My alarm went off at 6:00. As I emerged from slumber I could hear rain on the skylight in the kitchen. After a short debate with my conscience I decided to hit the snooze and see how the weather was doing in 30 min.
Upon my second awakening, I could stay in bed no longer. After making a pot of strong coffee, I went to go get my son at his grandma's. Soon thereafter we were finished preparing the "Mighty Defiant" for a date with that fickle lady named destiny.
Firing up "Old Yeller" with the "Mighty Defiant" in tow we drove to the launch at Cadcade Valley by way of the Phillips gas station/convenience store where we acquired a dozen of their finest night crawlers. After easily launching the Defiant by 7:30 we were speeding south toward our previously determined area of attack.
About a half hour later, after a good fight, I boated a healthy 23" walleye. We trolled on for another 20 min and my son hooked into another good sized fish. Shortly thereafter we had another passenger aboard the Defiant. It was a 21" walleye. (This fish was tagged) This would prove to be the beginning of a long dry spell. As we turned north around the peninsula I received a call from my long time fishing partner Mario. He requested that I pick him up at the peninsula boat launch. We trolled toward Mario for a short while and then decided to fire up the warp engine and make haste to rescue our comrade from the shore.
After picking him up it was decided that we would continue north to the bridge and try our luck there casting jigs. Then, to my disappointment the gearshift on the Defiant came off the cable making it impossible to shift! We decided to tie off to the bridge with a long line so as to sit in the current while we fished.
As Albert and Mario fished I attempted repairing the Defiant with positive results. With the repair completed and the Defiant race ready it was decided to begin trolling again (the fact that neither one of my crew had had so much as a bite the whole time we were tied to the bridge was a major factor in this decision).
Onward we trolled south around the peninsula then north up the other side. About half way to the bridge Mario latched on to a large smallmouth I estimate it was at least 3lb. We cut the trolling motor to let Mario fight the fish but, right at the boat, the fishing gods frowned on Mario when it came out of the water and spit the hook in mid air. As we all mourned Marios loss we fired up the kicker and trolled up to the bridge where we dropped off Albert (due to the fact that he had a previous engagement).
Yet again we headed down around the peninsula and back to the launch to no avail it was here that where Mario took his leave. At this time I called my lovely wife and made arrangements to pick Samantha (our 3yr old) and her up at Community Park (formerly the State Park).
Once again, the main motor of the Defiant jumps to life, and a short while later I was united with my loving wife and child. Along with them they brought sandwiches and leftover pizza (A meal fit for a king).
We began trolling again a short while later, and within feet of where I caught my first fish we both hooked into fish but I was the only one who was lucky enough to boat mine. It was another nice walleye. It was decided to turn around and hit the same area again (and a wise decision it was!!). Right where we hit the last ones we hooked into two more!! But yet again Tonya was denied. I managed to boat another one though.
It was at this time all hell broke loose the kicker ran out of gas so we drifted to shore, while dealing with this Samantha decided to unhook the stringer from the boat. Not having enough gas to re-fill the kicker we decided to call it a day. It was then we noticed the stringer was gone. We went back and as chance would have it we found the fish. Upon making another pass the shifter came off again!! so we were confined to forward gear only and to add insult to injury the fish were in a rocky shallow area so we had to use the oar to maneuver into position to get the fish, (my wife the consummate outdoors person that she is, volunteered to jump in the water for the fish, what a Lady!!) after a scene out of abbot and costello we retrieved our stringer intact.
I took the ladies to the state park where I had picked them up and while getting ready to head for cascade I noticed that my fuel supply was low. I had gas but no mixing oil So I called Mario and he brought me a pint of oil. (Mario is a good friend to get up from his afternoon siesta to do this for me).
Well, once again virtue triumphed over evil and I put yet another productive day of fishing behind me.
By the way we were using trolling gear with a chartreuse double whammy or a wedding ring tipped with a nightcrawler. Mario was using a salt and pepper mister twister when he hooked that smalley.
Tight Lines to all
B.P.
*Editor's Note: This report wins the prize for most entertaining report in quite some time - thanks B.P.!

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