My boat has always sat from oct. 1st thru the end of dec. (deer season) I decided to start my steelhead fishing early this year. <br />Went out solo on Sunday, took our 2 dogs, one is a very civilized lab/chessy mix. The other is a pup of questionable liniage, looks like a cross between a yellow lab and an airdale.<br /><br /> First cast with my bobber rod and my spool falls off and the pup jumps out of the boat and makes an excellent retrieve of my bobber. I get my spool back in place make another cast and she makes another retrieve. I decide to bottom bounce some spawn.<br /> I eventually switch back to the bobber and work my way down river, while the pup just wined at my bobber. <br /> After 2hrs. of fishing I hook a steelie and she's tearing me up. While trying to fight the fish and maneuver the boat I ground the boat in shallow water while the fish heads downstream and my older dog jumps out of the boat. I get the boat floating again and chase the fish down while my dog swims behind. Then I bust the fish off and am sorta p.od. so instead of picking up my dog I let her swim while I zip back to the hole. <br /> Normally my dog would swim to shore and run back up to the boat and either swim back or play on the shore. For some reason she decided to try and swim upriver to me. I reanchor and grab my rod and see that the tip is busted and decide to call it a day. I try to fire up the engine but the starter mount broke, so I reanchor. There is another boat with 2 guy's about 75yrds. below me. One of the guy's in the boat became worried about my dog and asked if I wanted them to go fetch her. I replied that she could swim all day but the one guy said she looks tired so I asked if they are running a jet, he said yes, I said thanks go for it. Meanwhile I see that I'm going to have to pull start the motor. After removing the flywheel cover I grab a fish stringer and she starts. Now the dog rescue'ers are trying to get my dog but she is avoiding them. I motor down and pick her up and leave.<br /> Except for breaking off the fish, the busted rod tip and the broken sarter it was a fun time.
