I said to just about anybody that would listen. 

“No, actually it’s about 45 degrees, but it is cold for this time of year.  Usually the water stays about 50 year around.  It’s been a cold year and we’re having unusually high tides as well which also brings the temperature of the water down.”

 I turned to my brother and ask.
“Is Aaron a meteorologist?”

He just shrugged as he usually does when he didn’t want to talk or he feels I said something stupid.  I was sure I knew which this was. 

We kept walking in the thigh deep freezing water weighted down with everything anyone could possibly need for a morning of shooting at ducks.  Our destination wasn’t the hospital emergency room with coronary problems but a small rectangular reed covered duck blind somewhere in a bay off the Gulf of Mexico.

Once in the small wet packing crate that doubled as a duck blind, I said to Steve.

“There has to be a better way.”

“Yea, buy a house on this bay and shoot off your back porch or buy a boat and make it into a duck blind.”     

Once the ducks started buzzing our packing crate I forgot about duck blinds.  As anyone that has ever hunted ducks knows you need almost all your concentration centered on lead and what kind of duck is that.

We finished up a great morning of shooting ducks and repeated our freezing walk back to the boat.  The water temperature was enough to make you not want to do this again, well almost.  Actually the water temp didn’t really matter I would have come back even if it was snowing and I had to walk to the blind without waders.  Duck hunting is way cool. 

As we left Rockport, TX I stopped and picked up a housing guide for the area and off we went.  After a quick glance at the prices of houses in the bay area, I decided maybe a boat would be the smartest option for a different kind of duck blind, but what kind of boat. 

I could get one of those fishing boat that have rolled and pleated leather seats front and back, depth finders and fish finders, seven motors of different sizes and purposes, live wells and I assume dead wells, and a price tag of $25,000 w/out trailer, but they’re usually just a bit on the bright side for my taste.  Also I didn’t want to paint my truck to match the boat trailer.

Finally the answer came from an unlikely source.  I was looking through my Cabela’s catalog and as I turned the page from boat ladders and oars to the one that had duck blinds for boats, I did my little happy dance.  I’d found what I was looking for, a flat bottom or Jon boat.  Let the searching begin.    

Which to buy a new or used Jon boat?  Where did some advertising executive come up with “Jon boat”?  I think Fred, or Sam might not invoke the mental picture that “Jon” does.  You can get a Dear John or you can use the John, either way you’re in the “stuff”.  Who wants a boat named for one of those two?  But alas I digress.

I decided before I bought a new Jon boat I would see if I could find a good used one.  I started looking on Craig’s list.  Surprisingly there were a lot of boats on the list.  I went and looked at the ones that fit my needs and were close.  One was too small, the next didn’t have a motor or trailer and the one after that was not quite in working order.  I was getting just a bit discouraged.  However, I’m a plodder which means I keep plodding along until I find what I want or it bites me in the butt. 

I was on my way to Waco to visit my brother and shoot a round of skeet or two.  I decided to take a quick look on the list to see if anything was new and exciting.  I’d seen this add a couple of times but for some reason it hadn’t captured my attention.  Since I was going to be there anyway, why not take a look.  I called the number and asked if I might be able to come and see the boat. 

I followed the directions and ended up in a drive way starring at a 16ft. by 52inch wide Jon boat with a forty horse Mercury motor and a Minn Kota trolling motor besides, on a trailer and both painted camo.  The only thing I would have to do is get a frame and put camo netting around the boat and when not cleverly disguised as a reed bed I could use her for fishing.  Not my best thing but still fun.  Again I did the happy dance but this time only in my mind. 

I liked this boat so much I didn’t quibble about the price too much.  As I hooked up “The Steel Shot” to my truck, did I forget to mention her name, I began to think about decoys.  Why have a boat if you can’t name her.  The only thing I need now is a blue blazer, captain’s hat, and white bucks. 

I’ve been a boat captain for two days now and I already have a crew of 48 mallard, pintail, and wood duck decoys, my hunting buds and a host of other people who want to fish and/or hunt and least we forget, a new Shimano bait casting reel and an ugly stick to put it on. 

Next weekend is the official christening, instead of champagne we’re using Bud lite, will take place at the public boat ramp at Stillhouse Hollow Lake.