Mother Cup '13 - Seadog Reign is Over

A group of friends gathered this past weekend for the granddaddy of them all, the Mother Cup; the class of ’84 (Sons of Liberty) versus the class of ’85 (Seadogs) on Lake Skegemog in Williamsburg, Michigan. The ’85 class had won the past three years so there was talk of the team competition being dissolved as while the SOL’s caught their share, the beatings by the Seadogs were becoming commonplace. Something had to change for the SOL’s or it was going to be a repeat massacre. And change they did.

Case in point number one; the team mascot for the SOL’s should have been a leech as that was their primary bait in past years while the Seadogs relied mainly on the wacky worm. There was not a leech to be seen this year as it was “wacky” more or less across the board for the two teams. I didn’t know
Tommy knew how to fish without a leech but after this weekend, he made a believer out of all of us.

The festivities started Friday morning in the annual golf scramble at Twin Birch golf club in Kalkaska. The place is usually a ghost town and we have the course to ourselves; however, we pulled up and saw a parking lot completely full. A company golf outing was going on so we needed a Plan B. When one door closes, another one opens. We found a nice course, Grandview, right up the road that was actually nicer than Twin Birch. It was the Champ/Raj combo versus Dan H. and me. The nine-hole scramble was a close one but Champ kept hitting the drives which allowed Raj to try and unleash the fury in his sandals (no jokes on the sandals, he dominated in them). They came close to a hole-in-one as well. The only stain on their round was they missed the short putt on that hole for the deuce. Regardless, the SOL’s had their mojo going and I was hoping my Seadog team wasn’t getting fat and sassy for our past conquests.

Friday evening came and the fishing competition began. While I was expecting the SOL’s to raise their team flag (below ours of course) but the choice was made that if their flag wasn’t on top, they didn’t want it on the pole. To each his own I guess. After the first session was completed, we knew they meant business as Slick’s (SOL) bag of fish kept pulling out whopper after whopper at the weigh-in. Fifteen-plus pounds of bass when it was all weighed. I’d have to check the archives but I would have to say that is the biggest bag, excluding non-bass, that has ever been hauled in during the Cup. Dan H. and Tommy added to the SOL totals with sessions of eleven and nine pounds, respectively. While the Seadogs had an okay outing, the SOL’s put the line in the sand with a 51-24 pound lead with the final team session scheduled for Sunday morning. A 27 pound gap to make up in one session; not insurmountable but it wouldn’t be easy.

Saturday was designated as individual sessions so the Seadogs had a day to find their groove. Slick left off where he started Friday as the “biggins” were again jumping at his hook. It must have been the net guy (me) that brought the fish calling. Regardless, after two sessions, Slick was in first place for the total fish poundage award for the weekend. One minor problem for his momentum; however, in that he was committed to a wedding for Saturday night so he’d have to miss the evening session. Only one person has ever been able to win the weekend angler award and still miss a session, Gus (Seadog). He would have his work cut out for him as Tommy got a 4.65 pound bass (big fish for weekend) and wasn’t letting up; heck, everyone seemed to have kicked it up a notch this year. 

After the Saturday morning session was wrapping up and everybody was bringing in the boats, a moment of donkey-ness was presented by yours truly. Slick had left down state for his wedding once we tied the boat up so I was pulling in the

yep, boots are wet as well

fish from the live well and cleaning up the scraps in the boat. With six boats tied in various positions around the dock, some creativity is needed to keep them there while not bumping into each other. Slick’s boat had about a six-foot rope tied in the front to the dock with the anchor thrown out the back. To get out of the boat, someone just needed to pull the front rope a bit so the boat lies close to the dock and jump out to safety. So there I stood at the tip of the boat with the rope giving roughly all of the six feet slack out. Rather than tug the rope to get closer for my dismount, I decided to utilize my junior high broad jumping ability and make the leap to the dock. Well, I hit the edge of dock with my boots; however, my momentum was not moving towards the dock as it should have. It was unfortunately headed the other way. The whole experience took about ten seconds but it felt like I was dangling there in suspension forever. If I would have just accepted the fact that I was going in the water, all would have been well as the water was only three feet or so deep. I slipped as I hit the water and down I went with cell phone and camera in tow; submerged. The cell phone managed to dry and got its functionality back on Sunday but the camera is still in surgery waiting for a miracle. A lesson learned I guess.

After drying out, it was time for the evening fish session. With Slick absent, Tommy had a chance to make up some slack on the pound total. He took the opportunity and ran with it as he and Dan H. bumped Slick to number three in the overall standings. I would be remiss if I didn't give a shout out to the M&M  (Mitchell/Munson) boat for taking the big boat money on both Saturday sessions.

Sunday morning came and it was time for the Seadogs to see if miracles do in fact happen. Twenty-seven pounds to make up; it would take some outside the box thinking. The boat sitting in the drive-way, the Red Rocket, had not touched the water yet and we hoped it would be the answer as Gus and Jim have had some record sessions doing the wacky worm drift in past years. While the two had a good haul with Al, Doke, and I getting our fair share, the gap was too much as the final ended up:

SOL – 96.15 pounds
Seadogs – 74.15 pounds

Big Fish - Tommy - 4.65 pound bass
Most Fish Pounds - Tommy - 39 pounds

Golf Scramble - Champ/Raj

The SOL’s now have the top spot on the flag pole with the Seadogs only to ask themselves what went wrong. I don’t believe we did anything wrong; the SOL’s just fished their asses off. The better team won.

Lastly, thanks, as always, to Dave and Judy for allowing eleven guys who didn't shower for three days to take over your house. I hope the smell eventually leaves your premises.

Congrats to the Sons of Liberty for the victory.

Trail Head

sweet picture dive Jim

 

 

 

 

Seadog flag will be second fiddle in '14