OK Larry- here ya go. (no one else here know Wader was a budding John Steinbeck ?)
ANGLERS ON THE STORM........."
SmithtownJoe & I decided to defy the weather Gods & headed off into the Nissy Friday night armed with those monster bass worms available from Northport Rod & Reel, two packages of clams, clam chum & as much foul weather gear as we thought we'd need.
While loading the canoe I noticed what appeared to be a fair number of fish (bass?) swirls heading up river in the direection of the current & tide.
Good Sign.
To the back of the river we went trolling a worm or two along the way. Anchored up & fished the last of the incoming into slack
(7:30 to 11:00).
Floating the worms & dropping the clam on fish finders we waited.
And we waited.
And then we waited some more.
Intermittent drizzle & rain - while tolerable did not deter us.
Couple of taps on SMJ's line - some mating horsecrabs on mine.
SMJ tried tossing his popper.
Yes - I know how that sounds.....
No signs of bait or fish.
Drizzle turning to real rain.
My cell phone goes off - the wife.
"It's raining out."
"Yeah. We noticed."
"You still fishing?"
"Yes."
"But it's raining!"
"I know - what's your point."
"You're an idiot."
"No. We're fishmen - we fish."
"Idiot."
The communication ends.
As the outgoing began to move the mighty Nissy - we pulled up the baits - loaded fresh worms (snakes?) onto our gear & trolled back toward the mouth.
The rain began to intensify.
As we passed our normal unloading/launching point we decided to make one large trolling sweep of the area.
What the hell - we were already soaking wet!
ZINGGGGGGGG!!!!
My rod with the Shimano Baitcaster went off.
(Don't ya love that sound?)
Just under a keeper (26" by SMJ's reckoning & if you know Joe - he can sure reckon).
Waving bye bye - we released our finny friend with the hope we'd meet again.
Few minutes later - as the rain intensified further - ZINGGGGGGGG again. Smaller bass but a stronger fighter & somehow he managed to disabled the anti-reverse on the BaitRunner. Rain getting stronger. .Nothin' for SMJ yet.
He appeared to be crying but I realized it was simply the rain water running down his face.
A few taps later - SMJ got his turn.
ZINGGGGGGGG!!
As he's bring this one in - his second rod (we were trolling 3 by now) goes off as well. I grabbed it - fish spits the hook.
We release SMJ's customer (under sized again) & continue our rain soaked trolling.
I notice that there's a bit of water now sloshing around in the bottom of the canoe - no bilge pump here.
Actually no freakin' bilge to put one in.
Rain really picking up. Looking down at my fingers - I noticed they're all "wrinkly".
SMJ hooked one more & with a water soaked sense of accomplishment - we headed for shore getting back on land around 12:30.
When I got home - I noticed just how much water was in the boat.
Thought of getting my old rubber ducky & fooling around - but it was late.*******
Sunday morning, despite the wind – I loaded up the canoe & launched her into the river. Thought I’d check out the recent reports of increasing bass activity. See if there was any validity to ‘em.
I know. With that wind you actually went into the Nissequoge in a canoe?
More on that later.
Entered the water just as the first light began to show somewhere around 6:30 – 7 o’clock.
Fast incoming water.
Fast “incoming wind”.
This’ll be interesting. Little did I know.
Trolled on over to the Nissequoge side dragging a small umbrella rig behind.
Ignored.
Anchored up just off of the reed beds & dropped an eel one rod on one side.
On the other – being as it was still fluke season & being as I still had some of those nice Northport Rod & Reel spearing - a fluke set-up on the other. Used the traditional spearing & squid sandwich tipped onto a fluke hook sporting a green buck tail & spinner blade.
Needed 6 oz of weight to hold bottom between the incoming tide & the wind fed current.
Turned on the radio & waited.
“All we are is dust in the wind”
Don’t know about dust – but pretty much everything else was definitely blowin’ past me. Even the birds were having some trouble.
As I was beginning to feel like one of those cars being tested in a wind tunnel...
ZZZZZINNNNNNNG!
Fluke rod goes off.
Unless it’s the mother of all fluke I DID NOT have a fluke on that rod. The fish was taking line. Turned the bait caster gizmo off & started cranking. Schoolie bass measuring out at 24 inches.
Rebaited & tossed another offering over the side.
10 minutes later.
ZZZZINNNNGGGGGGGG!
Fluke rod again. Same size bass.
And over the side went another “sandwich”.
Incredibly – the wind seemed to stiffen a bit more.
Some tugging on the eel rod now – bottom. Picked it up just in case. Few more pulls & then it went “silent”. Decided to retrieve it just to check & make sure the eel was still there.
He was – looked like he had been “mouthed” a bit.
As I was putting it back in the rod holder & wondering if a second set of pontoons would help reduce some of the rocking I’m getting due to the white caps now beginning to appear in the river...
ZINNNNGGGGGGGGGGG!!
Fluke rod goes off again.
22 inch bass
“And the wind cried Mary...”
(Jimi Hendrix)
Retuned the bass to the water, rebaited, sat down, heard a man on the radio say “Wind is expected to gust up to 45 to 50 MPH. This got me to thinking two things:
1 – maybe staying out isn’t such a good idea
2 – fish seem to be here – let me stick it out another 10 minutes or so & then move further back in the river. Probably less wind there
Tug on the eel rod. Bend in the eel rod.
Doesn’t look like fish activity.
Of course not – I’m drifting. Anchor is having difficulty holding bottom. The eel rig is getting hung up.
As I’m freeing it..
ZZZINGGGG.....
Another bass on the fluke rig. 20 inch fella this time
After I released him decided to pull up the anchor which was holding bottom less & less & sending me into a more rapid drift & try heading toward the back & hopefully out of some of this wind.
Really moving now with the anchor up.
Dropped the eel over the side & decided to troll him as I tried to control my drift to the back of the river using the trolling motor to steer only. Didn’t need it for forward progress.
Current, tide & wind were providing that.
Got about 50 feet & the eel got hit.
Bluefish.
Cut the motor & began reeling in. Should have dropped the anchor as well.
“The legend lives on from the Chippewa on down
Of the big lake they called ’gitche gumee’
The lake, it is said, never gives up her dead
When the skies of November turn gloomy
With a load of iron ore twenty-six thousand tons more
Than the Edmund Fitzgerald weighed empty.
That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed
When the gales of November came early.”
(Gordon Lightfoot)
With the motor off & no anchor before I got much more then 4 cranks on the reel – the wind spun me broadside toward the reed banks. Rapidly gave up trying to retrieve the line that was in the water & desperately tried to turn the canoe away from the reeds & back out into the river.
The wind & river would have none of it as I collided with the bank riding part way up placing the canoe broadside to the river & at a slight incline. The pontoon on one side caught in the reeds.
After retracting the pontoons & tilting the trolling motor up away from the river bottom I attempted to push off the bank using one of my paddles. This became rather futile. I’d push off somewhat – try to move to a different location & get pushed back up onto the bank.
Keeping my balance was not easy either as the pontoons were retracted, the canoe was at an angle & I was now taking white capped water over the side.
“Way down below the ocean
Where I wanna be it maybe”
(Donavan Leitch)
Thinking this isn’t looking good I’m trying to consider my options.
Get out of the canoe & drag her free?
Nah – won’t work.
Looked to be about a 5 foot drop off & even if I could stand I remembered what happened to SmithtownJoe tried that.
Got stuck in the mud up to his knees & we almost couldn’t get him free.
So having no other ideas – I continued to try & push myself clear as more water continued to come over the side.
Eventually got myself clear of the reed bank & out into the river. Have about a foot of water in the canoe now.
No longer thinking about trying the back of the river I make an attempt to get back to my pull out point.
As the canoe spins sideways again that radio guy broadcast pops into my head:
“Wind gusts may reach 40 to 50 MPH”
S%&T!!
Think they’re there now. I’m not making any head way & the wind keeps spinning me around.
I’ve now been blown all the way back to that last channel marker – SMJ & Sticks know which one I’m talking about. The one back by the golf course. Water really moves back here under normal circumstance.
Earlier I had seen 1 guy in a small boat head back this way – hope he returns soon.
Now I’m doing a combination of rowing & motoring. Primarily using the motor to fight the turning of the boat by the wind.
Going no where fast.
Drop the anchor over – time to make a call.
“We would be warm below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head on the sea bed
In an octopus' garden near a cave”
(Lennon/McCartney)
Take out the cell hoping I’ll get a signal & dial.
“In order to dial the number you want from this area – you must dial the area code first”
What the hell is with that anyway?
My cell is a 631 area code – I live 6 blocks away in a 631 area code – so how come I have to dial the area code?
I redial.
“Hello?”
Sounds like a teenage girl – hard to hear with the wind & the shaky connection.
My daughter?
“Is mom around?”
“She went shopping.”
Thinking just my luck -I start to doubt that it’s my daughter..
“Who is this?”
“Cheryl”
Wrong number.
I redial.
Won’t connect.
Pull up anchor which was really not holding that much – just kept me from turning I’m swept another 10 feet back until I can halt the slide.
Try to get closer to shore on the Kings Park side as the wind is driving toward the Nissequoge side. Can’t get any further toward where I have to go & losing ground.
Drop the anchor again.
Make another call to home.
This time dialing the area code.
And this time I get a message to redial without using the area code
Get through on the second try & ask my wife to call Smithtown Bay Constable & have them send harbor patrol back into the river as I can’t get out.
Pull up the anchor & decide to give it another try not knowing when or if I’ll see Harbor Patrol.
No dice lose more ground.
FINALLY – ANOTHER BOAT COMING THE OTHER WAY!!
I begin waving frantically.....
“Come on and rescue me,
Come on baby and rescue me, come on baby and rescue me”
(Linda Ronstat)
See me – heads on over – the line is tossed – I’m tied alongside.
Rescue boater (Tom) calls into Harbor Patrol to tell them to stand down he’s got the fool in the canoe on board.
So.............
I’m finally back on shore leaning against my truck ready to pull the canoe onto the trailer when I hear the eels rustling around in the bait pail.
Hmm....
Three of ‘em left – spearing went overboard sometime during the odyssey.
Doesn’t look too windy right here – I can probably tilt the canoe over without having to unload all my stuff & dump the water out. I can drift ‘em without too much trouble right in this little mooring location...
Another wind gust blows the door closed on the truck.
Nahh........
Side Notes:
All fish taken on the fluke set-up – they ignored the eels - interesting.
All fish released
Special thanks to TomNovember 7 2005
Something of a late report & follow up to SmithtownJoe’s report of the same night (see link below)..................
Hit the river Friday night with Jeepman. SMJ & Sticks.
Suggested to Sticks that he only bring on what he really needed in the interest of preserving some room.
Had added a pouch to the gunwale up by the bow for this.
“Nah. Its just my backpack tackle thing & the bucket of crabs & cooler.”
Bet he was sorry by the end of the night.
Decided to try a “picket approach” to the fishing tonight. Sticks & I in the canoe. JM & SMJ in SMJ’s portaboat. Figured we spread out across the river in picket formation & drop our eels down in the back of the river in “The Narrows. An area were during low water the river (alright – can you guess?) “narrows” & 3 channels meet. The thought was any bass coming through the narrow end of the river where we decided to make our stand couldn’t help but swim past our dangling eels. It was gonna be a slaughter.
Yeah. Right!!
So out we went. Out went our eels.
Shortly thereafter out went our enthusiasm for this particular location as nothing was happening.
No signs of bait, fish or the occasional crab that is bold enough to grab onto a swimming eel.
Good conversations, that while enjoyed, was not what we came out for.
After about an hour:
“Wanna try somewhere else?” (Sticks)
“Sure.” (wader)
“Hey Joe (SMJ) what do say we try a different location?” (wader)
fyi – I kind of like referring to myself in the 3rd person
“Sure. Front or back?” (SMJ)
“Either’s fine by me.” (wader)
“Let’s go up front. You know – by Bass Cove” (Sticks meaning behind Short Beach)
“OK. Meet you up there.” (SMJ)
Jeepman who has always been media shy & is rumored to have an inexplicable fear of quotation marks – remained quiet. Personally I think we may have been scaring him. After tonight – he may decline further offers to fish with us.
Off putters SMJ & Jeepman.
Sticks & I follow in the Minnow trolling an eel.
We soon lose sight of SMJ & JM as my trolling motor strains against the incoming current. While I can get there – it’s gonna be slow going.
“This is gonna take awhile.” (wader)
“Let’s have SMJ tow us.” (Sticks)
“Yeah?” (wader)
“Why not? It’ll get us there a lot faster & then you can use the incoming to troll on back.” (Sticks)
“OK – give him a call.” (wader)
So Sticks gets a hold of SMJ on the walkie talkie.
Hell yeah. Walkie Talkie.
We were prepared!
Back comes SMJ & JM.
We toss my anchor line into SMJ’s craft. He ties it off onto a cleat on his transom & off we go.
Water nice & calm.Expectations rising for our newly designated picket area.
Beautiful night – breeze that was plaguing us earlier has dropped off.
About half way there.
Middle of the river approaching the channel marker.
It’s going to be a good night – we can feel it.
“LAST ONE IN THE WATER IS A ROTTEN EGG!!!!”
Now we still are a bit unclear as to what happened next.
Did SMJ pick up the rate of travel thereby raising the bow & lowering the stern of the canoe?
Did a Scout Fish perhaps tug on the stern of the canoe?
Looking down I am all of a sudden perplexed to see what appeared to be “sea foam” gathering around my hip waders instantly followed by the eel rag floating past.
As I realize what’s happening & stand up the entire stern of the canoe goes under.
“Slow down!” (Sticks yelling to SMJ)
“Huh?” (SMJ)
“We’re taking on water.” (Sticks)
“Huh?” (SMJ)
“Water my A$$ - we’re sinking!!” (wader)
“Huh?” (SMJ)
With those words Sticks goes overboard.
Myself?
For some bizarre reason I get the thought:
“If I climb toward the bow maybe my counter weight will pull the stern up?”
I’m positive I’ve seen this done somewhere.
Rapidly the canoe decides to reenact that scene in Titanic where the ship is sticking straight up at a 90 degree angle – I soon abandon this idea & join Sticks in the water.
“wader. You ok?” (Sticks – holding onto SMJ’s boat))
“Yeah. Cold but ok.” (wader)
Current is now swinging the canoe around SMJ’s boat as it’s still tied to the cleat.
I try to swim/kick my way towards SMJ’s boat. Legs feel like lead as my hip waders have filled with water.
“It’s ok – you can reach bottom. It’s only about 5 feet deep here.” (Sticks)
Put my legs down. Bottom. I “tippy toe” over to the Weekend Warrior.
I look around still in the water – kind of surreal.
My stern light – while completely under water is still on.
“that guy was right about it being water tight - glad I spent a little extra on it”
Fishing rod in its holder is sticking up out of the water looking very much like a periscope I believe I have seen some scout fish using in the past. Eel on it is free swimming inside the water filled canoe.
Anything not bolted down is now floating around us.
Dangling in this ever widening “debris field” – up to my chin in 50 to 60 degree water - one thought & one thought only comes to me.
“Well – this $UCK$!!”
All of a sudden- POP!
The lid of my cooler which happened to be floating near my head at the moment popped open & sank to the bottom. Four beers inside heading for its watery grave. Could have used one of them when/if I ever get back to shore.
“Think you can get in here?” (SMJ)
“Don’t know – maybe by the stern.” (Sticks)
“Yeah – don’t want to capsize you coming over the side.” (wader)
Jeepman – still trapped by his fear of quotation marks – remains silent.
First try – no good.
Too much water in my waders weighing me down.
Current getting a little stronger now.
Second try...
I come over the side like an exhausted cod minus the flapping around.
I move over to make room for Sticks.
He makes in on his first try.
“You guys ok?” (SMJ)
“Yeah. Just Cold.” (Sticks – whose teeth are beginning to send out Morse Code by this time)
Slowly we head back towards shore towing the Minnow which is now resembling its name albeit a dead minnow.
Still a surreal scene – stern under water – stern light shinning brightly from below the surface illuminating that ell still attached to my rod. I think the eel was laughing.....
Trolling motor & battery fully submerged. Wonder if I’ll get them back to working?
Had to hold the anchor line towing the canoe to take the pressure off of the Weekend Warrior. Was afraid that the extra weight from the water flooded canoe might prove to be too much for SMJ’s transom.
Didn’t need two boats going down tonight.
Finally we make it to shore – as two of my fingers go numb from holding the towing rope – circulation cut off I guess. We pull the canoe onto the beach & try to assess what was lost.
My Cooler with its store of goodies.
My Fish Net
Cell Phone that was in my pocket
Half of my bait bucket – the inner bucket was clamped to a cleat
Cup holder (darn)
Assorted lures, bait knife that came out of the pouch they were in (pouch suctioned cupped to the gunwale)
My radio which also free floated out of another pouch.
If the trolling motor & battery are still ok – other then the phone - it isn’t too bad.
Glad I have most things tied off onto cleats.
Sticks’ losses where total – only managed to save his rod.
Hind sight tells me we had too much weight in the stern.
Battery (30 pounds)
Tolling Motor
Me
Sticks (sitting on the middle bench)
NOTE TO SELF ? if the thought of having yourself towed to another location in the river occurs to you – balance the weight load first.
Sticks was beginning to look like a jack hammer in action.
“Head home & take a hot shower.” (SMJ)
“OK. You guys alright if I leave?” (Sticks)
“Yeah – go ahead.” (wader)
While Jeepman & myself loaded what was left into the canoe - after dumping the river out - & placed her on the trailer for the ride home SMJ went out in search of the debris field to see if he could recover some of what the river took.
Alas – the river claimed it all.
So what did we learn tonight?
When being towed in a canoe in search of a potentially better fishing ground – EVEN OUT THE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION.
Small cooler with 4 beers - $10
Net - $20
Cell Phone - $100
Bait Bucket - $12
Cup holder - .50
Perfect Size Transistor Radio - $30
Assorted Tackle - $40
Learning to balance out the weight distribution while being towed?
Priceless................
OH?
When I got home?
“Why are you all wet?” (wife) “Raining”
