Boat Ramp Ettiquette 101 - For us Crappie Fishermen

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05-17-2010, 01:28 PM
riverdeltaguide

Boat Ramp Ettiquette 101 - For us Crappie Fishermen
If you have ever been launching your boat and looked up and noticed a line of other boats waiting to get access to the ramp, then this may alleviate the strange looks that you keep noticing from your fellow fishermen...
1. Prepare the boat for launching BEFORE you back down the ramp to the water. Is the plug in the boat? Is there already gas in the gas tank? Is there already oil mixed in the gas or in the reservoir? Do you know where the ignition key is?
2. Don't unload your vehicle into the boat while blocking the ramp. There is plenty of time to rearrange your tackle box after you clear the ramp. You can decide which jigs to put on the rods after you have relinquished control of the ramp. See 1.
3. Boat Motor won't crank??? Don't continue to block access to the water if you are experiencing mechanical problems. If ole Bessie let's you down, then pull her back up the ramp so that others can get their chance to go fishing.
4. Be sure to back up the trailer straight so that you don't take up the ENTIRE ramp. If the ramp will accomodate 3 or 4 trailers at a time and you can't back the trailer up in a straight line then you may block the entire ramp. Practice backing up a trailer prior to arriving at the lake.
And finally, don't be afraid to ask someone for help. If you just can't seem to manage the process in short order ask someone to give you a hand. Most fishermen will be MORE THAN WILLING to help you clear the ramp in a more timely manner...

:)
05-17-2010, 01:37 PM
"G"

Good post RDG
05-17-2010, 01:39 PM
oldwhiskers

Need to add:

1. Clear the ramp area before strapping boat down, fastening motor support.
05-17-2010, 01:44 PM
WestTNMan

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldwhiskers

Need to add:

1. Clear the ramp area before strapping boat down, fastening motor support.

Also, when you are waiting in line and it is still dark TURN OFF your headlights and just leave the parking lights on. Sure makes it hard on others trying to back in.
05-17-2010, 02:00 PM
tritonman

do ya'll actually see this stuff? I must be living right, I arrive, I launch, I plane out, I fish (actually most of the time catch..lol)
05-17-2010, 02:01 PM
DonDon

Amen on all that

really hacks me off. Want to see something worse than that? Come down to the rez on a sunday when you have 3 or 4 of the big 30 to 35 footers trying to put in at the same time. They pull up and then back down to within 15 feet of the ramp and THEN start doing what they have to do. Things like Pull the bags out of the back seat of the truck and hand them to the cutesey chics in Bikinis that need help getting into the boat anyways cause it's 8 feet to the boat railing. Then some guy has to climb up the back of the boat, then take 2 or 3 coolers full of beer from his friend as he takes them out of the truck bed. Then someone will forget their cell phone and other what nots. THEN they'll unstrap the boat to ease the last 15 feet to the waters edge. This takes usually about 20-25 minutes
05-17-2010, 02:21 PM
oldwhiskers

Quote:

Originally Posted by DonDon

really hacks me off. Want to see something worse than that? Come down to the rez on a sunday when you have 3 or 4 of the big 30 to 35 footers trying to put in at the same time. They pull up and then back down to within 15 feet of the ramp and THEN start doing what they have to do. Things like Pull the bags out of the back seat of the truck and hand them to the cutesey chics in Bikinis that need help getting into the boat anyways cause it's 8 feet to the boat railing. Then some guy has to climb up the back of the boat, then take 2 or 3 coolers full of beer from his friend as he takes them out of the truck bed. Then someone will forget their cell phone and other what nots. THEN they'll unstrap the boat to ease the last 15 feet to the waters edge. This takes usually about 20-25 minutes

I have seen this a lot at engineers point at sardis. the only consolation is watching the bikinis while you have to wait.
05-17-2010, 02:23 PM
DonDon

Yeh, that is a good point

but it's still a pain in the butt having to wait my turn to put the boat in the water. All I gotta do is unhook the rear straps and the front hook, back down and pull off. MAYYY take me2 minutes
05-17-2010, 02:29 PM
riverdeltaguide

And you guys surely realize that the vast majority of people that are knowledgeable enough to see this post probably ALREADY have the skills listed above.
05-17-2010, 02:35 PM
prefers shiners

Lord....give me patience and DO IT QUICK.........

we all have been there......whatch gonna do.....maybe sounding off here will relieve some of that pressure.....LOL
05-17-2010, 06:49 PM
river slabs are better

and follow the freaking arrows directing traffic and the line of people waiting to launch.
05-17-2010, 08:49 PM
reb66jr

Get there before sunrise.The Bayliners show up later.
05-18-2010, 07:45 AM
crimsonseal

I feel your pain. Plain common (or better yet uncommon) courtesy is elusive is today's society. I am 46 and was brought up to be courtesy. It's just not done in today's me society. And if you say something to someone you had best be ready to brawl. I try to do the things that you guys have stated here, sometimes KRAFT sets in and I forget somethings but usually get it right. Anyway, when I encounter this, i usually volunteer to help out so the process goes faster, then suggest to whoever own the boat a few friendly tips. It works in most cases when they look up and see all the other boats waiting. Try it next time, sometime being a nice guy pays off, other times you get sh*& thrown at you.
05-18-2010, 08:45 AM
Chilly

Then, when you finally get in the water and go to your fishing hole, these dum-dums will circle your boat pulling a freakin' inner tube for 2 hours and throwing up 3-4' swells. Which in turn draws the REAL dum-dums on the jet skis, so they can jump the wake. You guys should see Pickwick on a good sunny Sunday afternoon!
05-18-2010, 07:35 PM
Hattiesburger

Do-gries'

That's what they call 'em down in Louisiana. It specifically refers to a bird that aint worth getting a roux hot for and wasting shot on but in these modern days has extended to people that can't just do it. If you can't hunt but your out there in the way you're a do-grie. If you're lost running around out in the marsh trying to find your way back to the launch - you're a do-grie. In my spot where you've raced up to me catching fish trying to learn how to do it - you're a do-grie. Can't launch or pick up your boat - you're a do-grie. Stay out my way do-grie I'm coming through.
05-18-2010, 07:40 PM
JohnDB263

loading enterainment

What I have found amusing is watching people load pontoon boats..for unknown reasons a lot of people think you have to get the trailer COMPLETELY under water to load!!

I watched a guy one day at Techville for 30 minutes try to load his pontoon..had a little cross wind and he never did get it loaded...oh yeah he got it over the trailer, but because it was underwater he had no bunks to guide it and hold it in place. I just bounced up and down in the waves until he finally put it on the bank by the swimming area.

If a little over a third of the bunk is in the water that is usally plenty to get a boat loaded.
05-18-2010, 10:16 PM
mike4100

Good Words.
05-19-2010, 11:46 AM
jigum

Wow, this is amazing to hear. To me its like being in line at Walmart. You can bet that whoever is in front of me needs a price check, their card will not scan, they are arguing over a price, or some kind of hold up. The worst I ever endured was a little old lady who had a basket full of items and she put them on the counter 1 by 1 and waited for each to be rung up before she grabbed the next item. I myself have forgotten to insert my plug but luckily no others were behind me but when we learn better we need to do better. I start my motor with earmuffs before I leave the house or the night before. There are just some things you should want know are ok before you make the drive to the lake.
05-19-2010, 03:28 PM
C N

It is not uncommon for me to see folks pulled up in line that are still transferring coolers from cars (not the towing vehicle) to the boat, etc, while the rest of us in line behind them are ready or else we wouldn't have pulled into the line. The ones that take the cake are those that make 2/3's the turn preparing to back up and THEN stop and get out of the vehicle, leaving the driver door wide open and go back and begin to get ready thereby stopping anyone else from even attempting to unload because they have almost the entire three boat ramp blocked between boat/trailer and truck half across the ramp PLUS the door wide open. :mad: When I pull into the line, everything is ready/loaded. Just keep it moving and everything would be ok!

Great post, and I am in agreement that most folks reading this do all the correct and polite things when loading and unloading. :)
05-19-2010, 05:20 PM
prefers shiners

one more time...........

YOU JUST CAN'T FIX STUPID.......
05-19-2010, 08:11 PM
majflyboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by prefers shiners

one more time...........

YOU JUST CAN'T FIX STUPID.......

Ramp executions would.:eek:
05-19-2010, 08:40 PM
prefers shiners

Quote:

Originally Posted by majflyboy

Ramp executions would.:eek:

Hang em high........