OK, it's that time of year again. Kerr has turned over and the stripers changed feeding, can't find 'em with the Ray Jefferson due to the stripers sitting on the bottom and also too much debris in the water. The bait went somewhere and I lost my fishing partner to deer and turkey hunting. So, time to get the show on the road with fishing at Kiptopeke. Since last year, the stripers left the bay when the water settled at 45 degrees, I decided to book lodging at Kiptopeke Inn for the Nov 18 to Dec 18 period. Costs are higher this year at $899 plus tax for the month. Don't know about electric for charging the boat yet. Guess if things go badly for fishing, I can change to a weekly rate of $299 plus tax.
Informed Bill Fowler, Ramrod, Steve Smith, and Teacher of my decision to book. Don't know if I'll have company or not.
Plan to use the 3 bucket setup for holding eels by purchasing them a dozen at a time at Chris' or across the bridge if the opportunity happens. The top bucket has holes in the bottom and drips ice water on the eels. The bucket with eels has holes in the bottom so the fluid, etc. drips into the bottom container. If the temperature warrants, the top two buckets can be in the motel bathtub (hot/freezing) outside. On the boat, just take the 3 buckets. Always have a towel or paper towel to grasp the eels. The dripping ice water will keep from being too frisky. I'll leave the bait tank home. Yet, I have a 5 gallon water cooler and an airstone with 12 volt pump that might prove useful. Well, that's the plan for the eels.
This year, I plan to spend a few days near Hatteras in January. May do one day with Devin Cage, but he's expensive to say the least. Affordible with a party of 6 at $495 for a half day. Not sure what Yogi will charge and need to get in contact with him. Don't have his phone number talk with him yet.
Teacher mentioned Mojo rigs for Hatteras area and trolling rods. Have to learn how to make the rigs and how to fish them.
I'll plan on using the large ice cooler outside the room for food storage. May have to talk to the folks at the fish house up the street to see if they can freeze a catch. May have to ferry some fish back to Scottsburg. There's an ice station on 13 and hopefully it's in operation.
For cooking, I'll have a small propane cooker to use outside the room.
Will have to run a coffee maker in the room as that's critical for breakfast and to start any day. Yet things will be different this year as I'm thinking the motel will severely restrict electric use. I'll have my Honda EU2000 just in case along with a several hundred foot electric cord.
I'll have two types of cold weather insulated boots and appropriate wool socks. The boot/sock/glove drier runs on a hair drier and should be OK in the room. Have gortex bibs/parka and will find layered underwear to try to keep warm this year. Wanted to buy one of the cold water immersion suits, but I can't come to a decision about fit, etc.
Eventually, I'll get a list that can be subject to critique. Yet much of the accessories for the boat and dress are identical to last year and listed in the archive of this blog. Just gotta look. I'll add photos as needed. Hopefully lots of happy faces holding huge stripers.
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