Tow during a tournament

Last year, not too long after I first start learning how to fish, I was out and it got dark and late - probably 9:30 or so during late spring. When I went to crank my motor, the battery just started giving out. It was too dead to turn the starter. The battery had gone bad and wasn't charging correctly, but I didn't notice.

After trying furiously for thirty minutes to pull start it with a rope I rigged up from my anchor, I finally gave up. Fortunately, I did have a strong flashlight, and I used it to try to flag down any boat that passed. Problem was, I was in a cove, and few boats were around.

It got later and later, and I was getting a bit worried - not really looking forward to sitting stranded on the lake all night. Finally, another boat came down the lake. As it passed, I held my hand over the end of the flashlight, making SOS flashes....only they were pretty far away - probably 350 yards away. But I kept at it, I sure got excited when I saw them slow down and turn around.

Sure enough, they came to see if they could help me. Turned out they were fishing a tournament, but insisted on using their fishing time to tow me to the dock, which was at least two miles away. They would not take any money, but just wanted me to pay it forward. We pick on the "green carp" boys, and maybe some of them are careless, but many are not. Meant a lot to me for these fellows to take a significant amount of time from their fishing tournament to help me out.

I have had the pleasure of towing others since then, and it's sometimes inconvenient, but always worth the while. And, although I'm always willing to pay for help, I would never want to charge someone else for my help. The way I see it, if they're in a bad enough spot to need the help, then they're having a bad day already - no need to make them pay for it, too.

:cheers2

good deal

Good deal. I bet you would have wanted a set of jumper cables that day. It might have done the job.

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Good deal. I bet you would have wanted a set of jumper cables that day. It might have done the job.

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I have found that the cables are a great thing to have aboard. They don't take up much space, and they will give you peace of mind. Will work if you need a charge or if you need to give a charge. I know from experience.

Nothing any more fun than having the ramp blocked by some guy who hasn't bothered to check out his boat since last spring. I can't count on all my fingers the numbers of times I have loaned or used my jumper cables to get somebody started so they could get out on the lake.

I will qualify my being helpful: a fisherman or a boat with kids, I will ALWAYS try to help. A boat or pontoon full of obnoxious drunks is usually on their own unless I think their situation is dire enough it might get them hurt.

I pulled in an over-loaded pontoon full of drunks some years ago. It was a trip of almost 2 miles and I never even got so much as a "Thank You". Those memories tend to stick in the back of my mind.

I've been towed before and I have towed others - it all comes back to you in spades!

:ThumbsUp

Pay it forward

Jumper cables are certainly worth having along, but they are better for helping others than helping yourself when theres no battery left.
After several incidents ive resorted to having a charged battery along for insurance. At least now I can jump start my own boat.

I have not had to be towed yet but have been close! I have towed others. Would not want to leave others stranded on the water or be stranded myself so I try to be sure my equipment is ready to go and able to get back. I agree that what goes around comes around.

Was fishing Greers Ferry Lake the year after the dam was completed. We got to a shoreline where almost every cast was rewarded with a bass. But all the action attracted two of Arkansas' finest, who motored up and asked to see our license. All was in order, until they decided to move on to check someone else. Their motor would not start. We tolled them across the lake with constant laughter about whether we would be doing this if we had been over the limit. They were embarrassed and we played it for all it was worth. By the time we got to the shore, the help they had radioed for took up where we left off. Everyone was laughing and enjoying the situation.

I agree with you!

A long time ago when I used to bass fish. I was fishing a day and half tournament. I was in lead with one bass being a keeper. The next morning everyone took off to their favorite places. I had came upon a pontoon boat that had been hung up on a big rock all night long. Anyway hooked a rope to it and it took a very long time to pull the person boat loose. It took so much time didn't have time to do any fishing. You know I ended up winning that tournament. The wife said because I took the time to help someone in need.
LittleJohn

Sweet!

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Originally Posted by Retired2Fish

I have not had to be towed yet but have been close! I have towed others. Would not want to leave others stranded on the water or be stranded myself so I try to be sure my equipment is ready to go and able to get back. I agree that what goes around comes around.

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I agree wholeheartedly in Karma because over the 60 years I've been fishing, I have towed, rescued capsized fishermen, given away tons of fileted fish of all species to friends, neighbors and strangers. In December '16 I fished a Crappie.com slabfest promoted/hosted by Slab detector on Lake Harney(Florida). Fishing alone I had a really good catch of quality longline fish and final startup back to weigh-in went well. About 2 minutes later my overheat alarm went off so I shut down to take a look. Trimming up my Yammie I saw no impediment(eg- grass, plastic bags etc.) on my lower unit intake vents so I re- started to check peehole out put= NADA! Taking some emergency weedwacker line, I attempted to free up any blockage within peehole line= NADA! With perfect Florida weather I pondered my plight while weigh-in deadline fast approached. Although I have Towing coverage both on and off the water, I decided to try Slab's cell number he provided me while he fished with me during a Georgia Lake Blackshear get to-gather a few years back. Hoping his Indiana # was still in service, he answered with a hello Doug(all is good). I explained my plight and he said "where are you"? I said "on the other side of the lake"...he said "what lake" I said Harney, he replied "that's where I am"(I had no idea). He said "hold on a minute" had to(didn't have a choice,lol). I heard him ask "does anybody still have their boat in the water and wants to do a rescue"? Instantly, I thankfully heard a response. The good Samaritan turned out to be a new member(Howard OCurran, thanks again Howard, Slab). Well, the rest is the typical rescue scenario with the all so important "Pay it forward" overtones. Thankfully, I was allowed to weigh-in my catch taking 3rd place. One never knows when their "help flag" presents itself. Oh yeah, problem was water pump which thankfully I could replace myself=$$.

u2s

u2s

A couple years ago me and the family were on our way in from tubing in the afternoon. I had just flipped my daughter off the tube out in the middle of the lake. As she was climbing back in the boat we could see a pontoon of people trying to wave us down. As we got closer I could tell they were having a good time except for the fact that they had run out of gas. They were so happy that I had come to their rescue. They kept offering me money to tow them to the gas station on the lake. I kept refusing because I feel awkward taking money from people. I eventually caved in to their offer of $40 for towing them in. They were very nice and so grateful and just having a good time. I would not have taken their money if they were not so persistent. It just feels good when you help someone out. They were a hoot on the way to the station. Very entertaining.

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One of the benefits of living on the lake and giving out your cell number. I have had friends call me and say they needed help and of course I go do what I can. It makes it easier to have a boat at the dock. I have been called at 2 in the morning to go find some drunk friends that had run aground. When I answered the phone and they told me what happened I asked where were they. The answer I got was I don't know. Lake Murray is a 55 thousand acrea lake. Fun fun

I will not leave a fellow angler stranded period.

Its only a matter of time.
We are all going to need a hand, at some point in time.


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I take cables and a spare charged battery every time I go out. Out here in west Texas especially at night passing boats are few and far between. Just saying. Whether it be for myself or someone else

I've only towed two in over 15 years: One was a pontoon boat that'd run out of gas while he was deer hunting and the other was a bass boat that was having some sort of electrical starting issues that we couldn't figure out on the water. I also recall assisting several others with jumps and various things at the ramp and on the lake on other occasions. I don't know whether it's my boy scout, military training, or my OCD... but something always has me (what some call) overly prepared with such things as cables, jump boxes and tools. Like many others on this forum: I'm always glad to help out whenever I can.

It's been about 15 years ago the wife and I were on the lake and in the distance was a man that at first I thought was fishing. After a few minutes I look over and his boat is sitting lower in the water, didn't think much about it. Looked a couple minutes later and he was definitely in trouble. I go over as quick as I could without swamping him. By this time there is only about the last 4 feet of the front of his boat above water. He reluctantly throws me his wallet and keys, and climbs into my boat. He was had taken on a lot of water and his bilge pump quit working. Decided the best option was to take the plug out of his boat and we tied a rope onto the front of his boat and I pull him around the lake trying to drain water before it fully sank. After about 45 minutes his boat was sitting pretty high in the water so we head to the docks, he got out and backs his trailer into the water. There are now 3 to 4 men at the ramp to help so I make a couple passes as they get ready to help him put his boat on the trailer. They get ready as I make a final pass and once close to trailer I cut the rope and the boat is now headed their way. They grab hold and pull it toward the trailer when suddenly and unexpectedly the boat flips upside down :banghead:banghead Not a good ending but noone was hurt or died so at least we tried.

I've towed a few people. The last one was a 22' pontoon with 14 people on it (women, men and children) that hit a submerged (and clearly marked) rock pile at 20-25mph. I thought for sure there was no lower unit left, so went and offered to tow them to the nearest resort docks. it was a rental and they had no idea where they were or how to get back.. they were "following the line on the fish screen" and when I looked at the screen it was about 10-12 miles away and they were 3 lakes over from where they thought they were. It wasn't feasible to tow that boat 10+ miles on the water in a thunderstorm with all those scared people on it. The resort owner took them all to a cabin to warm up and calm down while they called the rental place who sent several cars to come get them.

The worst part was when I got to the boat the guy who was driving said "it just shut off" I said yeah you hit that rock pile, I heard it from 200 yards away. He said "oh we hit something?" He had no idea why the boat stopped. I told him to not bother trying to get it started again from the sound of that impact, its not going to run.

The next day the owners of the boat came by boat to get it, they towed it back and when they went past they had the motor trimmed up and there was no lower unit left, just completely gone. I couldnt believe there wasnt a giant oil slick in the water? It was very windy and storming and getting dark so maybe I just didn't see it in the chaos of trying to tow them out and calm everyone down.


By the way for battery issues I always have a set of jumper cables in the boat, so I can jump from trolling motor to starting battery if needed. Plus on trips I always take a jump pack so usually toss that in the boat too.

I've been towed in by a passing boat. I was the one doing the towing a couple years later. Sure was glad for the help as was the guy I pulled in. I won't leave anyone stranded on the water.

Good (and sometimes a little scary) stories about helping others. Nice to pay it forward!
Bob