the ride of shame, a short TR

[overbrook]

Spring has sprung.....



So Croaker and I had big plans of doing a little recon trip on a camping/fishing location and floating for smallies the following day.....it turned out to be a real shitshow.On the way down I crossed over the river and it was high and a bit dirty,not too bad so I was hoping maybe by the next morning they would turn off the water and it would clear up enough that we could catch a few fish.We got to our camping spot and put the canoe in....Don caught one small shellcracker and I got the skunk. It had rained heavy the day before and was supposed to rain again in another day or so. We gave up on the ponds we were fishing and at least enjoyed a decent campfire and a few beers...

my digs for the night....Tranny approved

got up in the morning to find Don like this.....

I woke him up and that's when the shitshow started. I found my favorite Sage rod in the passenger seat of the truck....less tip section....Also Tranny approved

Checked the release on the river and it looked like it had dropped to a decent level...so we packed up and planned to float for the smalljaws....I headed out first to the main road and waited for Don.....and waited some more....then decided I better go back and check on Don. Just as I had expected...he was buried in the mud.
Don taking the ride of shame....

proper equipment for mud fishing....

We tried to salvage something of the trip by heading back to my place....

caught a crappie right off....and a few small bass....

and this little dink.....

Don caught a half dozen brim.
Fuckin poachers.....

But, I'm sure ya'll know...even the worst of adventures beat the hell out of the best day at work....and its early in the year. I'll let Don add his side of the story later.

[Al]

Ya got out which is more than I did.  Might hit a local bass pond tomorrow.

[Jfey]

Shit show for sure, but looked like fun anyway.   Looking forward to croakers take.

How far did your legs hang out the back of your truck? No way a beanpole like you fit unless you slept in the fetal position

[overbrook]

Shit show for sure, but looked like fun anyway.   Looking forward to croakers take.

How far did your legs hang out the back of your truck? No way a beanpole like you fit unless you slept in the fetal position

Dude...that thing has like 8' back there with the seats folded down...there's a shit ton of room to stretch out....seriously....I can damn near slide that 10' raft right in the back.....I just have to let a little air out so I can fold the very end in.

[croaker]

Was late getting away from the store to meet Tom for a field test of a camping spot close
to the Savannah River Rapids float.  And to float a (new to me canoe). Conditions wernt optimal but,
that is not unusual...   Stopped for some needed supplies:



A little soggy getting into a place that looked good on paper.



Put the boat in a cold murky March pond. Was slim pickins:

 



Headed back to camp for barley pops and a fire:





Water was rising on the Savannah and Saluda Rivers as we sat by the fire, solving the worlds problems.
What the hell, we'll see what the morning brings...





After the shitstorm went to Tom's pond for a few hours.  He got the skunk off right quick like:





Effin poachers...

[Dougfish]

Good stuff, guys. Rangers are made for mud. 

[sanjuanwormhatch]

Looks like a helluva way to spend the weekend.

[Transylwader]

Yep, that's a shit sho fo reelz.
Water was high where we went. Lots of trouts caught, but I was more interested in getting to a hooters to watch State beat Villanova.
I'll have to head down south once I get the rotors, side mirror and running boards on the Xterra replaced. Did some offroading myself