Last week on Tuesday it was bitterly cold. I fished hard but the barometric pressure was really high and I only caught one red and one trout. Ice buildup on the kayak was kind of interesting to see, but I surely wasn't hoping for colder temps. On the way home I began to have an issue with my clothing layers: my core was overheating but my face and hands were still aching and cold, so I stopped to hold onto a dock so that my midsection could cool down for a few minutes. I really didn't want to get sweaty because I knew it would lead to problems. The dock was protected from the wind and it offered my face and fingers a break from the wind too. I had three rods in holders behind my seat, and one of the rod holders must have got some fresh water in it because an ice plug about an inch deep had formed that kept that rod from sitting as low and secure as it should have been. I knew it was an issue and should have kept rods out of that holder, but I forgot about it as I was fishing and began the paddle back to the truck with one in that holder. As I shoved off from the dock, evidently the line on that "shallow" rod snagged a wooden pole beside me on the dock and it quietly pulled itself out of the rod holder and sank as I left. I paddled all the way back to the truck before I realized what had happened, and I was heart-broken but wasn't willing to head back into the elements at that moment. It was dark and I was tired. I figured the reel (one of my new Shimano Stradic FMs) would be ruined but the custom FFK rod would be okay for a day or two until I could snag it and regain possession.
I did not find it when I went out again Thursday, but Saturday afternoon I headed back to the same area and looked for my lost rod again. After several casts and slow retrieves I felt some resistance and slowly brought it closer. My lovely rod and reel broke the surface and I was SO relieved. Bear in mind the rod and reel had been submerged in salt and sand for four full days at this point. I thanked God for letting me get it back, and out of curiosity I unhooked its lure and cast it out to see if the reel handle would even turn at this point. I was astonished when it not only turned, but it rotated like warm butter. Like brand new! I tempered this discovery with the idea that the corrosion may not have set in yet and that the reel still might prove beyond repair, but it sure felt good spinning so smoothly. After I got home, I took the reel inside and removed the spool, then soaked the reel and spool in a warm water bath. after drying, I set it aside to see what it looked like the next day. Sunday after church service I oiled all the moving parts and removed the handle to see how wet it was inside. No water was observed, so after a little oil on the bearing I closed it back tight. It's still working like new somehow, and I am now super impressed with the Stradic's performance. At lunch I think it will visit the repair bench at Roy's for a deep cleaning and with a little luck it will continue to serve on the back of my busy kayak. For now it still feels perfect and I'm seeing one more value that comes with a higher-end reel.
