Thread: Lessons learned

I just thought of another one.....
I was putting in at Sugar Loaf. I always run my rope through a cleat on deck then run the other end (with the hook) through my trailer. This time for what ever the reason was, I hooked it to the bow. Both ends of the rope were attached firmly to the boat. I dumped my boat like I always do and watched it float on out towards the middle of the bay. Had to pay a kid $5 to swim out and grab the rope and bring it to me.
DP

Wow

DrP, here is a tip. A tip given by a man that learns lessons very slowly, if ever. But occasionally he does learn one.

I took a rope and on one end I simply looped it back to itself and secured a big old large loop with electric tape. On the other end, I put a snap swivel, a large one. I coil this rope up and leave it in the front deck of the boat. When I ready to launch, the last thing I do is unhook the front boat eye from the trailer. At that time, I uncoil said rope, snap the swivel end onto the boat bow eye, and either A) hand the loop end to my fishing buddy, or if alone, I then B) hook the big loop over my winch stand. Then I back out till boat is free, then ease forward till trailer is clear of water and boat eases back onto the ramp (you have to measure the rope to get just right amount). Then I go down and unhook the loop, tie it to a rock or stick or ramp stanchion, and go park the truck.

Then I proceed to go not catch fish.

well here is a list of things I for sure remember that I have done over the years.
Left plug out of boat
Left straps on back of boat ,,it will float your trailor and thats bad if there is CURRENT
forgot to unhook front of boat from the trailor
pulled boat up to far on steep bank of river came back and transom of boat submerged
Had rope that was attached to trailor break while launching boat
I can think of about 100 more stupid things i have done to really mess my day up fishing but those are what come to my mind involving launching my boat. If you fish long enough you will do all those stupids things.

Last week, I was halfway to the lake when I heard my chain dragging. I realized that I hadn't hooked it up, so I quickly pulled over. When I got back there, my heart sank, It wasn't even latched!. I was in such a hurry to go fishing, all I did was dropped the trailer on the ball, kicked the jack back and jumped in the truck. Not one of my brighter moments.....


C.J.

yep done that toooooo.

My father in law and I were trapping on the upper White river up around Calico Rock in January one winter he backed me in and boat was frozen to the trailer bunks trailer floated with boat, we wait 3or 4 minutes trailer falls free. We head up the river to check sets but the boat seemed slow got to first set jumped out got the coon and seen why boat was slow one tralier bunk was still frozen to the bottom.

I have a bow mounted trolling motor on my flatbottom. First time out with it last week and I pulled it up before it stopped spinning. It was an old, brittle prop...waiting for the replacement prop from Young Mfg. to come in the mail!