Pineview Muskie?

Couple weeks ago Shifty and I went to Pineview to fish for Muskie. Well it didn't quite turn out that way. When arriving at Pineview we launched the boat and when I returned to the dock the motor wasn't running. I asked what's up? Shifty informed me the impeller stream wasn't flowing and then started the engine and sure enough it wasn't. He quickly turned off the engine, and I said your impeller is gone. He asked a couple more guys at the dock and they told him the same thing. Now what do we do? I said put the trolling motor down and lets fish, Shifty was hesitant not sure if the MinnKota would handle the wind if it came up. Neither of us were willing to go home and I wasn't in the mood for shore fishing. So after deliberation we put the trolling motor down and headed out.

We fished the bay and didn't venture away from the dock too far. We tried to find some Muskie throwing hard baits where Shifty thought they would be and what he had them hitting before. Not so much luck however. We fished for them for a couple hours and not even bump.

We turned our focus to the smaller game in the reservoir, Perch and smallmouth bass. We fished the rest of the morning and caught a few fish. Best thing about the trip is I caught fish on a drop shot for the first time and few more after that. I felt the hit and new how to distinguish between bottom and hits. We ended the day with probably dozen fish, nothing huge but fun nonetheless.

For the rest of the engine problems, Shifty took it to the boat shop where Cory Stovall looked at it and asked a couple questions. Where do you store your boat? Outside. Do you cover your entire motor with a cover? No. Did you look into the outlet for debris? No. Cory looks into the outlet and see something in the port. Cory then proceeds to get a zip tie and clean out the port, at which time the debris is flushed out by the water behind it. Cory, Problem solved, cover your port when you store it or the wasps will build another nest in there.......Crap! We didn't even think of something so simple and could have salvaged a good day on Pineview.  Learn Something new everyday or you are stuck in a rut.  Thanks Cory Stovall!! Photos courtesy of Shifty.