Gotta tell this yall

I was on Hamelton the other night, think it was Tuesday night. I was bass fishing and got there at dark then fished till just before daylight. I put in at Hill Wheatly ramp and was headed back. Driving about 40, just cruising along when I saw what looked to be a cardboard box floating which I'd barely missed, didn't think nothing of it. About another mile down the lake I began letting off it to find the ramp when I saw a jet ski just floating aimlessly out in the middle of the lake. I swear if I'd been 5' more to the right I'd hit the darn thing out there in the dark. It kinda scared me at 1st so I went back to see if someone had fallen off, or worse yet if I'd hit anyone in the darkness. I made a circle around the jet ski and started to grab it and pull it in when I thought if someone see's me pulling this thing in they may think I stole it! I left it there thinking somebody probably just didn't tie it up good enough and with all the day traffic, lake patrol included someone will tug it in for them. I didn't even know where to take the darn thing? From now on it's life jacket hooked to the key when night fishing cause you never know what lurks in the darkness. I run off the navatronics so running aground wasn't my worry, it's all the other crap out there to worry about, like a jet ski out in the middle of nowhere!

Years ago I was driving down the middle of Lake Chicot at night and ran into a boat that I guess had come untied. What's the chances of doing that in a lake that wide. But it does happen. No damage and nobody hurt, but scared the crap out us. Moon was so bright I had turned spotlight off and just had running lights on. I keep the light on now.

I had the family out on the toon boat on hamilton a couple of years ago. I had the @#$% scared out of me when I saw a face floating in the water; hair and all. I just knew I saw a dead body. It turned out to be a doll. Everyone that was there still gets a laugh out of it.
DP
BTW
Any one lose there girlfreind? There is a blow up doll beached just below our dock here at the Port.
DP

I always use my spotlight at night. Those GPS units wont tell you what's floating out there. Better to be safe than sorry. ALWAYS have your kill switch connected to you at night.

x 2 gabowman !!!!!!!!!

x 3. When you grow up on the MS river you keep the lights on.

I about hit one of the 55 gal. drums marking the sail boat course they have on Maumelle one night. I was topped out in my 40 hp on the Tracker 1648, full moon, eyes well adjusted, last second I see it, swerve, and it glances off the bow of the boat. After that I started slowing down and running with a spotlight.

Always carry a Q-beam in my boat now. Fished too long in the Plummerville cutoff one evening and had to run downriver to Cadron Settlement Park in the dark! Had running lights on the boat but no spotlight. Now that ain't no fun, my friend! :yikes

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gabowman

ALWAYS have your kill switch connected to you at night.

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Its the law in AR, if your motor is equiped with one, its the law.

Guys, there's no need to run accross the lake that fast at night. You're just asking for trouble.

Well I was doing about 35 is all when I saw it but in the dark that's fast enough! I use the Q-beam but only on narrow, stumpy lakes, wouldn't think of seeing stuff like that out there. I never hook to the kill switch, I KNOW GUYS MY BAD, AND AFTER THAT i WILL START HOOKING TO IT. I always knew it was typical tournament rules if your running the big motor life jacket on and hooked to kill switch but never knew it was state law? Back when I used to night bass fish more I'd be running 55-60mph down the middle of the lake, not too smart I know.

Only on Hamelton would you expect to see a blowup doll, OMG!!! I got a good laugh outa that one and no it wasn't mine! My wife got a kick outa it too.