I make no apologies for what today is called a “point of origin”. I was the son of a company grade mustang officer and a sharecroppers daughter, both from the South Carolina low country. I was raised to appreciate nature, taught to handle a sporting firearm safely and introduced to fishing at a very early age. Our tackle in those days, 60 years ago, consisted of a couple of long shanked hooks, a few split shot and a cane pole, all procured at a local shop that sold crickets for a penny apiece. The best of the cane poles were varnished and one selected just the right one with the care that today’s angler bestows on the finest rods made from exotic epoxy’s and synthetic materials. In a sense, I am returning home to enjoy the excitement of a day on the river as in my first days as a fisherman. Reconnecting with one’s past holds the promise of high adventure.
Since those early days, I have owned and fished from a selection of boats, from aluminum Jon boats to sleek and very expensive full dress Ranger bass boats. With fearless resolve I have blasted up and down the big lakes in Missouri including the tree filled Truman Reservoir that has claimed an untold number of lower units on boats piloted by folks who lacked the prerequisite experience to master this lake. Often the boat riding superseded the fishing, with occasional boat races thrown in for good measure. Age is slowing me down, and the expense of owning and maintaining today’s Uber fast bass boats stretches credibility. In today’s economy, it is hard to justify a boat that costs house prices, and that burns 4 dollar gas at an alarming rate…at least on the income of a teacher and trooper who are both getting long in the tooth. This summer has seen us become reacquainted with the Missouri rivers we love, sitting on a kayak. This conveyance is not unlike the carefully handmade, one man boats I enjoyed in Carolina, catching a mess of “bream” and dropping them into a live well built into the bottom of the boat. I don’t remember ever seeing alligators, but vividly recall snakes as thick as your arm, gliding by as they monitored our intrusion into their kingdom, a backwater swamp.
I own three kayaks, an inflatable guaranteeing portability and two plastic marvels, one of which I took delivery of yesterday. In a concession to technology, this boat is equipped with sonar, a blue tooth controlled trolling motor, and a 360 degree swiveling seat. It is a mini bass boat in a lot of respects, but can still be managed with a kayak paddle when not pulling a long eddy into the wind, where the drop down, lithium powered troller save a marginal back and arthritic hands. The primary means of propulsion is the river current, as it should be, however, if one chooses his launch location carefully, you could easily snatch a crappie or two out of one of our reservoirs. My daughter, who has forgotten more about boats than I ever knew, reintroduced us to the joys of fishing from a one man conveyance, a simple and profound pleasure. If you even think you might enjoy nature from a few inches above the water, slip down to one of our float streams, rent a kayak or canoe, and spend a few hours communing with our greatest treasures, our clear Ozark streams.
Today’s float boats (kayaks in this case) are mostly made from roto-molded plastic, are virtually indestructible and relatively light. They can be fast and tippy or slower and stable, you will have to find your own sweet spot. My latest acquisition will easily handle a 600 pound load, with plenty of room for Tazzy to provide his guide service and observational skills. You won’t have 6 or 8 rods arrayed on the deck as in the old Champion, nor will you need them. If you still have a competitive nature, there are a number of Kayak tournament trails that you can complete in. At my age, competitive fishing holds little interest, replaced with a deep appreciation of the water I am on. The transition from high powered bass rigs to a one man boat has been a blast and is perfectly suited to a man whose blue flame has been extinguished by Father Time.
Have a great week!
SR
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