Montana PikeMasters

December, 2006

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year To All Pikemasters!!! Another super year has passed much too quickly. Lots of hard work has given us much to be proud of. Our charitable contributions have made life much more enjoyable for many unfortunate kids. Our goal for the upcoming year will be to introduce more of our youth to the wonderful sport the great outdoors offers. With the help of our many new members, 2007 will be a record year!

As in past newsletters, I seem to always mention a few unfortunate, or rather memorable, of life’s outdoor situations that occur in my many forays into the field. Well, it has happened again! No matter how careful, or knowledgeable a person tries to be, humorous things seem to happen. At least this one would be humorous to anyone who happened to be watching.

My good friend Brian P. told me about one of his favorite summer pastimes – sitting at boat ramps and watching people launch their boats. To say that people do stupid things at boat ramps is an understatement! Picture this.

Tanner and I tried to launch our new jet boat at the Manuel Lisa access at the mouth of the Bighorn . The water depth at the bottom of the ramp was not deep enough to float my boat off the trailer. Using my brilliant intellect, I opened the rear hatch of my Durango so I could back deeper into the river, climb out the back and into my boat, launch it, climb back into the rear hatch, and drive up the ramp.

Everything went well until I hit my brakes. Trust me, I will never again remove my safety chain or rope before I first board my boat. My new, expensive boat shot off the trailer and headed for the far side of the Bighorn without anyone on board.

After quickly parking my vehicle and racing a few hundred feet down the bank, I faced the fact that I had a deep, COLD swim ahead of me. The 36 degree water rapidly passed my ankles, knees, and parts above before I was able to drag myself over the bow of the boat. Believe me, I would have been laughing had I been a casual observer at the ramp.

With 36 degree water and 41 degree air, I felt like a walking ice cube. Like the diehard fisherman, and the stubborn Kraut that I am, I still went fishing for a few hours. All I can say is, thank God for spare clothes in the boat and a partner like Tanner to show me the humor in a BAD situation! Lesson – Do NOT let this happen to you!

Welcome to new members Brian Sanger, Robert and Pam Witbeck, Mark Goyette, Linda Lee, Jerry Richardson, Corby Moore, J&S Concessions, and R.C. Marina & Associates. A rapidly growing membership promises that our club will continue to support and enhance all the fishing opportunities available to the sportsmen of this State.

Next Thursday’s meeting will be an important one for our club. We have upcoming sport shows, a post-holiday party, charitable donations to vote on, and plans for our most successful banquet to discuss. I also want to welcome the new Walleyes Forever club to the Billings area. I want to stress our organization’s ability to support all the fishing clubs in the state on various issues. We don’t have to agree on all issues, but we are a strong force when we work together!

See you all at the Elk’s Club Thursday, 7:00, Dec. 7

Good luck in your fishing,

-- Tom Reiter

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