And just like that it's the start to another year. If I only knew in 1984 (sophomore year of high school) what I think I know now. You can't look back, can't have regrets, and can only look forward.....urgh. Anyway, I hope you and yours have a good year. And for those that fly fish a good fishing year.
Yes, I did spend the last day of 2023 fishing. It was the last day that the bays and rivers were open to fish for striped bass before it opens back up March 1st. I took the drive and fished some not so picturesque
spots in and around the Newark Bay. I had one good hit within the first 20 minutes and then nothing for the next five hours. I jumped spots trying to figure out the tides in reality vs the tide apps on my phone. The waters are still up and off due to last weeks deluge of rain. I had fun and learned a ton.
And now let me introduce you to my little friend. Well you know how much luck I have when it comes to watercraft. Big ones, small ones, it doesn't matter. Something always seems to go wrong. I'm careful. Play by the rules. And don't do stupid things. But if it can go wrong it has. A few of the
memorable ones are the boat ramp mishap, the missing plug in Montauk, and the launching of the S.S. Archer in the Navesink a few years ago. The only boat I haven't had an issue with, besides some
mechanical things that were addressed this year, is the jet boat. That is all ready to go and I'm really looking forward to this spring. The Delaware is beautiful but nasty at the same time. As with all waters, I respect them, and safety is always my priority. However, I have walked the edge while wading to spots in both the salt and freshwaters. My river boat is a 17' with a 40 jet which is probably a tad under
what most experienced river folks would recommend. But it was affordable and I'm not looking to push it to the boundaries of death to catch a fish. Hopefully there are no stories to tell with this one. So that all brings me to my latest, and last, watercraft purchase. This was a must have, believe me.
One day before we left for Florida I was surfing Facebook Marketplace and saw this add for a "Hand built pontoon fishing boat". Mmmm I thought so I clicked on. Now I have tried that kayak thing. Although mine was a starter yak from Tractor Supply I was able to sit on top and paddle myself around. I tried to fly fish from it and that was a mess. Now I have seen them all tricked out and stable and what not but they're just not for me. Now this, this intrigued me, so I wrote the seller and told him I'd be back after Christmas. The holiday worked in my favor. In the end there were 1,000 hits on it and tens upon tens up messages. Santa just hooked me up.
I used my best salesman techniques to convince Theresa that I needed this one. On the 29th we went to the City of Brotherly Love, Philly, to check it out. Now the seller had vetted me every which way but
Tuesday. There was to be no exchange of phone numbers. No contact except via FBM. We were to meet in the first location, pass the further vetting, and then proceed to the location of the boat, which
honestly, "Is down a long alley between two buildings". I asked the seller, Mike, if he could just kill us right there where we met. Theresa thought the tie downs were to wrap our bodies in rugs before being tossed in the river. So we went to the first location, where he could see us, and then were directed to another part of the
shopping mall. "This is getting freaky", Theresa said. All I was thinking was this is going to be so worth it, although, yes it was a little sketchy in the way it was all going down.
As we followed Mike's car I could see the boat as we made our way around a bend in the alley. I said to Theresa, "Well that is definitely going home with us today". And Mike? A total sweetheart. A retired teacher from New Jersey who was dragged to his then girlfriend into Philly some 30 years ago. He is a woodworker, a designer, another mad scientist. But this is so well thought out and for $600 worth the price of admission. "You don't need another boat and we don't have $600 to waste", someone said.
Well there came Facebook Marketplace to the rescue. I had sitting on there a sweet standard gauge train station. The listing had some dust on it but don't you know a guy named Phil Collins, from West Point, NY, messaged me that he was interested. Game, set, match. I would meet up with him on
Friday, a day after the purchase of the boat. Theresa had a hard time believing that a Phil Collins, and what's funny is the the real Phil Collins is a huge train buff, would drive 2 hours for this "thing" we've had bouncing around from room to room for years. Well on Friday at 8 am he rolled in. He also purchased another item I had online so this boat was just about covered. Phew....that really helped.
So what can I tell you. Mike designed and built it. To start he bought two used sailboat pontoons off the internet. They are 9'8' long. Everything on it is aluminum or stainless. The platform is heavy plastic
with a Sea Deck cover. It comes in at 48" wide and is very stable. He used it in local ponds, but no tidal rivers or bays, which is what I will be using it for. It is propelled by a Native Watercraft drive, which went for $799 alone a few years back. To note he had originally listed it for $1,800. One
of the best parts is the swivel seat and room to be able to stand up and fish. He also designed a rudder system controlled by knobs on each side that help in navigation. The hits don't end there. To transport
it it fits easily in the back of my pickup. There are built in wheels that lock up after you get it down and close to the water. To stay put while fishing in skinny water he built a two-pole anchor system that is
raised and lowered with a pulley system rather than by hand. I do have some ideas as far as making a few changes to it, which will most likely lead to it's and my demise. First, I'm not sure if a different set of wheels might serve it better. Maybe a tad bigger and wider to traverse the rocks and sand. Then I was thinking about the fly line. Yes, I always prefer a basket but maybe I could have a combination leaning
post and basket to keep the line clear. During Jim Matson's barn clean out he had an old Hyde drift boat leaning post which I think would be great for the boat. A stripping basket, or similar basket, can be secured below and in between
the posts to allow for line storage between casts. And then there's the tank. I love photographing fish in the tank. I think I could design something that could accommodate a tank that would sit in on top of the
pontoons. I'm not sure if the front or rear would be better. This winter I'll be making a few new ones and this one would have to be 44 inches since I'm planning on having a bigger fish year in 2024. Leif came up with the idea of having a drain plug built in so I just have to screw out and drain the water when done.
As we headed north on 95 out of the city and approached Street Road I knew it was time for some payback. To me Street Road means one thing, Parx Casino, one of Theresa's favorites. So, what could I
say? I just sat there as she continued to hit the button without any returns. All I could think about was being in one of my favorite rivers, or maybe a new one this year, out from the shore just a bit and away from the line up, getting into fish that in years past have been elusive or not in range of my cast from the shore. This, is going to be a very, very good fly fishing year.