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Midnight Rider.
Let my son talk me in to going down to Lay this afternoon. On the off chance there was a tournament, and since it was beyond hot with 100% humidity, We arrived about 4. There WAS a big tournament, place was stuffed.As we tried to launch, discovered the ramp was almost completely blocked with boats sitting around. typical stuff. I had to snake my way back to the ramp, and finally got boat in the water. While I was waiting at the only open spot on the dock for my son to park and walk back to the boat with our dog, guy walks up. Introduced himself and was driving a beautiful 20 bullet with a 300 XS merc. He said “I know, assuming your 200 is stock, I can probably out run you (really? ) but your boat, sitting on that trailer, looks like it was going 80mph as you were backing down the ramp…” They DO look like they are moving.Next odd event of the day, was using a 3/4 oz rattletrap, and hooked what I initially thought was a 7-8 pound bass. Turns out it was about 8 pounds, but it was TWO bass. 3.5 on one treble hook, 4.5 on the other. No idea how. Quite a fight with them double-teaming me on 10 pound test line. Little bit later caught another that went almost 5 pounds, but apparently had been working out. He got about 45 degrees off the stern and stopped. Was NOT coming any closer. Worked with him for 3-4 minutes before I got him to the boat. Felt about twice as big as he was.Final issue, on way back to ramp just before dark, was following someone I knew, both of us running about 45 mph, me about 100 yards behind him when I heard this tremendous WHUMP! WHUMP!. Immediately chopped the throttle. Friend was OK. Had a wake boat running up the river, full ballasts, zero lights, and the waves caught him. Said “Ill probably be peeing blood for the next week.” And now my wife wants me to take her out on the 4th. Wont be more than a zillion boats down there. And she hates rough water. Looks like this is a no-win 4th excursion. 2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Agree to that oldtimer57. Being retired I pretty much dont fish on weekends and holidays unless Im in a tournament. I live close to Guntersville, Wheeler, and the others here on the Tennessee River. It is absolutely crazy on the holidays. I wanted to fish today, but have decided to sit it out and watch recorded episodes of MLF on the tube.
Highlight of the day was the bullet owners comment. 2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Watched two boats Friday afternoon on Conroe back up to the ramp, get out and walk about 50 yards to pay launch fee, then go back to SUV and start unpacking everything to put in the boat. They unhooked the straps, loaded their cooler and all of their other gear all while blocking the ramp. Took at least 15-20 minutes. We are going to try it Monday morning, hope it wont be too crazy. Some people get it though. I pulled up on a spot with several brush piles and a wakeboard boat was very close. They were there first so I knew I had no right to complain if they started wakeboarding. They did but stayed their distance while staying in the same area, it was somewhat wind protected and it was fairly windy so I knew why they were wakeboarding in that area. They made it a point to give me my distance so it wasnt too rough. Last edited by C130 on July 2nd, 2017, 6:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
I have found good operators of most every type of vehicle/boat there is. And I have encountered lousy operators as well. As a general rule, the older the operator, the more considerate he/she turns out to be. Not in every case, but a good general observation. Some are just discourteous. Some are simply stupid. Two stupid examples:Several years ago, a guy pulled up at the ramp in a 50 long house boat. He and his buddy had made what one might term a “trailer. Was basically 4 i-beams welded into a box a little smaller than the dimensions of the boat. Brought it in with a typical 18-wheeler type tractor rig. Backed it in, got the houseboat on it eventually (tied up the ramp for an hour or so, doing so), tied the boat to the frame, and started to pull out. The i-beams spread in the middle, whole thing collapsed, and now the ramp was blocked with a 50 house boat sitting on it diagonally, completely blocked. Dropped my son off, he drove truck down to paradise point and I ran down in the boat and we loaded there.Second example was a sight to behold. Some guys pull up in a 36 boat that is TALL. They back down this humongous trailer, and proceeded to put on a show in how to not back a trailer. I offered to help and they said “thanks”. Then, blocking two lanes (back when the ramp was only that wide) they pull the boat out about 10 and stop. And spend the next 45 minutes trying to get a ratchet-strap over the flying bridge. Finally got it done. I thought to ask “did you guys verify clearances on the path you are going to take? (This thing was way tall, boat had a lower cabin, then the deck, then a flying bridge that was covered with a radar and antennas on top of that). Turns out they had not and they exceeded the clearance available by a factor of two. Boat sat in the parking lot for a week, disappeared mysteriously. That being said, I once did something sort of related. Was an avid HAM radio operator in high school and college. Had an 8 whip on the back of my old car, on a 2 base. Drove to Meridian Mississippi to a HAM radio fest type of deal, and my buddy said lets get a hamburger and one of these drive-in places (sort of like sonic, but with a roof all the way around so you could park and avoid rain. As we pulled under and around to a free parking place, we heard what appeared to be gun fire. Turns out my whip antenna was about 1 taller than the roof. Which had florescent light tubes along the top. Popped every last one of em. With glass raining down, we beat a hasty retreat.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Great stories Old Timer ! Thanks for sharing !
As I had said before, remember the movie “the burbs”? We need one called “the ramps”.At least once a month I have a real “learning experience” as I watch things. Watched a guy smash in his tailgate today trying to load a pontoon boat in dead calm. Came in a “tad” fast, and a bigger “tad” off center with a “tad” too many people (about 12 or so) STILL on board. My son and I can be out of the water 60 seconds after I put my truck in reverse. It is often a necessary skill to avoid getting run over, or through.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
My wife is the one that launches and loads the boat on trailer. She cant back a trailer to save her life but she sure can load the boat. I watch guys try multiple times to get the boat on, then they giggle when they see her in the boat and Im in the truck. I step out and lock boat down and then turn and ask them if they want her to load theirs for them. They seem to be in awe when she hits it first time. Havent had a guy yet take me up on the offer.
About the only problem we have is on ultra-steep ramps where it is difficult to get the nose up and over the bow roller on the trailer. Ought to be a standard slope for boat ramps I would think. But in reality, not even close.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
Oldtimer…you been to the Lake Mitchell ramp at the park on the 65 side of the lake lately? It used to be fairly steep, and I was wondering if it was less so now. Its been 20+ years since Ive launched there.2017 Sabre FTD AE DC2017 Yamaha 175 SHOMK Fortrex 80Helix 10 Mega SI in consoleHelix 7 GPS SI GN2 on bow
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