So, I have been hearing that the Striped Bass have been hitting the surf pretty hard lately. Decided that I really should make use of my annual Fishing license so over the weekend I dug around and turned up an old plastic 5 gallon bucket. Knew if I kept looking I would find one of those handy fabric pocket units made to fit over the rim of a bucket somewhere in my collection of garage sale acquisitions. Yep, nice blue one.
A bit more scrounging around and I found an old cast off camo back pack strap set. Fitted the blue pocket unit around the rim, few properly placed drill holes, handful on pop-rivets and washers, and I had a perfect fishing bucket. Can walk the beach while casting the surf and carry everything I needed with me. And should some fish get foolish enough to commit suicide on my line, even a place to toss the fish without it dripping down my back.
I loaded the pockets with weights, knife, pliers, swivels, leader, and tossed a small plastic container with a selection of plastic swim baits. And was set.
Monday's are never good for cutting out early, so drove the Jetta and figured I'd hit it Tuesday. Tuesday morning came and schedule wasn't going to be any better. But, heck, the ocean wasn't going anywhere, so Wednesday was the plan.
Tuesday night got the 12 foot surf rod and reel down from the rack and tied it in the Red VW. Rolled up a pair of jeans and tee for after work fishing and set em on a table in the room to take out with me Wednesday morning.
Got up this morning, headed out, grabbed the wader and PFD tote out of the garage and my "new" fish bucket, dropped them in the bed of the truck, and headed to work. Day was destined to be warm, with an off-shore evening breeze. Looking forward to cutting out of work on time for a change.
About 10 am I realized....dang me, left the jeans and tee at home...
Decided at lunch, I could just pick up a pair of shorts and a tee shirt at the store and still make the beach tonight. Easy done.
Five rolled around. Pulled the tie, shirt, and slacks and changed into the new shorts and tee. Jumped in the VW truck and fired it up. Thought I heard an odd whistling sound, but it went away almost immediately, gauges looked good, engine sounded right, so into gear to fight the traffic northward towards the beach and homeward.
Stop and go, stop and go.
Finally broke out of the traffic and wound 'er up headed north. 5 miles later, the lane behind and beside me disappeared in a solid wall of white. Oil pressure tanked.
Shut off the engine and coasted off the freeway. Headed around back and the oil had blown all over the muffler. Looked like the whistle I heard was a pin-hole leak in the hose leading from the oil pump to the external cooler. Under full pressure, that pinhole blew wide open.
One tow truck ride later, and I am mostly pleased that fishing is a once in a while experience with me, and not a passionate hobby. Because the fishing was so that I could have a different evening experience....and I got a tow truck ride, so that counts. Don't it?
After sending the tow truck driver on his way, I transferred the 12 foot rod to the Jetta bike rack and the waders and fish bucket into the trunk.
You see, I've been hearing that the Stripers are hitting the surf pretty hard lately.
I think maybe I'll cut out of work on time for once tomorrow night and make use of that annual license I buy..........
© 2016 Marty Vandermolen
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