Little Maintenance Goes a Long Ways

Floaters....... Wow , you have got to take care of your boats and trailers. This is almost the 2nd trip in a row that I have seen a trip sidelined to to blown out "bearings" on a boat trailer. Both times right at the boat ramp and absolutely ruining the trip. Besides the obvious routine maintenance, be sure you are not submerging your axles in the below the water line, this will help alleviate a lot of the issues. In addition, have the wheel bearing changed and serviced yearly, especially if you are hauling them a great deal of miles and heating them up greatly.

On other cheap piece of advice is to care a spare set of bearing and accessories in your tool box. Often times there are mobile mechanics you can find to do the work, but finding the parts on evenings, nights, holidays and weekends is another story. This can save the trip and a lot of money.

Busy Winter

It has been a busy winter thus far, as the Floatfisher naval platoon is being revamped for 2017.

After 9 years we will be retiring our Hyside Raft and currently having a new one built by our good friends at Riverboat Works in Salida, CO. Now our 3 boat made by them. 

If you have not heard of them or seen there work, they are worthy of a look. They build some solid frames and carry all the great brands of rafts to put them on. 

On a wildhare, we decided to trade in our two year old Adipose skiff and upgrade to a new one this week. New toys for 2017. January and February will be busy months for picking up new boats and giving them test rows. 

Missouri River Escape

Had the opportunity to run up to Montana, visit Adipose Boatworks to discuss work our boat or a trade-in for a new one. Work in progress, more to come in a future post. after a short stop in Helena, it was off to the metropolis of Craig. Late November and fall cast a whole new spell on the small sleepy towns of Wolf Creek, Craig and Cascade. The bubbling summer cabins are now all boarded up , grasses and flowers are now brown, waiting for on-set of a cold wet winter. Main street Craig, still has a truck, tugging a drift boat or two around , but pretty slow durning the week.

A crazy sight , the dam parking lot with just our rig at 9 am. Not a sole in sight, and none coming. We would launch to very hungry fish waiting to scarf sow-bugs and midges. the typical menu in winter months. We would rarely go 100 yes. or so without a bent rod, giggling and smiles were on tap for the day.

I think we counted two other boats that would put on at Wolf Creek Bridge, but never catch us , as we would venture down to Stickney. We would run into a few hearty ladies and fella's throwing their spey rigs. Most were hooked up on our passes by, so I would say they bit was on.

As you can see I did not get the camera out very much on the fish side. The fishing was awfully good and I just wanted to enjoy the last casts and hookup of the season. All the browns and bows were in full colors. The bows had some deep colors on the strip and gill plates, the eating is rich right now.

I thank my great friend Eric Mondragon and his wife April for treating me like a king upon my visit with wonderful meals and great days on river. Thank you for the variety of dries, steamer and nymphing , spectacular.

Swamp Grass

" swamp grass "

by kuchynkaphoto