First push of the year. Rails

jode hillman

Well-known member
As our Rail season open up September first, I decided to put the new (restored 1920) Skiff through its paces in the real proving grounds. I had a buddy come along in his Skiff too, as well as train a young pusher. The tide was great, and high enough to push 2 hours before predicted high. We flushed lots of blackbirds, and a few Rail too. The Skiff is very stable even in open water and cuts the rice like a breeze. The next few weeks should increase Sora numbers and hopefully some good gunning will result!

View attachment IMG_1210.PNG
View attachment IMG_1192.JPG
View attachment IMG_1204.JPG
View attachment IMG_1181.JPG
View attachment IMG_9166.JPG
View attachment 9AF33838-4828-4612-8259-9CE11AB9749F.jpg
View attachment IMG_1209.PNG
 
Good morning, Jode~


What a fine sight - seeing that old vessel hard at work again!


Question: The top end of your pole seems to have something white on it - is it wrapped with line? Got a closeup?


I look forward to seeing you at Tuckerton later this month.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve Sanford said:
Good morning, Jode~


What a fine sight - seeing that old vessel hard at work again!


Question: The top end of your pole seems to have something white on it - is it wrapped with line? Got a closeup?


I look forward to seeing you at Tuckerton later this month.


All the best,


SJS

Steve, thanks. It's always nice to find out, though a craft is aged, it can still do the job it was designed for.

The top of the pole is painted white for visibility. Others paint them blaze orange. It's for those areas the rice is very tall, and only the tops of the poles can be seen. A line wrap would be great, and also serve the dual purpose of acting as a handle to pull out of the mud
 
Last edited:
Nice looking boat, Jode!

Do you have a foot on your pole for the mud? I've been using an old canoe pole, which has some disadvantages on soft bottoms.
 
jode hillman said:
The top of the pole is painted white for visibility. Others paint them blaze orange. It's for those areas the rice is very tall, and only the tops of the poles can be seen.

Others, who are really stylin paint them pink [cool]

We do the same thing on our gator harpoon and the bang stick.
 
Jeff Reardon said:
Nice looking boat, Jode!

Do you have a foot on your pole for the mud? I've been using an old canoe pole, which has some disadvantages on soft bottoms.
Old school foot. The new pole is being fitted with Sassafras feet. The green one has mahogany. Both are secured to a 16' 1-12/ round.

View attachment IMG_1236.JPG
 
Dani said:
jode hillman said:
The top of the pole is painted white for visibility. Others paint them blaze orange. It's for those areas the rice is very tall, and only the tops of the poles can be seen.

Others, who are really stylin paint them pink [cool]

We do the same thing on our gator harpoon and the bang stick.


That would work too! I'm afraid of that gator stuff!
 
Love the pics, I don't get out for them much anymore... Do you have problems with kayakers? they seem to have increased enough that they are a hazard.
 
tod osier said:
Love the pics, I don't get out for them much anymore... Do you have problems with kayakers? they seem to have increased enough that they are a hazard.

Not really. Most of the areas I hunt are hard to access, with heavy current to get to the gunning spots. I have yet to see a kayak or other boat for that matter.
 
jode hillman said:
tod osier said:
Love the pics, I don't get out for them much anymore... Do you have problems with kayakers? they seem to have increased enough that they are a hazard.

Not really. Most of the areas I hunt are hard to access, with heavy current to get to the gunning spots. I have yet to see a kayak or other boat for that matter.

Unfortunately not the case here, you are lucky.
 
Back
Top