Joined
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3,657 Posts
I may as well tell it and see if the world really does laugh with you.
I decided to go fishing after lunch today. Ophelia had passed by, the rain seemed to be gone, and the wind, though gusty wasn't too bad, and should get better as the day goes by, right.
So I load up everything, bait, ice, etc and head out, even stopped and bought a box of nightcrawlers. The river has fallen over the past few days, and I always have pretty good luck catching channels around creek mouths with nightcrawlers under those conditions.
So I get to the landing, make ready, nobody around but me. I release the winch strap and safety chain, tie dock line to trailer, so I can float boat off, then pull back up and get the boat without getting my feet wet. Guess What?
A gust of wind catches the boat broadside, and tightens the rope, and I watch helplessly in the mirror as the knot comes undone just as pretty as can be....like magic!
Stop truck, jump out, but boat is some 50' away and getting smaller. I could have jumped in and tried to swim to it, but I have a lung disease, and don't trust myself, especially being there alone. So I followed the boat on down the bank, expecting it to be blown to shore by the wind, but for some reason, though the wind was blowing in my direction, the boat stayed about 50-60' off the bank. No problem, there is a sand bar about a 1/4 mile down the river; surely it will stop there.
What's that now, but a dead tree sticking way out in the water as I round a slight bend. The boat almost cleared, when a limb got hung in a rod holder, and there it stayed. The tree limbs were to badly rotted to trust going out on, lots of debris floating against it, so I didn't want to end up in the water.
Can't get a signal on my cell phone, so I head back to my truck to call for help. I have to drive my truck back up on the highway and bridge in order to get a cell signal, but finally get in touch with wife at home; thankfully she hadn't left yet for grocery shopping.
"Listen good, may lose signal. Let grandson (Bigboy) and friend hook small boat up and meet me at boat landing ASAP." Then, of course, the embarrassing questions: what happened, etc. "Just hurry, ok?"
So about 45 minutes later, here comes the cavalry, right on time. Of course the first question was, "Well, did you catch any fish?" :glare:
Seriously, I remained amazingly calm.
Unloaded the duracraft, and went downriver, climbed into Key West, carefully tying off second boat first , cranked motor, then loosened limb from rod holder. Idled back to landing with both boats, and fortunately had no problems loading them up and returning home with tail tucked between legs. I decided maybe the Lord was telling me not to go fishing today. I'll try it again tomorrow, but for sure will tie a more secure knot!
I decided to go fishing after lunch today. Ophelia had passed by, the rain seemed to be gone, and the wind, though gusty wasn't too bad, and should get better as the day goes by, right.
So I load up everything, bait, ice, etc and head out, even stopped and bought a box of nightcrawlers. The river has fallen over the past few days, and I always have pretty good luck catching channels around creek mouths with nightcrawlers under those conditions.
So I get to the landing, make ready, nobody around but me. I release the winch strap and safety chain, tie dock line to trailer, so I can float boat off, then pull back up and get the boat without getting my feet wet. Guess What?
A gust of wind catches the boat broadside, and tightens the rope, and I watch helplessly in the mirror as the knot comes undone just as pretty as can be....like magic!
Stop truck, jump out, but boat is some 50' away and getting smaller. I could have jumped in and tried to swim to it, but I have a lung disease, and don't trust myself, especially being there alone. So I followed the boat on down the bank, expecting it to be blown to shore by the wind, but for some reason, though the wind was blowing in my direction, the boat stayed about 50-60' off the bank. No problem, there is a sand bar about a 1/4 mile down the river; surely it will stop there.
What's that now, but a dead tree sticking way out in the water as I round a slight bend. The boat almost cleared, when a limb got hung in a rod holder, and there it stayed. The tree limbs were to badly rotted to trust going out on, lots of debris floating against it, so I didn't want to end up in the water.
Can't get a signal on my cell phone, so I head back to my truck to call for help. I have to drive my truck back up on the highway and bridge in order to get a cell signal, but finally get in touch with wife at home; thankfully she hadn't left yet for grocery shopping.
"Listen good, may lose signal. Let grandson (Bigboy) and friend hook small boat up and meet me at boat landing ASAP." Then, of course, the embarrassing questions: what happened, etc. "Just hurry, ok?"
So about 45 minutes later, here comes the cavalry, right on time. Of course the first question was, "Well, did you catch any fish?" :glare:
Seriously, I remained amazingly calm.
Unloaded the duracraft, and went downriver, climbed into Key West, carefully tying off second boat first , cranked motor, then loosened limb from rod holder. Idled back to landing with both boats, and fortunately had no problems loading them up and returning home with tail tucked between legs. I decided maybe the Lord was telling me not to go fishing today. I'll try it again tomorrow, but for sure will tie a more secure knot!
