forget the mm size, but it was about the same diameter as a pencil as opposed to the thicker rope I am using now. I do have some concern that the smaller diameter rope will be worse to tangle though. It hasn't been a problem with the current thicker check cord, but the current on the check cord tends to drag Jake around a bit and the thinner cord might help with that. I'll just retire the thicker rope to being painters on the ends of the canoe.

Unfortunately none of my local stores carry the ash and cane seats and drop hangers I need to reoutfit my Old Town Guide canoe. I hate those molded plastic seats. For one thing, they make it impossible to switch ends for solo paddling. For those that don't know, sitting in the bow seat facing the rear of the canoe puts a solo paddler closer to the boat's center which helps with trim and manuvering. The bow becomes the stern and vice-versa. Also the molded seats keep me from scooting to the side when needed to heel the canoe up on it's chines. I have to kneel to do that even when it isn't needed for stability. The old style seats and hangers are readily available on the web though.

 

[Codger_64]

The rain cleared by mid-morning and the dynamic duo went canoing. The outfitters remembered us and went out of their way to help us. Jake, as always, was the hit of the party on the shuttle van. Jenny, the three year old sat behind us and played with Jake the whole trip. "Mommy! I made Ake sit down!". The wind was a problem early on so I loaded sixty pounds of ballast rock in the bow. After that, the canoe rode flat and it was an enjoyable paddle.

The river was about four inches lower than my last trip, and it took just a bit more finesse to find the remaining channels over the gravel bar riffles. We played "tag" with the other canoes the whole way, often passing them and them catchng up when Jake and I stopped to swim and snack, or swim and nap.

Not shown, the Guyot bottle of red wine.

As always, there was a "demo-derby" at every small difficulty. I was proud of myself. I didn't laugh at any of the overturned canoes. At least not where they could hear me. Those poor folk must have paddled twenty miles to get eight miles downriver.

All in all, it was an excellent day in the life of Codger. The women cooed and fawned over Jake, the young men admired my ability to keep my canoe dry-side-up, and the little critters came out to watch us pass. Beaver kits, muskrat kits and young river otters. Saw the few resident Canada geese and mallards, slider turtles, crawdads and fish. As Codger luck would have it, I discovered too late that I had left my fishing license at home, so I didn't fish.

I reconfirmed my need for the seat change. The stern seat is just to far back for solo paddling. And also my lust for the Whiskyjack paddle. I had to use mechanic's handcleaner when I got home to get the aluminum oxide from the Mohawk paddle shaft off my hands.

EDIT TO NOT BUMP:

The paddle and seats are on their way. I was off work yesterday, so Jake and I returned to the river for our first overnighter together.

I packed our gear in two Seal Line drybags just to be sure of no wet sleeping. The smallmouth bass were biting and I caught several, and released them, both yesterday and this morning.

Not wanting to make a production out of cooking and cleanup, I prepared heat-in-the-bag Mountain House beef stroganoff on my gas stove. It was not bad at all. Much better than the eggs and bacon I made for breakfast. One would think that with thirty years of product development, that stuff would inprove. Not a chance. I tossed it and had Folgers for breakfast. At least I haven't forgotten how to make good cowboy coffee. Drinking it from a bowl was different though. I forgot my coffee cup.

I did learn that no matter how cool it is going to get (48 degrees), a person with lung disease has no business building a smoky campfire. The trip went well enough once I recovered from the wood smoke. My tent is drying on the back porch tonight. Jake did really well his first stay in a tent. I suppose it helped that he sleeps in a wire kennel in my living room at home. It did take some doing to get him to understand that the sleeping bag and air mattress were mine, not his.

 

[Codger_64]

I went for another short canoe trip yesterday, trying out the new seats I installed and the Mitchell Seneca laminated wood paddle. It wasn't really a fishing trip, just a bit of "me time", but I did manage to catch a few. Jake stayed home this time. Paddling the canoe solo isn't a big problem, even traveling upstream but it is becoming more and more difficult for me to load and unload the canoe by myself. The river, because of our recent cool weather (high 30's at night) was deserted so enlisting help wasn't an option.

I caught a few fish, mostly rock bass.

One nice smallie found my lure though.

The water was cool enough that they all survived the trip on my metal lip stringer. I would have released them but a fisherman at the take out was having poor luck so I made a donation to his stringer. Every trip reminds me of how little time I have left to enjoy these outings, so I plan to go as often as I can until I just can't anymore.

 

[Rupestris]

Great pics Codger. Thanks for the updates. :thumbup:

As for the Rock Bass, (Ambloplites Rupestris, Ambloplites constellatus). I chose that as my forum name more than 10 years ago because that was all I could catch on a regular basis. Whether I wanted to or not .

I still enjoy catching them on ultra-light gear but prefer Crappie.

 

[Codger_64]

Thanks Chris. I prefer the smallmouths myself, a preference gained by many years on rocky Ozark streams in Arkansas. But using very light rod and line, most any of these fish put up a sporting battle in a slight current.

The ash and cane seats worked great. I set them on 3 1/2" drops for a lower center of grqavity and was able to paddle from the bow seat (canoe reversed) putting me closer to center in the boat. I ditched the factory center yoke also and installed two plain ash thwarts. I like their spacing much better for lashing gear and for the lateral strength they give the hull. Rather than buy from eBay sellers or the canoe manufacturers, or from retailers like REI, I bought these direct from the manufacturer, Essex Industries of New York. They were less expensive, of great quality and are made by workers who are handicapped or disadvantaged. Essex may even be the supplier to the big canoe makers.

I finally got the latest pool finished this past week. It took way too long for the concrete finishers to pour, dye, stamp and seal the deck and I couldn't fill it until they were done.

My partner was overly nervous about building this one because he had never built a pool with so many curved walls and odd digging dimensions. But it turned out quite well with far less labor than I had included in the bid. I'm glad to have this one done (still have to add the rock waterfall and slide).

 

[Codger_64]

Jake and I hit the river again today.

Birds were abundant, hawks, crows, ducks and Canada geese..

We made a late start, but took our time fishing along the way. I began to get concerned when I came to my landmark which I knew to be one hour from the takeout, and it was already 5:30.

Watching the current and paddling a lot, we made it just as the sun was setting. There was barely light enough to snap a quick photo of the stringer before I released them all. Same mix as usual... smallmouths, red eye rock bass and a few bream, all on the Worden Roostertail lure.

We were both worn out after the loading. Jake slept all the way home and I wanted to. Unloading will have to wait for morning.

 

[Rupestris]

Once again, great pics. Thanks.

I went out to the cottage today to shut it down for the season. Burnt a pile of leaves the size of my car, blew out the water lines, and shut down the electricity. While the leaves burned I walked down to the canal that connects two of the four lakes. Caught one small largemouth.

Got home tonight and had a little fire in the yard while listening to the Tigers/Rangers game on the radio.

I'm headed to the local state park in the AM to do a little more shore fishing. I might even remember to bring the camera tomorrow .

 

[Codger_64]

I don't have a camera at all. These are taken with my Samsung Rugby II cell phone.

Sorry for having Jake in most of my pictures. He just naturally hogs the view in the front of the canoe.