Sometimes just getting home safe is enough

Ever have a trip that you are thankful "stuff" that could've happened didn't. We fished Sardis today. The first fish was in the boat in just a few minutes. It was well over 14" and things were looking up. We caught that fish in front of the timber out from Holiday Lodge.
After trolling to clear creek then lezpadeeza we had 4 keepers and a nice 2# catfish. We picked up and went to the dam or just out from it. We all needed a break from 1.6 mph, me the wife and the motor were happy for the short boat ride.
We setup a troll and caught two just under size. About that time I look to the west and see a storm that I believed was marching up I55. I looked to the south and thought we might catch the edge of it. There had been no claps of thunder with the storm.

At around two we started getting heavy rain. About the time it got to the northside of the lake the bolts of lightening started and we went for the closest cover, Engineers Point. By the time we reeled up and got over there, which was darn quick there was a patch of blue over our heads.

I got my droid out of the dry bag and dailed up the radar now. It showed what we just went thru very clear. I looked further down the screen and more tstorms were coming. We had put in at teckville and were at EP with a small window between storms. The northside of the lake still looked pretty dicey. Not sure how far it is but as soon as I got out of the protected area I hammered down on the throttle and that 60 yamaha came to life. Before I new it, she was going 38mph at 5600rpms. I don't like to run it over 5k rpms but we needed to get back. I did back it down a touch and skirted the southside of the lake until the rip rap of teckville came into vision. The lightening kept up towards the north most of the way in.

So we get to the ramp and I get out walk to the truck and the sun comes out. Was happy to be off the water. We load, I pull up the hill to the upper lot with the wife in the boat. As I am trying to insert the motor bracket pin in the trailer I notice that it is way far up there. I look at it again and realize that the boat had to slip down on the bunks. So I go up to the wench and see that the crank keeper is down. Don't know if it came out or I didn't secure it. Net effect was the boat slid back about a foot.

The wife cranked and I pushed from the back to get it all the way up. That could have been very bad if I launched the boat in the parking lot. Not to mention may have injured the wife. Think I am going to put a safety chain on the trailer to bow this week.

So yea, 4 keepers, 1catfish and most importantly, Life, limb and property intact today.

Glad you and the wife are safe.

Been on a trip or two like that. Thankful you guys made it safely.

Had em like that too, glad yall are safe, that's whats most important.

Congrats on a great trip !:cheers2

Have had days like that glad yall are safe and sound

You beat us back!!!! Them toons are slow in a storm!!!!! :)

That storm popped up quick. My buddy talked me into "riding it out ". Probably not the best decision but all came out well. I saw that other one coming on the radar and told him I had enough. We ended the day with 4 good ones, several short fish and a couple of slimers . Glad y'all made it out ok.

We got out of dodge when it was approaching. Sardis is the last place to be in thunderstorm.

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Originally Posted by hotrod1

We got out of dodge when it was approaching. Sardis is the last place to be in thunderstorm.

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and very well could be.

Nice to hear that no one was hurt and that there was no damage to equipment.

Wow, gives me chills just thinking about it. Glad all was ok, Sardis is NO BUENO during a storm, spent 15 years camping on the south side and man oh man the things I've seen and stories I could tell.

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Originally Posted by Crappie Cruzer

Sardis is NO BUENO during a storm, spent 15 years camping on the south side and man oh man the things I've seen and stories I could tell.

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Ok, let's have the stories!!! :)

I've been on Sardis during a few storms, not the best place to be.
Glad yall made it.

cell phones with radar locked in come in handy anytime there is a chance of storms. i make it a habit of checking mine very frequently if there is. i was on Saris that year the straight line winds come up and had it not been for my mother calling me from home with a warning I'm sure I'd been sunk or worse. i didn't really believe her because it was so nice out at the time. lesson learned. Never seen wind that bad and barely made it to the ramp and just grounded it and jumped out. Scary ordeal. Won't happen again---I hope.

I've always said that if I'm not bleeding and haven't torn anything up, it's been a good day.

I fished the St Jude tourney in 90 or 91 when the lake was flooded, put in on the top of Engineers point, swells were 18 foot apart and about 6 foot high, other than in the gulf I have never been on water that bad. Sunk several boats that day, we had no business out there and today there is no way I would have even unloaded. Good Lord took take of us that day and I wont be pushing my luck like that again.

I think I was there too. That is why I am always mindful of the wind.. About then they switched to buddy tourney and I quit fishing it.

Ok Big River here's one, At the beach on the north side one fine day around Hayes Crossing with the family. Storm came up and the folks said we need to head back to Coles Point, could get bad? My brother and I wanted to ski back, Dad said ok, Mom said no, so Dad turned the 16ft tri-hull 140hp merc cruiser around and threw out the ropes yelling "Now look, don't fall! and don't let go of the rope if you do! Half way across it went from fun to frantic, the boat would go over the wave and disappear in the swell, ropes just going into he water. Then backup and back down while Mom watched us best she could standing between the glass, Dad working the throttle to maintain speed. Mile 1/2 later Dad slams aground at the camp, almost throws Mom out of the boat, starts pulling both ropes to get us in. Needless to say the rest of the weekend was NO BUENO...