Lion Scratches

Pointe Aux Chenes - 4/20/13

So I guess I should take a step back and bring up last weekend. (sigh!)

I went with an old friend to Pointe Aux Chenes last Saturday, 4/20.  We got to the dock around 7:00am, put in, and started going across the flats.

Now for those of you that don't know, this area is flooded with oyster shells.  On this particular morning, the current was running at a pretty good pace through the channels and the wind was blowing about 15.  This clouded up the water pretty good, and you couldn't tell if you were in 10" of water or 10' of water.

So about 20 minutes into this fishing trip, I found myself being washed up against an embankment of oyster shells.  It was very shallow under the water, (about 4"-6").  Try as I might, I could not push myself back off of this.  The entire time, I could hear these nasty oyster shells grating and scratching the underside of my new boat.

After about 20 minutes of huffing and puffing at it, I took note that this embankment was only about 10' across, and that it dropped off again on the other side.  There comes a time, in desperation, that you forget using good judgement and "jump right in"...... and that's exactly what I did.

I got out of my NuCanoe, with the intention of pushing the boat across and jumping back in on the other side.  Everything started off fine.  I actually made about three steps, then it happened.  I sunk in right down to my groin.

Now forget that it was 55 degrees that morning, I like the cold.  We can even put aside that I was now stuck firmly in the mud.  However, I should mention that I felt "distinct" burning around my ankles and lower legs.  So I spent the next 5 minutes angrily trying to free myself from this sucking concoction of silt and (sharp) oyster shells.

Finally, I pull myself out of the mud onto the side of my trusty NuCanoe, only to realize that I left my brand new pair of CROCs 3' down in the mud, GONE!  If I wasn't pissed off  before, that pretty much sent me over the edge.

Now keep in mind, I am STILL stuck on this embankment.  With no one around to help, and no other choice, I spent the next 10 minutes slowly fighting through the mud while pushing my boat.  I did finally make it and collapsed into my boat exhausted.

You don't realize how much a blessing cold can be sometimes.  The water was certainly cold that morning, as I already pointed out.  It took a few minutes for me to realize there was blood slowly covering my boat.  I inspected myself and discovered that sinking down into the mud had caused oyster shells to rake across my ankles and up my legs, hence the initial burning feeling I had felt.  But that was only the tip of the iceberg.  Since loosing my shoes, fighting across the mud and shells trying to free the boat caused me to cut my toes and the bottom of my feet to shreds.

Once I started to warm up some, the pain certainly set in.  Out of all my numerous cuts, only one under my big toe was a concern.  But being the trooper that I am, I decided to stick it out and fish a while, especially since all of this happened before I even dropped a line into the water.

I lasted about three hours and called it a day.  I had a bite or two, but nothing worth mentioning.

After the 2 hour drive home, unloading gear, and bandaging myself up, I discovered the last "coupe de grace".  The shells absolutely tore the bottom of my brand new boat to shreds.  Nothing cut through it, mind you.  But after the entire experience, both my boat and I looked like we had come through a vicious attack by a mountain lion.

I've fished this area in a big boat before, with the aide of depth finders.  I don't think I plan on bringing my NuCanoe back to this particular spot.  Call it "personal preference".

I spent this afternoon with the heat gun gingerly touching up the damage to my boat.  Good as new!