Lessons learned and a report

I got to get out a couple of times during the holiday. I started off in east AR and had some good advice from members here and another site. What I learned from this trip is to listen closely to the advice. If they tell you to stay home if the wind is 10-15 out of the south or south east STAY HOME. Second dont worry as much to how to catch fish, but find out how far you can back down the ramp. After backing to far down the ramp I got the the fun experience of fishing with ratchet straps trying to hang my trailer fenders and lift my trailer up and tie it off to the boat. Once I completed this obstacle then I had to figure out how to get back to my truck without swimming. I then took a push pole (ergo net) and pushed the boat and trailer toward the bank where I crawled down the the motor and jumped for the rocks. After fighting wind, waves and not catching any fish I do believe that the good lord was pointing out to me that I should have listened closer to the first lesson.

Next, I headed for Conway. Headed down the boat trail and where it ended I started trolling toward the trees. Third lesson, Minn Kota Terrova indestructable shafts are not indestructable. I smashed into a stump at half power and bounced off. After trying to pull up on the shaft I came to realize that it was split from the head to motor.

I did manage to catch 9 very nice fish in 4 fow swimming a jig tipped with a minnow 18" below a slip cork. I lost a few more at the boat, but with the size of the fish I put in the cooler they will make a nice mess.

I've had them days except didn't catch no fish lol

Makes your average days look good when that happens. Hate to hear your had trouble.

Least you caught Nine good ones, could have been worse.

You didn't back off the ramp at Horseshoe did you? That thing is a booger! Glad you caught a few fish!

Is Horseshoe low?

MD, that shaft may have a lifetime warranty on it.

Yep, he was at The Shoe. Randy and I told him about the wind there. The Shoe will whitecap at 10mph + on any wind from the South. Nowhere to hide from it either.

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Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine

Yep, he was at The Shoe. Randy and I told him about the wind there. The Shoe will whitecap at 10mph + on any wind from the South. Nowhere to hide from it either.

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When he said he backed off the ramp in east AR and the wind was tough, I figured that's where he was. I saw a guy back off the end of the ramp with his pontoon trailer and they tore that trailer apart trying to get it out. That's a dandy!!!

Rockmike, I have not been there in about 45-60 days. It was still low enough to back your trailer off the end of the ramp at Clydes' old ramp if you weren't careful. Most that do that are backing in way to far to float a boat off anyway. Float the boat and pull out and you are fine.

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Originally Posted by BigRiverMarine

Yep, he was at The Shoe. Randy and I told him about the wind there. The Shoe will whitecap at 10mph + on any wind from the South. Nowhere to hide from it either.

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If the forecast is for 'winds from 10-15 mph', don't even bother to drive over. North winds aren't quite so bad, but any south wind (which is best fishing!) is tough.

I broke a front shackle on one of my boat trailers doing that once at the ramp at Piney Bay Park. Backed far enough that I didn't know I had dropped off and was able to go forward a few feet before the front of the leaf spring caught the concrete, by then it was too late, damage was already done. Glad you avoided that.

What an adventure. Happens to all of us at least a time or two.

Glad you survived that episode. The shoe can be extremely dangerous with very little wind and I have head tales about the ramp. Glad you caught some nice fish. I would imagine the Terrova is still under warranty.

Man... Sorry to hear about the "experience" , but lessons learned. You definetly have to be careful (at both boat ramps) when water is low.. The shoe can be good to you when you learn it

I hate to hear that. I was at the shoe Friday and arrived w a dead battery. no way to fish the docks with no power in that wind. Hope u have better luck next trip. All though me and my 8 yr old would have loved to take out 9 on a day like u had.

Its just part of fishing. Minn kota is sending me a new shaft. So hope fully by next weekend I will be ready to bump some more stumps.