rough waters

The boat is back in the water again and the props are turn up the muskies. This week has been one of the windiest weeks I can remember for a long time, gust up to 35 miles an hour and blowing every day. We did manage to catch muskies everyday though and some really nice fish too.
This weekend was the Michigan Ontario Muskies Clubs (MOMC) July tournament. There were boats everywhere fishing for the mighty muskie. To win a contest like this is very difficult, there are three factors against you; 1. weather 2. good fishermen 3. lucky fisherman . I again don't know the first two winners names because they do not broadcast it on the radio but I do know the third place winner, and that was my dad, Chuck Smith Sr. He falls under the good fisherman category. My dad is one of the original members of the club since its conception. I don't know of any other member of the club alive that has been in it since it started. I must take that back I do know another member and it is my mother. They fish together and make a great team. My dad said she drove the boat like a champ while he was winding in the fish, not bad for over 70 yrs old.
My boat, boated 14 muskies and lost 6 on Saturday along with one bass and one walleye. One of those fish went 50 inches and 30 lbs. On Sunday we boated 5 and lost 5. Things got a little slower Sunday after the barrage of boats. The muskies decided to go into hiding.
Most the fish were caught off the red barn, Belle River area. In approx. 12 to 15 feet of water. It was awesome fishing on Saturday, NO WEEDS. That was not to last though, they blew in Sunday from a north wind, and bailing hay we did.
I would like to congratulate all the winners and some of the guys who threw back some large fish. A fisherman named Ed from the boat the Medicine Man threw back 2, 50 inch 30 lbers. I watched a boat named Gracie catch and throw back a fish 30 lbs. I watch Mike O from the Bottomline throw back a nice fish. There were a lot of nice fish caught this weekend and a lot of guys were great sports and threw them back. Good going to all those lucky fisherman and congratulations to the winners.
The Big Dog tournament is coming up this week end. It is the biggest tournament of the year at least the pay off is. There will be a lot of fisherman out for sure. I know I will be out this week for some practice fishing and locating. Maybe I will see ya out there. Good luck to all.