| You don't always get what you want, but do | | | | catching some more fish, and the trolling |
| you get what you need?While pre-fishing for a | | | | motor he lent us broke. Not only did it |
| tournament at Bull Shoals Lake in Missouri, | | | | break, but it actually broke at the shaft, it |
| we had some of the strangest things happen to | | | | was a mess! We paid for the trolling motor, |
| us in three days there, than at any other | | | | checked out of the cabin, (as it started to |
| lake we had ever been to then or since.Now | | | | snow again), and started the 15 hour drive |
| don't get me wrong, we love Missouri, but | | | | back home. We had fished for about 4 hours, |
| this tournament and the things that happened | | | | in 7 days! We stopped at a motel on the way |
| were a nightmare. We started our drive from | | | | back, and my brother said, "I'll bet there's |
| Delaware in 1998, (we decided to go in March | | | | somebody in there that can fix a motor" "look |
| to pre-fish), and we stopped at a gas station | | | | at all the boats in the lot." We pulled in |
| in Ohio, and not having that much experience | | | | and in the lot after we registered, two older |
| with our trailer and new truck yet, and the | | | | gentlemen were standing out by their rooms |
| excitement of the Big Bass World Championship | | | | talking and my brother say "Do you guys know |
| coming up soon, momentarily clouded my | | | | anything about boat motors?'. The guy says " |
| perception, and we clipped the side of the | | | | DO I!", I've fixed motors my whole life" Hey |
| pumps and took out the wheel and the whole | | | | Joe, he says to his friend, "I'll bet I can |
| fender had to be taken off. We arrived at | | | | fix this guys motor faster than you!", his |
| some cabins near Bull Shoals, and low and | | | | friend and he came over, took off the motor |
| behold the water was down, I mean REALLY | | | | cover, and had it running in less than 10 |
| DOWN! We checked in and launched the boat. | | | | minutes. We were dumbfounded and overjoyed at |
| The mud was so soft that we got stuck while | | | | the same time. We couldn't thank them enough, |
| it started to snow. It was freezing the whole | | | | and you could tell they were enjoying doing |
| time but we made the best of it. The | | | | it. I was so excited, I jumped off the bow to |
| following morning, at 36 degrees, and a good | | | | the concrete, and broke my ankle.Many hours |
| wind, we left the lodge at 8 am. The motor | | | | later, after the hospital, we went out again, |
| ran for about 45 seconds and quit! We started | | | | determined to fish somewhere and catch |
| it up again, several times in the next 2 | | | | something at this point. We put in the boat, |
| hours, but finally 100 spouts and spurts | | | | and started flipping the docks with a jig. I |
| later, it quit altogether.We decided right | | | | hooked into what felt like the World Record |
| then and there that we would catch fish | | | | Bass on the second flip. It pulled so hard, I |
| before we would leave! We used the new | | | | was shaking, a few minutes later I landed my |
| MinnKota trolling motor, that we just got a | | | | 20 pound carp!After a few choice words, I |
| week before, and slowly maneuvered to the | | | | started to laugh and so did my brother Kurt. |
| closest point. We started catching some real | | | | We composed ourselves and started casting |
| nice hybrids, and some largemouth, and really | | | | around the docks again. A few minutes later, |
| starting to develop a pattern for that area, | | | | he set the hook on a monster. A beautiful 25 |
| and the trolling motor short circuited, and | | | | pound Carp! We loaded the boat, and headed |
| smoke came out! It was completely broken.We | | | | back home. Sometimes it's just time to quit. |
| paddled the bass boat back to the marina | | | | We went to these lakes again, and had many |
| where we were staying and told him what | | | | great experiences in the Midwest. My brother |
| happened. The local tournament was out, and | | | | even won a tournament or two, and he was the |
| so was going more than 100 yards now, but he | | | | Big Bass World Champ/De, in 1999 and 2001, |
| said, I'll give you my trolling motor so you | | | | but that one week in March of 1998, was one |
| can still go." We thanked him, and went to | | | | of those ones that you never forget.Steve |
| the dock where he said it was. It was a | | | | vonBrandt is an author, tournament angler, |
| transom mount motor with about 28 pounds of | | | | professional bass fishing guide and |
| thrust! Not exactly standard fare on Table | | | | instructor, and hosts his own radio shows |
| Rock or Bull Shoals in March, with a Nitro. | | | | each week on Anglers Radio at He is also a |
| But we were determined. We went out to the | | | | tackle dealer specializing in tournament |
| point where we were the day before, started | | | | grade tackle for tournament anglers. |