florida drought - and the good news is............

[Guest avid]

unbelievable.

Those of you who are BassResource.com "oldtimers" may recall that two years ago my canoe tipped (Hence the stabilizers) and I lost my tackle box and most of it's contents.

Well I was fishing that general area today and noticed that I was seening clear to the bottom.  Not only was the water unusually clear but because the lake is down over 4 feet from normal I was seeing bottom I never saw before.

A little light went off in my head.  Something like this  

I looked up and around and was no more than 50 yards from where the canoe tipped.  I said to myself "I wonder if I can find that old tackle box?"  

No sooner had I completed that thought when I looked over to where  I went over and saw something in the water that for sure was not natural and I thought "that's it!!!"

I TM'd over and every foot closer to I got, the more it looked like it.

I felt like a kid on Christmas morning.

Now, I know that after being underwater for two years, nothing much is going to be of any use, but I was still ecstatic.  Really.  I opened up the top and saw my first "upscale" bait.  A Lobina Rico.  Hooks all rusted off and the body was a little mushy, but still recognizable.  I didn't really look much deeper, because it is a totally mucked up mess, but I will be exploring and cleaning things up.  

It's gonna be soooooooooooooo much fun.

And here is what I found.

As you see they are not my typical camera phone "basshead in the shadows" type phto.

Nope, this was too special, so I went home and got out the canon sureshot.

I keep thinking of Ike "Never give up"

Of course, I immediately motored over to the cove where I lost my glx/tdz combo, but alas this cove is deep and the water wasn't nearly as clear.  Still, I believe it's still there, and now I have hope that someday I may recover it.

[Jimzee]

Man,  that's amazing.  Sort of like treasure hunting with a twist!!   ;D

[Gotta Love It]

I'm not sure what to say...  "congrats" I guess!  

Good luck on finding the rod/reel!  

[burleytog]

That is certainly a good catch.  

[KU_Bassmaster.]

That's great.  Like you said, even though must of it is probably junk, that's still got to feel real good.  I still have hopes of finding/snagging my video camera that went overboard last year, but that's in 20+ ft. :-/

Good Luck with the clean up.

Although nothing in that box is going to work.  The bass have got a real good look in that thing for 2 years. ;D

[bassmasta7]

Thats crazy that you found it. Congrats! How did you get it back into the boat?  

[Dan:]

Is anything still useable? I assume you will be hosing all that crap off-let us know what you can still use (hopefully at LEAST the box--if the hinges haven't rusted)

[eulerentinc]

Great find!!  Enjoy your reconditioning!!

[Glenn]

WOW! That's really cool !

Hey, maybe I can find my lost youth that way... or maybe my hairline or something mumble mumble mumble.....

[fourbizz]

Glenn!!! I can help!

Corvette, rogaine, mumblebluepillmumble. HA HA HA

I hope that doesn't earn me an obligatory banning!!!!

[fourbizz]

Avid, don't you see?!?!? Now you can throw that 12" senko on your swimbait rod too!

Thats sweet....i guess. I suppose its like alot of my girlfriends. When you first lose them you're bummed, but when you get them back its pretty obvious that they are scummy, plus you can just go right back out and get the newer hotter model anyway!!!

[RecMar8541]

Avid,

How cool is that??!!  Im gonna send you a list of lakes and items ive lost, since your on a lucky streak maybe you can find some of my cell phones, digi cameras, rods etc!!   heheheheh

recon

[Guest avid]

Avid, don't you see?!?!? Now you can throw that 12" senko on your swimbait rod too!

Thats sweet....i guess. I suppose its like alot of my girlfriends. When you first lose them you're bummed, but when you get them back its pretty obvious that they are scummy, plus you can just go right back out and get the newer hotter model anyway!!!

No comment. but.......  

as to how I got it in the boat......

I keep one of those "grabber" type gizmo's that are made for getting boxes of cereal off the top shelf and other out of reach things.  I use it to clear weeds from around my TM shaft or prop.

Thank goodness for the canoe stabilizers, because I had to lean pretty far over to push it a few times with my paddle to get it a little shallower, then a couple of swipes with the grabber and a heave to free it from the muck and I landed her.  Those grabber things come is really handy.  Like I said, I got for easy clearing of the TM but I also use it to get something from the front of the canoe without having to get up and move forward.  So it's more than a convenience item for me, it's actually a safety tool.

[Redlinerobert]

Amazing.  I'd be just as happy if I found a lost tacklebox as well.  Heck I'd probably rebuild some of those hardbaits and reuse them just to teach those fish a lesson.  

[Guest avid]

Funny you say that redline, because if you notice in the third photo down is a utility box inside the tackle box.

Well I went into it and found some great lures.  A couple of megabass cranks, lucky crafts, and other quality crankers.

I started to clean them up and with some scrubbing they are cleaning up pretty well.   I may be able to salvage some.  I had a megabss deep x 100 that was a killer lure. Also my first pop-x in a goldish color with a white crackle finish belly.  I had bass literally jump out of the water to crush that bait.

I'm telling ya' it's Christmas in April.  

[T-rig]

What a find! I'm sure that some of those high quality lures still will be useable after a good cleaning and putting on new hardware! I would love to see the pics of your new , old lures!

[jomatty]

man i bet that was a mess lugging that bad boy in the canoe!

awesome, makes me want to start looking for all the things ive lost, especially with my son.  he used to have a tendency to throw things overboard.  thats how i lost my nice sunglassess and ive been using cheap ones ever since.  unfortunately that was in Smith Mountain Lake in 50 ft of water.  i should go back though because it would be worth it to find my son, as i through his but out right after the glasses...

[roadwarrior]

Avid, that's a great story!

[Guest avid]

I may take a few pix soon.

That Utility box, was the motherload of my high end baits.

I found several megabass including two pop- x's a bait x, a deep T 100 and 200

also a LC gsplash, a rico, one of my original wiggle warts, and two bagley's cranks.

This may surprise you, It sure did me.  but the Bagleys are in the best condtions by far.

they almost look good as new.

I'm really enjoying this.

I have dubbed these lures "avids salvage collection"

I will catch fish with them again..............guaranteed.

[Deb]

Avid, have you tried a drag line to find that rod?  We use them to drag up trot lines that have been cut or broken off.  I've seen my dad find lines in 40+ ft of water.  It's like an old window weight with 4 "hooks" about 2 in long attached, slightly curved.  They pull everything up, just got to be patient and keep trying.  Keep on cleaning.  When everything else fails, try some Crown cleaner.  It's at Walmart.  It will clean everything just be careful on paint.  Enjoy Christmas!!!!!!!1

[Guest avid]

Avid, have you tried a drag line to find that rod?

thanks for the concern.

Acutally I have a home made anchor/dragging device that I use everytime I go to that cove.

It consists of four pronged grapple that weighs about 5 lbs.  I then strung 4 weighted 12/0 treble hooks off of it.  It's pretty windy by me, so it acts like a drift sock with the added benefit of grabbing whatever is below.  My lake being very weedy, the contraption loads up with weeds pretty quickly.

I actually had a bit of a heart thumping moment the other day.

I was pulling up my "anchor" and noticed a light brown stick like object coming up.  For a moment I really had my hopes up but the light brown stick like object turned out to be a light brown stick.  :-/

[bpm2000]

Avid, have you tried a drag line to find that rod?

thanks for the concern.

Acutally I have a home made anchor/dragging device that I use everytime I go to that cove.

It consists of four pronged grapple that weighs about 5 lbs.  I then strung 4 weighted 12/0 treble hooks off of it.  It's pretty windy by me, so it acts like a drift sock with the added benefit of grabbing whatever is below.  My lake being very weedy, the contraption loads up with weeds pretty quickly.

I actually had a bit of a heart thumping moment the other day.

I was pulling up my "anchor" and noticed a light brown stick like object coming up.  For a moment I really had my hopes up but the light brown stick like object turned out to be a light brown stick.  :-/

LOL!  Well this might be a sign of things to come - maybe itll show up soon.

[BaitMS]

First let me say...Congratulations on finding the old tackle box!! Now you have "antique" lures. Watch out ebay.

Second, I hope you have learned your lesson. Keep 1 lb. barbel weights and 8 oz. bullet weights (in last picture) in separate (preferably cheap) tackle box so that if or should I say when boat decides to capsize all tackle will not sink into the deep abyss again.  

[sodaksker]

Great story avid.  Waiting to see some more pics!

[Guest avid]

First let me say...Congratulations on finding the old tackle box!! Now you have "antique" lures. Watch out ebay.

Second, I hope you have learned your lesson. Keep 1 lb. barbel weights and 8 oz. bullet weights (in last picture) in separate (preferably cheap) tackle box so that if or should I say when boat decides to capsize all tackle will not sink into the deep abyss again.

Actually, if I "learned my lesson" i wouldn't use a hard plastic tackle box at all. I keep my soft plastics in a soft sided canvas tackle bag. Then I could have hooked it with a crankbait.

but I'm sorta set in my ways. I immediately went out and bought the same tackle box and still keep my sinkers right on top where I can get to them right away.

I'm an American and proud of it. I have the God given right to be as stubborn and dummy as I please