Its more a curiosity question than anything else. As I was out there
poling around this weekend I was just wondering how much margin these
guides really have as they went roaring by. I suppose it makes a
difference if you are doing it every day for a living.

Is the tunnel for the shallow running on a plane or so you can get on a
plane in shallow water? same question for jack plate, it gets you up
when you're stuck but once on a plane you put it down?

I imagine I'll keep doing the same thing.
Slowly run aground on the reef and then pole my way out. I have
already installed the keel guard stainless thing on the motor and the
front keel vinyl thing too. I got a feeling if I blow that steel prop
there's going to be lots more damage elsewhere.

As far as not going there, that's not really an option since 75% of
the gulf coast is skinny water and it seems that 95% of the fish are
there. (ya'll know that) One has to get used to the idea that salt
water fishing is a lot more abusive than bass fishing in the pristine
central Texas lakes.

Maybe a jack plate is in the future.

tks

when i was a kid we had an 18' larson with a 70 horse evinrude. there was
an area of skinny tidal flats around where we summered. i remember
learning from a guy at the marina that the boat drew about 18" sitting
still, but only about 9" on the plane. never went through the shallows,
though.