Carl Jocumsen fished from two separate boats on semi-final Saturday during the Bassmaster Elite Series on the Arkansas River. He caught two fish early for about 4.5 pounds before we ran to make the appointed 8:00 am lock time into Pool 16. Things were looking good. However, once we cleared the lock, he slung a prop blade, destroying his lower unit at Webber Falls. I thought he was toast for the rest of the day.
The current running through the Arkansas River is very strong, and there is some doubt as to whether we could have made it to the ramp with just his trolling motor. Fortunately for him (us), a camera boat driven by Bryce Steel saw it happen and started towing us the approximate one mile to the local boat ramp. Carl had already been on the phone with Lisa Talmadge (tournament director) and called Easton Fothergill about using his boat. Easton showed at the ramp, boat fully gassed, batteries fully charged, within 30 minutes of Carl’s call.
We transferred everything to his Skeeter, fish, rod and reels, lures, etc., while Easton loaded Carl’s boat onto his trailer. Lisa communicated to Carl and me the rules for using Easton’s boat, graphs remain off, and I was BASS’s official eyes and ears on the water. Easton told Carl to drive his boat like he stole it. Carl navigated the remainder of the day from his cellphone. All in all, it only cost Carl about 1 hour and fifteen minutes of fishing.
Everybody involved did a great job. Carl did a great job of making all the calls, covering all the bases, and not spinning out. He went on to catch three more keepers filling his limit and placing 22nd, garnering valuable AOY points and a good check in the process. Easton is now St. Easton, showing that even though these anglers are fierce, apex competitors, they are also great friends willing to help each other when in need.
