Keep an eye out for all the debris in the water also. I can't remember all the times that I had to take off the cover or jump in and remove alot of weeds from the grate. I think it was because of the load we had (pretty weighted down with a 12 x 12 easy up, cooler full of beer and food, 3 wake boards, 1 knee board, 4 adults, and one dog.) Way to much weight in the boat! Anyways, once you get up to Big River the water starts looking better.
That is funny, I always thought the water looked better south. Noone is ever down there you know that. But we do have to go up to Big River to help this guy out. Your pump did not eat up the reeds. I have never had to pull the plate there. It usually just gets sucked through.