A wake-up call on Beaverfork
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.
