So Stupid #2

[Shark]

hahahahahahahahahaha you southern boys crack me up!!!!!
emoLaugh emoLaugh emoLaugh

Ok, Ok now don't get made - just makin' a little fun at "yall" emoPoke

I watched too many times too count while fishing from the shore as year after year I watched boat owners do anything from A-Z and had many laughs over the hilarious episodes I watched. I came up with a fantastic idea one day as I AGAIN..... watched another boat drift off as the owner looked in amazement as to why it happened to them.

I came up with the idea that I would always stay dry if this ever happened to me. I have an extra rod in my vehicle to catch my boat for just this occasion. A normal rig will work on small boats. A heavier action rod and braided line will catch larger bass rigs and not break while retrieving it. I have a small 14 ft jonboat so a med rod with 12 lb line will cast out and snag my boat to ret rive it.
emoApplause
I also use the rope a dope method. I always hung the loop over the front of the side guide rail. I tried to tie off in other places but it managed to hang up and the boat would drift in at different angles possible causing it to hit another boat on the ramp.

I back the boat off the trailer; as it slides off I slowly drive forward to gently tighten the line. When it's tight I drive the trailer up the ramp and the line tows the boat to the shore. This year I bought new line to replace the older line to prevent a break off. This is different line from the old. The old was just clothes line as my boat didn't weigh enough to warrant heavy line. This time my boat weights more with a wood floor etc; so I bought nylon line.

Weeeeeellllllll, I didn't think nothing of it as my method in past yrs was full proof with no mishaps as the clothes line is heavier and sinks when wet.

I put my boat in at HB this yr. Just my second fishing trip here in Tenn and the second time with the "new" nylon line. (little did I know the ramps were deeper than the ramps I used in Georgia)
This time....... I did everything as normal, but had to back in much father than I've had too in the past. I started to drive forward as my boat was drifting backwards. EXCEPT THIS TIME I LOOKED IN SURPRISE as others have!!! as I saw my yellow nylon line wasn't still looped over my guide rail.
emoBang
I quickly drove my car and trailer to the side of the ramp (OUT OF THE WAY of other boaters). Several people were just giggling as I jumped from my car - ROD IN HAND and ran to the dock. On the second cast I had my boat pulling toward me as I laughed with them and at them, I guess they expected me to get wet.
emoDance
Lesson learned here was that nylon line floats and because the trailer and rail was in much deeper water than I was used to in Ga. It just floated off the rail as I backed up and never saw it happen.

Please feel free to use my rod idea in the future. Get an old rod - even one broken off to around 4 ft long. Put an old reel on it with 50 -60 lb NEW braid and tie something on the end that will cast out and snag your boat - BUT WON'T RUIN your boats gel coat or other parts of the boat! Keep this under your seat or behind it.
emoGeezer
It will save you a swim. And the folks who were laughing on the shore. Well let's just say they will have to spit out the mud from where thier jaws are laying in the mud when they drop after you catch your boat with out batting an eye and more importantly.... without out even getting into the water! emoLaugh

 

[Buoy-Master]

Why not just tie a lead rope 15-20 feet long to the nose of the boat from the winch stand. Float it off...get out, get the rope and lead the boat to shore or dock? I doubt I'll be casting in my Strat and hooking carpet or seats...LOL.

When I had an old flat bottom, I used my anchor rope to do this with and if i didn't want to get wet, I just had the line looped out next to my vehicle...Grab it without getting in the water at all.

 

[Buoy-Master]

Yea...dont pull your trailer up the ramp until you have lead your boat to shore or dock.

 

[Liveliner]

Scratchin my head trying to figure what I could hook into inmy boat and how big of a rod I would needto catch my big-o Proline Bay center consolethat has no carpet. Maybe big treble hooks in my seat - NOT!

 

[SpurHunter]

Use one of your deep sea shark rods and a small anchor david.

 

[Shark]

lol....... I never said anything about using hooks for your bass boats but it appeared that way. emoSorry

To add the following too:

Use anything strong that will bend in the shape of a large hook and not straighten out but also isn't sharp to cut into the carpet, seats or jell coat - then use electrical tape to wrap over any metal. You don't need a ton of weight to cast it. Use your head and think - it's easy to make some type of item to tie on your line that will not hurt your boat. PS... aim for the trolling motor, seat pedestal - notice I said pedestal... not the seat! emoDance

I would recommend making 2 or 3 hooks; with the hook at least 5-6 inches long (from eye to bend). Solder, tape or tie them together for a better hook up. It's mot like your trying to reel in a whale, take your time and only use enough pressure to reel it in. once it's coming at you; it's easier to reel in - that is unless there is some wind blowing the boat away from you.
unless you can't cast worth a hoot............ enjoy your swimming time. emoPoke

 

[russbayless]

Not to pick on you, but usually if this happened once you should learn from it and not have happen again to the point of needing such a device. But I can see your idea helping someone else in the future. emoToast

 

[Captain Hazmat]

You guys should just get some friends to fish with..that way they can back you into the water and take you out also...... emoPoke

 

[Buoy-Master]

Captain Hazmat - 7/22/2010 11:26 PM You guys should just get some friends to fish with..that way they can back you into the water and take you out also...... emoPoke

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Like I said...400 a month to be your friend. </p>

 

[drumking]

Why not just do what I do when I launch my boat when I fish alone. I have a home made anchor about 40 lbs or so and 20' of rope with a snap hook on the end of the rope and a 5 gallon bucket. I attach the hook to my front cleat on the boat, leave the anchor in the bucket that is sitting at water's edge. Pull all the rope out of the bucket, slowly back the trailer into the water until the boat slowly floats off. Then just pull the trailer back up the ramp and park it, walk back to the ramp, pick up the rope and pull it back to the shore. Load the bucket, anchor, and rope back into the boat, push off and go fishing. Simple. Most of the time I just float the boat off, pull the trailer just out of the water, retrieve the boat and put the bucket, anchor, and rope back into the truck and it is out of the way while I fish. Red Neck ingenuity. emoBigsmile emoGeezer

 

[Oldman]

that would be too easy.lol