| You don't always get what you want, but do you | | | | catching some more fish, and the trolling motor |
| get what you need?While pre-fishing for a | | | | he lent us broke. Not only did it break, but it |
| tournament at Bull Shoals Lake in Missouri, we had | | | | actually broke at the shaft, it was a mess! We |
| some of the strangest things happen to us in | | | | paid for the trolling motor, checked out of the |
| three days there, than at any other lake we had | | | | cabin, (as it started to snow again), and started |
| ever been to then or since.Now don't get me | | | | the 15 hour drive back home. We had fished for |
| wrong, we love Missouri, but this tournament and | | | | about 4 hours, in 7 days! We stopped at a motel |
| the things that happened were a nightmare. We | | | | on the way back, and my brother said, "I'll bet |
| started our drive from Delaware in 1998, (we | | | | there's somebody in there that can fix a motor" |
| decided to go in March to pre-fish), and we | | | | "look at all the boats in the lot." We pulled in and in |
| stopped at a gas station in Ohio, and not having | | | | the lot after we registered, two older gentlemen |
| that much experience with our trailer and new | | | | were standing out by their rooms talking and my |
| truck yet, and the excitement of the Big Bass | | | | brother say "Do you guys know anything about |
| World Championship coming up soon, momentarily | | | | boat motors?'. The guy says " DO I!", I've fixed |
| clouded my perception, and we clipped the side of | | | | motors my whole life" Hey Joe, he says to his |
| the pumps and took out the wheel and the whole | | | | friend, "I'll bet I can fix this guys motor faster |
| fender had to be taken off. We arrived at some | | | | than you!", his friend and he came over, took off |
| cabins near Bull Shoals, and low and behold the | | | | the motor cover, and had it running in less than 10 |
| water was down, I mean REALLY DOWN! We | | | | minutes. We were dumbfounded and overjoyed |
| checked in and launched the boat. The mud was | | | | at the same time. We couldn't thank them |
| so soft that we got stuck while it started to | | | | enough, and you could tell they were enjoying |
| snow. It was freezing the whole time but we | | | | doing it. I was so excited, I jumped off the bow |
| made the best of it. The following morning, at 36 | | | | to the concrete, and broke my ankle.Many hours |
| degrees, and a good wind, we left the lodge at 8 | | | | later, after the hospital, we went out again, |
| am. The motor ran for about 45 seconds and | | | | determined to fish somewhere and catch |
| quit! We started it up again, several times in the | | | | something at this point. We put in the boat, and |
| next 2 hours, but finally 100 spouts and spurts | | | | started flipping the docks with a jig. I hooked into |
| later, it quit altogether.We decided right then and | | | | what felt like the World Record Bass on the |
| there that we would catch fish before we would | | | | second flip. It pulled so hard, I was shaking, a few |
| leave! We used the new MinnKota trolling motor, | | | | minutes later I landed my 20 pound carp!After a |
| that we just got a week before, and slowly | | | | few choice words, I started to laugh and so did |
| maneuvered to the closest point. We started | | | | my brother Kurt. We composed ourselves and |
| catching some real nice hybrids, and some | | | | started casting around the docks again. A few |
| largemouth, and really starting to develop a | | | | minutes later, he set the hook on a monster. A |
| pattern for that area, and the trolling motor short | | | | beautiful 25 pound Carp! We loaded the boat, and |
| circuited, and smoke came out! It was completely | | | | headed back home. Sometimes it's just time to |
| broken.We paddled the bass boat back to the | | | | quit. We went to these lakes again, and had many |
| marina where we were staying and told him what | | | | great experiences in the Midwest. My brother |
| happened. The local tournament was out, and so | | | | even won a tournament or two, and he was the |
| was going more than 100 yards now, but he said, | | | | Big Bass World Champ/De, in 1999 and 2001, but |
| I'll give you my trolling motor so you can still go." | | | | that one week in March of 1998, was one of |
| We thanked him, and went to the dock where he | | | | those ones that you never forget.Steve |
| said it was. It was a transom mount motor with | | | | vonBrandt is an author, tournament angler, |
| about 28 pounds of thrust! Not exactly standard | | | | professional bass fishing guide and instructor, and |
| fare on Table Rock or Bull Shoals in March, with a | | | | hosts his own radio shows each week on Anglers |
| Nitro. But we were determined. We went out to | | | | Radio at He is also a tackle dealer specializing in |
| the point where we were the day before, started | | | | tournament grade tackle for tournament anglers. |