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EricM

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 24, 2007
Messages
8,593
Location
Harrison, TN
If you haven't read yesterday's post "OOPS..." you might want to now. I fell in yesterday while throwing a cast net. WELL...., today I was fishing for blue catfish in 50 feet of water when a 3 footer picked up the bait at a dead run and jerked the rod right out of my hands and into the water next to the boat. It took about 2 seconds to realize that the rod was 6 inches out of reach and disappearing fast. I couldn't believe what I was about to do for the second time this winter, thought "OH ****" (or at least I think I only thought it), and went in after it. A forward flip with a half twist (difficulty 2.5) salvaged the rod and the fun began. I couldn't throw the rod back in the boat - it still had a big catfish on it. So here I am, swimming around the boat, fighting a 20 lb cat with one hand while it's pulling drag like mad, and releasing my rope stirrup (see the other post for the description) so I can haul my waterlogged butt back into the boat! Larry, Moe, and Curly couldn't have done better. Meanwhile, there are three kids in a boat not far away and they're all staring with really big eyes and their mouths hanging open. They finally overcame their shock and asked if they could help, which was really nice. I'm just glad they didn't videotape me. Now I'm laying flat on my stomach on the rear deck of the boat, trying to catch my breath and still fighting that #$%$# fish that started this whole mess. I finally landed it, measured and weighed it, and took a picture of it. I wasn't in the mood to kiss it before releasing it (Jimmy Houston style) but I did consider kicking it's butt over the side until I realized that I'd probably slip and go in again. When I finally got back to the ramp, an unnamed CFF member was loading up and telling his friend "See that rig? That guy FELL IN yesterday!" and here I come along sloshing water out of my boot tops again today. How humiliating! By the way, I foud out that getting back into the boat using my little rope trick is a lot easier with practice!
 
<font color="#ff0033">where are you goin to be tomorrow...  I will sell tickets and we can make some good money...  BTW, sorry you got wet but glad you landed the fish...thanks for the update...FA
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Eric I'd give money to see that happen. I can just see you swimming around, trying to fight that catfish! Maybe your should start wearing a rope around your waist when you are on the water!....emoPoke emoLaugh emoLaugh
 
Tomorrow's tickets go on sale promptly at 9 am. Visa, Master Card, etc accepted. I swear I was thinking of an automatic pfd until I realized that you can't buy the recharge units by the gross.emoLaugh I'm about afraid to go out again tomorrow, knowing the possibilities:
A. It happens again
B. Something else equally stupid happens to me
C. Someone sees me do A or B (or both)
Am I the only one this **** constantly happens to, or am I the only one willing to entertain all of you with my tales and exploits?emoEek emoTongue emoParty
emoDoh Actually, it's kinda fun telling on myself and laughing with all of you! I just hope I don't have another post for you soon!emoLaugh
 
Eric, did you "laugh" about it with Tom... if not, I'll keep my BIG mouth shut this time, lol.emoPoke emoUpsmile
 
The anonymous CFF poster was me. I was telling my friend when we launched my boat that “the fellow driving that Durango fell in the lake yesterday”. As luck would have it we took out the same time and I asked you if you fell into the lake again today, to which you answered “affirmative”. The reason I wanted to talk to you was to see your apparatus for getting back into the boat. You certainly fit the term “RIVER RAT”.:)

I've see and talked to you several times but did't know who you were until you posted the picture of you and the Rock Fish.

i still want to get with you sometimes and learn how to throw the net without falling in.:) :)
 
Eric, just stay at home. Don't risk it! Well, come to think of it, it's going to be in the 70's tomorrow, so it won't be too bad.

FA, how much are the tickets? LOL
 
Fat Albert - 3/13/2007 4:04 PM

<font color="#ff0033">where are you goin to be tomorrow...  I will sell tickets and we can make some good money...  BTW, sorry you got wet but glad you landed the fish...thanks for the update...FA
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That sounds like something that would happen to me EM. I'll bet that the 60 degree water gets pretty cool pretty fast. What boat ramp did you say that you frequent? Maybe someone can take a camera up there one of these days and see if you are really telling the truth. I love to swim in the lake but I usually wait until early June.
 
The truth be told, I couldn't make this stuff up. Wanna hear how last spring I didn't quite back the boat in far enough and the big motor wouldn't get the boat off of the trailer so I had to back up just another foot or so but I didn't think to hook the boat back to the trailer and I stood on the ramp watching my boat sail off toward Sequoyah from Skull Island and there wasn't a soul anywhere in sight and I stripped down (almost anyway) and went for a swim and on the way back stepped on an old lure in the water and it only poked me some but I couldn't get the stupid thing (the lure, not me) out of my sock and NOW someone shows up on the boat ramp? I swear, I couldn't (and wouldn't want to) make this stuff up! Sure makes a good read, though!
 
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 This is hilarious.  Not laughing at you but with you.  Try being a female and having to hang over the side of a boat to tinkle.  Then you realize as you firmly grip the sides to hang on that the boat is wet and oops.... off the side you go.  Try wading and pulling your drawers back up... not easy.
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That's a great story... the exact reason I tell clients holding my fishing rods that "you drop it, you buy it." emoLaugh
Amazingly about 3 years ago I watched a guy drifting the turbines below Nickajack do the exact same thing with a big rockfish. He was alone... the fish hit, yanked rod from hands. He hit the water after his rod WHILE DRIFTING below turbines mind you.

I was in the process of reeling in and firing up my engine because I KNEW he was going to have to be rescued. But before I could get moving his way I saw him reach up to a grab rail, haul himself back on-board and proceed to fight & land the rockfish. I was flabbergasted. I commended his performance when we crossed paths later. I wish I knew his name.
 
carolf29 - 3/15/2007 11:50 AM This is hilarious.  Not laughing at you but with you.  Try being a female and having to hang over the side of a boat to tinkle.  Then you realize as you firmly grip the sides to hang on that the boat is wet and oops.... off the side you go.  Try wading and pulling your drawers back up... not easy.
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<font color="#ff0033">Well, CFF's.....Here is another event to promote and sell tickets to...
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