I have posted numorous questions in the past as a non-boater . With very good replys that helped alot . I recently bought my 1st boat and can't wait to see my first sunrise from the front deck . Any memories from others on their 1st sunrise ?

Every morning I am in the boat is like the first morning to me.

Backing into the lake the sweet smell of the lake and the cool crispness on the morning. You crank the big motor back it off the trailer. Park the truck and walk down to the dock. The damp grass kicking up getting the backs of your legs wet, I am almost at a dead run to get to the boat now. Untie put the boat in gear and give it a little gas until your out passed the no wake bouys that reflect the bow lights red and green.

You giver full throttle and your sences come to life and your hart races along with the RPMs of the motor. The cool air rushes across your face and fills your nose with the smells of the lake. You can see the first light of the morning starting to reflect off the low clouds in the distance. Coots and ducks flap franticly to get out of your path as you speed on your way to the first hole of the morning. You pull into you little cove as the waves catch up to you rocking you and slapping the shore as you lower the trollling motor into the water as easily as you can afraid to disturb the quiteness of the morning. You zip your buzz bait out to the bank and almost feel guilty you are enterrupting the stillness as it sputters across the calm, still water.

Oh the antisipation of the strike. Buy now you dont care weather it comes or not.

YOu are on the water and its a beautiful morning who cares if the fish bite. It don't get no better than this.

Conley

The first time I used my new Champion (1980) in a tournament was on the Mississippi river pool 16. I started to back the boat off the trailer and crashed right into a pile of rip rap. Knocked a big chunk off the rear right hand corner of my new boat. I just laughed it off figuring, now I won't have to baby the new rig, can just turn her lose and fish. Don't remember if I placed, it was just GREAT to be on the water. P.S. the boat was black and where the chunk was missing was white fiberglass, I covered the blemish with a big piece of black plumbers tape which matched perfectly. Can you believe it's still on there. I gave the boat to my Uncle when I got a Ranger, he still runs it, tape and all. AWWW the memories. Thanks!!

Thanks guy's . My 1st tourney is on the 15th of NOV . After 5 looong years fishing out of the back of almost all the other club members boats I finally will get to experience MY 1st SUNRISE ! I can't wait.

One tip:

Make sure you get out on the water a few times before you actually fish the tournament in your new boat. You'd be amazed at how many little details there are when you have your own rig... and it is easy to forget something your first time out with the new boat.

Also, it gives you a chance to get a good feel for what your boat can and cannot do. For me, my first lesson was how much water my new boat drafted... it's not fun getting stuck on a flat during a tournament...

Just some food for thought...

Congrats on the new boat and may you have many great sunrises on it's deck!