A wake-up call on Beaverfork

**jim4065** · 10-07-2013, 06:39 PM

Got my bait and was on the water by 12 Noon Sunday. Had my old dog with me and was using the outboard to travel to the lee shore, then shut her down and used the moderate breeze to drift back across the lake. Beautiful day - maybe 70 and the breeze was enough for a few whitecaps. My drift was 1.2 mph by the GPS. Was knotting the hooks on some more jugs when I heard a splash and looked up to see my dog swimming toward the boat and having a hard time of it - maybe 5 yards away. She's not very athletic since being hit by a car and looks half Corgi, half Vietnamese hog. Engine wouldn't start (first time - I swear) and the anchor is power both ways, so 20 feet of water takes awhile. Dog now rolling over with every wave and getting deeper. Threw away the absolutely stupid thought of jumping in anyway - then thought of the trolling motor and put it in - but took a minute to figure out the foot control. (Memo to self...) Dog now 15 yards away and struggling mostly underwater. Got powered up to her and grabbed her skin when she was about a foot deep - mouth wide open and pure panic in her eye. Hoisted her back aboard and she's OK, where I was just plain scared. Finally got the motor started and back to the dock OK. Things to do - thank the Lord, buy a new fuel line, buy a dog vest, completely learn to use every part of that boat. Finally, try to avoid excitement. It's been five years since my heart attack - "So wear your life jacket when out alone, you Idiot!" I talk to myself whenever I need good advice, lol. Caught nothing. Ya'll be carefull.

**Cmj** · 10-07-2013, 06:52 PM

Good catch. I take my dog all the time and never thought of getting her a vest. Looks like I am in the market now. Wait, she's like, 1/324th Lab, she can swim.......right?

**RCC** · 10-07-2013, 08:14 PM

A good reminder to us all. Thanks for the post. Everyone be safe, especially with the water temps going down.

Chris, check the dog for webbed feet. If it has 4 webbed feets it is good to go. If it has 2 webbed feets it is probably a duck.

**arkansasbowhunter** · 10-08-2013, 07:02 AM

Omg glad okay

**jim4065** · 10-08-2013, 09:11 AM

Thanks for the well-wishes. Shows how messed up I was by referring to the "lee" shore. Sorry - meant the weather shore.

**Billy E** · 10-08-2013, 11:54 AM

Glad all is ok. Go here to get a good pet vest
getpetswet.com

**DRPEPPER** · 10-08-2013, 12:30 PM

Glad everything is OK. I can testify you get all confused about how to operate your boat in a panic. On my last boat, it had a foot controled trolling motor. I backed into some buck brush and saw ole Sneeky Snake sitting on a limb. I grabbed the foot control with my hands and just shook it in my panic. After knocking him off of his limb and into my boat, I had to beat him to death with my minner bucket.
DP

**RCC** · 10-08-2013, 07:49 PM

Originally Posted by DRPEPPER

Glad everything is OK. I can testify you get all confused about how to operate your boat in a panic. On my last boat, it had a foot controled trolling motor. I backed into some buck brush and saw ole Sneeky Snake sitting on a limb. I grabbed the foot control with my hands and just shook it in my panic. After knocking him off of his limb and into my boat, I had to beat him to death with my minner bucket.
DP

Good thing you weren't jig fishing only that day.

**jim4065** · 10-08-2013, 08:19 PM

Glad there weren't any Game & Fish guys around. For some darn reason snakes are protected in Arkansas. However, I retired out of CHDC (a State facility) 3 years ago and our standing orders were to kill every snake we found on the property.

**CrappiePro** · 10-08-2013, 10:18 PM

Good story on safety and very glad you got to your dog in time.

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