“Hey, I just caught some fish down on the dock. Anybody have a cooler I can ice them down in?”
“Take mine. Take mine,” they all say.
Bull! No one wants one of their coolers to be used to put fish in. Why? Because once you ice down fish in a cooler, that cooler is destined for life as a fishing cooler.
My fishing buddy, Tim Tigner, and I have discovered a crappie hotspot at a lake close to town where friends have a house. Last time we went, we (Tim) lugged a heavy cooler filled with ice down a steep hill to the lake while I carried 2 tackle boxes, 4 rods, and a small cooler with beer. The trip back up the hill was worse as the cooler was then loaded with fish. I didn’t think Tim would make it.
But not to worry. Ol’ Jim had a plan!
I went to Sam’s Club recently and saw an insulated shopping bag for $8.98. It looked pretty durable with a zip top and a nylon lining. It’s meant for groceries, but I figure it will hold about 3 dozen fat crappie and 5-pounds of ice. The new bag will be devoted to use strictly as a fishing cooler – no groceries will be allowed. Instead of lugging a cooler, Tim can now just put the bag over his shoulder and still carry a couple rods.
I bought it in his size.