One of my first experiences with Kurt's "Stroker Boat" was several years ago when we were fishing a "Winterathon" bass tournament on Greers Ferry Lake. He had forewarned me to dress appropriately and to bring a motorcycle helmet if I had one. I heard him, but as my wife can attest, I often like to try other options than those suggested.
It snowed on us in the dark that morning on the way to the launch. By the time we got to the lake, it really got cold...it was 11 degrees. As we pulled down to the lake, we saw a guy backing his 20 ft. boat and trailer in and out of the water because the boat was frozen to the trailer and wouldn't launch. It was a fine day for bass fishing.
After paying the tournament fee and waiting for blast off, Kurt sat there ready with his helmet on. I just knew the ski goggles I borrowed from my friend that fit so well around the hood of my duck hunting coat would work out just fine. No helmet needed.
We had drawn a double digit number for take-off, but were quickly ahead of the pack. By the time we hit 100mph, the goggles, cold and obviously brittle from the windchill, cracked and spiderwebbed to the point that I couldn't see a thing. I spent the rest of the 24 mile trip holding the hood over my head with one hand, gripping the oh-#&it handle with the other all the while mentally tracking the ChapStick as it moved from both my lips, around to my cheeks then eventually rejoining itself on the back of my neck.
Shortly after touchdown, I caught a two pound Kentucky Bass on my third cast...eight hours and a slightly warmer ride back to the weigh-in later, that was all we had. It was a tough day for everyone and we wound up in 4th place ...one place out of the money.
