CJ Strike, nice end to the season

[hooked]

It's time to get focused on hunting, so yesterday the boat made its last trip this season out on CJ Strike, ID. Was a pretty good trip... caught a few smallmouth, some crappie, some perch, and trolled up a couple rainbows to round out the day. None of the fish were biting spectacularly, but I managed to get a meal of each while burning off most of the last of the fuel in the tank.

Today the boat got a full end of season cleaning and emptying of a year's accumulation of stuff, repacked the bearings, pulled the prop and cleaned/regreased it all, washed the boat in/out including all the compartments and live well, and even washed and wet vacced the carpet. Will let it air dry for a few days while we spend the rest of the weekend scouting the hills and resighting to hunting loads (vs. the plinking loads we've churned through all summer).

Next week we'll finish winterizing and park it for the winter. Already looking forward to March when the boat can come out of hibernation.

 

[JKToons]

Hooked, totally understand about hunting season, but hoping to get a couple more trips in. Going to take the family to CJ tomorrow for some panfish. Hope we can find some willing to play.

 

[Bduck]

While my ailing knees have prevented me from hunting with the long distance walking marathons, my boat stays in ready year mode. It helps if you can keep it garage which in this case I do. I do pull the engine drains and lower the units so no standing water is lingering while in travel on those cold bitter days fishing. There will be a period when the lakes get capped but there is one that is hit & miss during the winter, Bear Lake. I have driven by CJ Strike Res on my way to Mountain Home AFB and it appears to be a really good lake to hit.