If not for the fish, it would have been a terrible day!

[cassidyta]

After a few flight delays, I finally got home from a work trip around midnight Saturday morning. I had a tournament starting at 0500 so I quickly got my gear ready and drifted up to sleep. It is never good on tourney day to see sun light when you wake up! A quick look at the phone showed me that my alarm was going off in silent mode and it was 0545. I contemplated going back to sleep but strted the day in 3rd place for AOY. I jumped up and loaded the boat and began the 30 minute drive to the lake. It was then that I realized I needed gas. Whether it was the fact that I was tired or too much in a hurry, I took the corner to the gas pump to sharply and managed to make solid contact with the concrete barrier protecting the gas pumps. I ended up denting the fender and shattering the whell bearing cover. A couple of swings with a sledge hammer had me back on the road. I launched at 0715 and made my way out to some spots. Of course, being 2 hours late meant that there were boats in most of the places I fish. The only good thing is that it forced me to really put some thought into where and presentation. We had a noon check in, so the clock was not my friend.
I decided to focus on the rock cliffs with jigs. This became the only productive bait of the day. I managed two solid fish between 0730-0900. I brought in 2 shorts and lost one possible keeper. I had just worked a bank and was turning th eboat around for a second pass when I noticed that my trolling motor didn't sound quite right. It is down right upsetting to pull up a motor and only see a propless shaft spinning.
Needless to say, this changed my plans for the final three hours. I tried running the main up to spots and drifting but this was a futile effort. I ended up having to find places I could tie off to trees. It didn't really matter since the first 2 keepers were the only ones I was able to weigh in.
So I ended up with 2 fish combining for a little under 7 lbs and a second place finish. I will be purchasing 2 TM props this week as well as a wheel bearing cover.

[BigBassin144]

Man Cass, that really sucks. Like they say, when it rains, it pours.

At least you still finished second and caught some fish.

BB

[MIbasser]

Cass, that sounds a lot like my tournament this past weekend....... but not nearly as bad as mine!

[carolina-rig-01]

Man Cass that is rough. There is nothing I hate worse than over sleeping, and it does tend to compound problems which by the way it sounds is what happened to you. Better luck next time buddy. I have broke a tm prop when I didn't have a spare, it made me more mad than a midget with a yo-yo.............Now I carry a spare.

[keithdog]

Wow, shaking my head. I don't know if I would have been able to persist as you did. Gotta hand it to ya. Plus a second place finish. After a day like that you desearved at least that. Hope you never have another day like that one.

[Cavs1123]

Wow all that and a second place finish! Gotta hand it to ya!

[bassinbob]

Congrats on the finish.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Nice travel over adversity Cass. Did it help bump you up anymore in the AOY standing? I tend to sleep past the alarm just to push myself to fish harder for lost time.

[bamabassman]

hats off to ya pal. i owuld've given up real quick.

[cassidyta]

Bama-If it hadn't been a tournament I would probably would have just gone back to bed when I woke up late. The fact that it was a competition makes giving up unthinkable for me. Especially when I had two fish in the livewell already.
Bubba-I am in first for the AOY with 3 events to go.

[skeeter1804]

Cass, congrats on the finish but sorry to hear about your luck. Hopefully nothing was damaged too badly.

[BlueDaksi]

Wow... What a day! At least you moved up a place. This could describe the essence of what much of my summer has been so far, but I always try to look at the bright side of things and the alternatives. Glad you placed second and live to fish again another day.