Cajun Country Checkmates

[jallen355]

It seems that there are loat more Checkmates in the midwest and north eastern US, but I know there are a few down here in Cajun Country so let us know where you are and where you like to go boating.

Myself, I'm on the front door step of Lake Ponchatrain in Metaire, but have to "pick" my days on the lake as I am not into taking a beating in rough water. It sure is nice to hang out at Ponchatrian beach with the kids though, and check out all the boats in the coves there.

I have a couple of kiddos...11 & 6 and sometimes it's just us adults (and I use the term loosely).

I seem to be on the Ticfaw and Blind Rivers mostly and will cross Lake Maurepas when the water allows to travel both rivers. There's a couple of nice sand bars out in Lake Maurepas where lots of boaters tend to gather and I'm often one of them.

I'm looking to put a day together on Pearl River between locks #1 & #2 pretty soon as they have a couple of beaches there where it's nice to set up camp for the day. Well, there used to be before Katrina, anyway. If you have any up to date info on that area I'de sure like to hear it. If you want to meet up just let me know.

Also used to do alot of skiing in Bayou Segnette, but haven't been there in years, either. Thinking of renting one of the cabins there for next summer, though. There's a rather long waiting list....

 

[Chris]

Thanks for kicking off the new "Cajun" forum!

Enjoy!

 

[hookedup]

Hookedup on the Northshore

Hi,
Great to see another Checkmate owner in the Bayou State, your right alot of checkmat owners are up north. I'vd been one down here from what back in the 70s. We hang out on the EAST Pearl - at HWY 90. If you every get to the EAST PEARL look out for a BLUE TRIMATE II.
Hookedup

 

[Big Dave]

More southern Checkmates, I love it
We are just outside of Dallas, Tx

 

[hookedup]

Will Be out this sunday

We are going to the East Pearl this sunday 9/16/07. There is a nice sand beach about a mile south HWY 90 and there is about 10 miles of nice river north of HWY 90. We were on the West Pearl two weeks ago it was the lower West Pearl below I-1O and a little North of I-10,alot of beaches north of the I-10 but the river is narrow. The West Pearl at the locks is ok but its not very long between the locks and its narrow. Last time I was there the Launch is really bad I dont know if thats changed, it was pre-K. Check this out this is where we will be launching Sunday http://www.weather.com/weather/map/...imation=true&zoom=7&interactiveMapLayer=radar
The launch is located on HWY 90 at the state line, off to the right before you go over the bridge. Its a nice state launch. We too have kids sometimes and just so happans this sunday we are taking them skiing, the weather is going to be great. We will be in our 79 Blue Flake Trimate II. Maybe we will see you there, if not the year next year for sure, I've been hanging out on that river for over 30 years.
Hookedup

 

[LAPLANT]

HOWDY I'M IN FLOWOOD MS ON THE ROSS BARNETT REZ AIN'T MUCH JUST A MUDHOLE WHERE THEY DAMMED THE PEARL YEARS AGO.
JUST COOL TO HEAR OF OTHER SOUTHERN MATES
EVEN COOLER TO HERE THEY ARE ON THE PEARL

 

[daren34]

we are in the bayou city houston texas

we boat on clear lake next to nasa space center most of the time

glad to here there are a few southern mates out here

daren

 

[jallen355]

Bonjour Mates!! Right now we are hangin' with the Hillbillys and havin' a blast up in the mountains. We ridden our motorcycles in 4 states this weekend. Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia and North Carlina. We've been everywhere from Cumberland Gap to Gatlinburg. Caught the Annual Hot Rod Blowout in Pigeon Forge. Tamed the "Dragon", gambled the day away with the indians in Cherokee N. Carolina and am now having cocktails @ an elevatrion of 3200' outside of Gatlinburg at my buddies house.... This coonass ain't even feeling O2 deprived!!!!

West Pearl, huh?? Let's see.... Maybe 2 Sundays from today I'll meet ya up there for an adult day of exploration. I've never been on the West Pearl.

 

[hookedup]

Bike Ride Sounds Great

We had a great time last weekend. Maybe you will be able to make it out soon. Alot of boats were on the beach, one guy had a BAJA JET DRIVE, he made some mods to the lower unit and was able to shoot a rooster tail over 200 feet with it looked really boss. Keep checking in and I will too. Dosnt look like we will be going out this weekend because of the storm in the gulf heading our way but the next weekend we will. Fishing hasnt been all that great with all the heat so we have been going out in the Checkmate.
Check in when you get back and I'll give you the low down on the EAST and WEST Pearls.
Hookedup

 

[jallen355]

We got home late last night. Just got thru unloading the bikes this evening. The grass is a foot tall and I know I'll be doing the kid thing this weekend. I miss 'em and they have been calling and missing us, too. Anyway, here's a shot of us riding the "Dragon". It's an 11 mile stretch of US129 in the Smokey Mountains that crosses the Tn./N.Carlolina state lines and contains 318 wicked curves in it. Moma wouldn't allow me to exceed 29.9 mph, but it was fun just the same. It was here first time there.




I've personally left a good bit of metal on the ground there while ripping it solo. Yeehaaa!!!!!!



Next weekend is another story. I'm actually "propless" at the moment. I've been running borrowed props every weekend and trying to figure out where to best spend my prop $$$. I'm supposed to call Greg over at Hopkins Propeller Service when I can and make an "appointment" with him to come opn his shop and swap my credit card for a handfull of the "next contestants" and see if I can find something my boat likes. Might be next weekend. Hmmmmmm. I would like to check out the W.Pearl as I have never boated there.

 

[hookedup]

Hopkins Props

Hi,
I have a Hopkins prop on my trimate right now. It was made by the Old Man 24 years ago, he knew how to make a prop. His son dose them now and from what I hear he is pretty good also. He is going to want to see the boat his dad had to see mine before he made mine. Its a really high proformance prop tho it tachs fast bites way better than stock props and dose have great top end. Its the best prop I have ever used hands down. If you do buy a Hopkins the good thing is you can bring it back and he can tweek it for you and there is alot of tweeking that can be done. My prop is double cupped and that made a big difference. Ive got some props but the only one that you might want to try is a 4 blade 23 pitch Stiletto thats for a 200-225 Mariner, if it will fit your motor. Its for sale too if anyone sees this CHEAP. Check in and maybe we can hook up this weekend on the EAST Pearl at HWY 90 and the state line. If the weather is ok.
by the way I paid 185.00 for my prop 24 years ago from what I hear they are a tad more now. But its worth it.

 

[jallen355]

I mis-typed. I've never boated in the E. Pearl. I am familiar with the W.Pearl between the locks. At least Pre-K. Like you said, if the weather holds up and the "creek don't rise" I might try out the E. Pearl and luanch on 90 there. Maybe Sunday. I have to work Saturday and have promised a bud I'd help him swap out the front doro on his house that afternoon.

I've got a 21" Trophy on the way to try out this coming weekend. I don't think I could spin a 24" 4 blade. I only managed to turn a 23" Stilletto @ 5300rpm/60 mph.

 

[hookedup]

Weather Looks Good

Hey,
The weather is going to be great tomorrow for rat'in on the river.
Hookedup

 

[jallen355]

Well, I'm at work this morning. Just got through raising my motor up...... I love my job!!!!


Anywhooo, I've got a little construction job I'm helping a buddy out with this afternoon. I'm hoping we get it finished this evening before the Tanqueray puts a stop to the progress

If we finish that and I can get up early and get my "chores" done around the house in the a.m., I'll try to head that way. Are you definately going? Any time frame??

 

[hookedup]

Oh Yeah

yes we are going, I'll be leaving around 11:00 or so have to stop at Kennys for some boiled shrimp and stop for some fuel. We should be at the launch around 12:30 or 1:00. I'll be up and down the river all day. The wife did say something about maybe shooting over to the middle pearls to pet a gator or two but well will be out. Hey if you dont make it this time we will be there again this year till the first cold front moves down and we will be on the river all next summer. Once it gets cooler we will be back to fishin, its been so hot we blew it off till it cools down some. We are fixing to head to the casino I'll check in in the morning before we head out. If you do make it look out for a hooked up blue trimate II
hookedup

 

[jallen355]

Your timing might just work out for me. I'm still at my buddies house watching concrete dry and drinking Tangueray. By the time I get up in the a.m and get my stuff done, I wouldn't make it until mid-day or ealry afternoon, anyway. Moma "T" has to work tomorrow and my running padna has family stuff to tend to so I will be enjoying the day solo.

I did get my mota raised up another 3/4" this morning. Can't go any higher w/o drilling new holes for the lower bolts in the extension bracket. I picked up 150 rpm and 2 mph. I need to get my dual cable conversion done after this weekend, though.
She's getting' squirly over 55 mph.

 

[hookedup]

Heading Out

Its going to be a nice day today we are fixing to head to the store. Going to take some pics today and try and post them this week I've got to get some of my boat to put on my profile.
Catch you later
Hookedup

 

[jallen355]

No, you didn't miss me. I didn't make it. When I got finished with the yard work at about noon, it was raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock, so I wrote the day of boating off and cleaned up around the house, payed bils, etc., etc., etc.

We'll try again. We have lots of boating weather left to come, I'm sure.

 

[Cooter Mac]

What's up?

From the heart of Cajun Country, living in Lafayette, LA and sporting my 24 foot bow rider on Lake Fausse Point and the Bayou Teche.
If I new how to post a pic or two I could show you some pretty sights.

 

[jallen355]

UH oh!! Look out boyz. We gots anudda coon-ass in da house! Welcome aboard Cooter Mac! We just might have to put together a 1st "annual" Cajun Country Checkmate get together next summer.