Holiday Weekend Report

I spent Friday evening and Saturday morning taking care of all the farming projects I had on my list. I ended up picking the right time between the monsoon rains.

I was done by 2pm and left for the water a little after 3:30pm. I got to Bruin lake and was greeted with a "full launch" sign. I spoke with the ranger for a little while and he said he would get me in if I could burn 15 minutes. I went up the road, removed my boat cover, did a few odds and ends and came back. Went down the launch and decided I wanted no part of what was going on. It seemed like there was 10 boats waiting to get out, 5 waiting to get in, and they only have one launch. We headed up the road to another lake. Fished deep, fished shallow, fished weed beds, reed beds, and everything in between. No crappies. Not one. We did catch a few pike and a couple of perch.

Decided to get up Sunday morning and head back to the Bruin chain. This time there was no waiting and I was able to put the boat in the water a little after 8am. I assume that the boat traffic might have had something to do with the lack of fish but I think they are in that transition period after spawning where they are just plain hard to find. I think we caught 5 and most of them were caught around a few docks submerged over deep water. We did manage a few pike. My plan was to be off the water by noon. We got to the dock and I decided to let Brian out to go and get the truck. I figured I would be a nice guy and back up a little bit in case anybody else needed the dock. I watched a truck come from the campground, back down the ramp and then proceed to take off all of his straps (while sitting on the ramp), take his time getting stuff in and out of the boat, and everything else he could have done in the ready lane (or at his camp site). Mean while, Brian was already lined up to back in. I remember thinking (that boat isn't going to start). He launches the boat, and heads to park. Meanwhile, his boat attendant had no idea that they could move the boat to the other side of the dock so I could load.

He comes down, mills around a minute, gets in the boat and... wait for it... the boat doesn't start! He finally decides to move his boat. Instead of moving it to the other side, he cross decks the boat at the end of the dock. Now blocking both sides of it. With the motor out of the water, he proceeds to try and get this museum quality piece started. Meanwhile, another vehicle pulls down, drives right behind my boat trailer (lined up to get in the water) and backs to the ramp. I am normally not one for saying much to people however I figured I would be the teacher today. I said "hey, can you let me get my boat out of the water before you launch yours". His reply was "I didn't see you". I said, you mean you don't see the truck and trailer that is within 10 feet of your truck in front of you??? He says... we are just going to put it over there, pointing towards the grass. At this point it doesn't matter, he is already in the way.

Finally, the captain of the Edmund Fitzgerald gets his motor running. Of course, he cannot turn it so I have to back up and allow him to motor by. He did not take notice that the water is only 3 foot deep as he had his motor (at least in the water now) churning up mud and dirt. I think he was dredging for me. Brian backs in, we load the boat in less than a minute and pull out. Then he says "he, your tire is flat". Of course it is I say, PAR for the course. I change to my spare and head down the road.

Got home and decided to carpet clean the boat. We also found the nail hole in the trailer tire and plugged it without issue. I should have known better than to try and fish on the long weekend. I guess I hoped that people would have the same level of common sense and respect for others as I do. I'm glad I have good patience.

Yup, uhhuh....I played it safe all the way around and stayed away from the lakes this weekend.

Oh well, look at the bright side. It is a report and now it is entered in the Slider contest. Good Luck!! :ThumbsUp

Sometimes, I simply have to laugh! Just when I think I have seen it all at the boat launch. I think I could write a book of all the stuff I've seen at the launch.

I wish camera phones were around back in the early 80's. Or just plain carrying a camera for that matter. Was at the dock in Manistee. Just came in from Salmon fishing with my dad. The only thing sticking out of the water at one of the docks was about two foot of top aluminum and a window. Turned out to be a complete motor home deep sixed (with trailer). The only thing showing was the bunk area that sits above the cab.

Spoke with the gentleman that owned it and he said that the parking brake didn't work and he didn't realize how steep the launch was. Fortunately, the boat was already off the trailer. If memory serves me, we were cleaning fish while it took two wreckers and a fire truck to pull that thing out of the water.

So true Rich

I believe boat ramps bring out some really lets just say interesting people

If you want some cheap entertainment grab yourself a lawn chair and watch people launch there boats, I see an elderly couple every year at Gun doing that