NationalProStaff.com - FLW Everstart 1000 Island

Wow what an event! First I had to fight my way to this tournament. My Ranger has had steering issues for the last month. I haven't been able to locate the problem so it has put a damper on where and how I run to my water. I was at my mechanic's till 4 pm on Wednesday, I called Ron and told him I was on my way but was going to be late. Made it just as the meeting started. So the next morning I hit the water with no pre-fish and not knowing if my steering was fixed. My only choice was to run to my Canadian Open water near Kingston. It isn't far just 14 miles away on the north side of Wolf island in the Bateau Channel. But when I hit the gas at blast off and my Etec ripped to the right I knew my motor wasn't fixed and had gotten worst. So what to do? Do I run anyway or play it safe and hang around Clayton fishing the boat slips and docks? Well I know there's fish at my spot and the Lord hates a coward so we ran. Fighting the boat to my water I was beat! And I was right my fish were there but they wouldn't bite, what a long day and then the trip back to Clayton wasn't very fun.

Day 2 was building to be a day from hell. High winds and thunderstorms, everyone at the hotel was talking about it. Where to go? Run out to Lake Ontario or stay in the river. I didn't know what to do, and now with the weather adding to my boat control issue the smart thing to do is to call it and keep the boat on the trailer. I'm not that smart, lol! I quickly changed my 3 blade prop to my 4 blade hoping to get some traction and headed for the ramp. Now where to go? I only have a few spots besides the Bateau channel and they will not protect me from the weather coming which was there by blast off. So off we go back across the river to Canada with the thought of slowing it down and a colour change might get a bite or five. At 2pm I had 4 fish that were not very promising but was better that a scratch. Our trip back to Clayton was going to be tough so I gave us 45 mins to do that 10 min run. When I made then turn out to the gap at Quebec Head to make my run I thought the world was coming to an end, LOL! 4 to 6 foot waves coming off the lake with rouges coming from every direction cause of the wind gusts. I tacked my way back with out incident till just outside Clayton when I stuffed the first of several waves. Wasn't too bad I thought and I could see flat water less than a mile away in Clayton Bay. Then we stuffed another, and another and then a big one! I got that sliding backwards sinking feeling that turns your stomach. I looked back and saw my Evinrude disappearing, water was running off the back deck, the pumps were on and my Etec was pinned and not giving up. My non-boater ran up to the front deck to try and bring it down to pull the stern out of the water. Slowly she climbed out of the water and we pulled out of it. By then my timing was off and we stuffed another one. Keeping the bow up and my Evinrude pinned we pulled out and was able to make it to the calm water of Clayton. I have been in bigger water with bigger waves and I have never had to fight so hard to make it back. Between the weather and my boat not steering right I happy to be back and safe. I have to say I love my Ranger and my Evinrude, once again the saved my life. I will never have anything else!

A special thanks to St. Croix Rods, I caught all my fish on a Rage dropshot rod using a Xzone Slammer Road Kill Perch, which was purchased at JB's Fishing Depot. And of course none of this would be possible with out the funniest man alive Russell Peters.

Well I'm off to air out the boat and dry my equipment. Tight lines and take care everyone.