""With all do respect I don't care if there are 100 people waiting on me, I'm not letting my boat float away with no one in it.""

go watch the pros launch or load their boats and will see almost all of them doing this....obviously you wouldn't do this launching into the current of a river or a windy bank but as someone mentioned,you are usually launching in a calm protected area and nothing is going to happen to your boat.....

when you are by yourself and there's no one else around to give you a ride out to your boat,there is no need for you to do all that climbing in and out of front of your boat.....just carry a 20 ft length of rope with you with snaps on each end....hook one end to you bow eye and other to your winch stand...back far enough in for boat to slide off trailer then pull forward just a little so your feet don't wet grabbing the rope off the winch stand...pull your boat to the bank on one side or the other of the trailer....tie it off and go park your truck.....I've got an anchor rein on both my bass boat and my aluminum river/duck boat.... the rope is always there for tieing off and retracts back into the holder when not in use.....

I fish alone often, and almost as often end up the evening at busy boat ramp, more often on weeknights. I don't physically hurry or rush the process I use. I found long ago that rushing makes me miss things and ends up taking me longer, but I don't lollygag around about it either. I have a system that works for me and my rig, and just go through the motions to load/launch my boat just like I do every time whether I have help or not. All that said, my system often ends up being faster than a lot of 2 person teams who aren't used to working together. Even when someone is along to help me, I usually end up giving them menial tasks and I still do the important stuff because I know my system and my rig. No surprises.

My biggest peeve, and it doesn't make me mad, just one of those moments when I have to sigh and tell myself to just chill, watch, and laugh, is people coming off the water with a pontoon when I'm trying to launch for a couple hours of fishing before dark. Especially if the 'tooners are intoxicated. No need to describe the scene, we've all seen it time and again.


I too have seen many men yelling at their women who are trying to back the boat or trailer into the water. I even went over and asked a lady in tears one day if she needed some help. She gladly stepped out of the truck and walked away while I backed the trailer in and pulled the guy up to dry land where he took over. Last I saw he was stopped where he caught up with her on the side of the road, I assume trying to apologize and get her back in the truck. I guess some people just don't remember the learning curve we all went through at one time or another.

About the only thing that will really make me mad is the folks that back halfway down the ramp then get out to prep their boats for launch. But those people don't do that long because they get informed by me or someone else about their lack of consideration for others. Even then though, you know something isn't all there with with them, or they'd have taken a cue from everyone else who prepped their boats while in line to launch.

Ain't happening brother

Maybe nothing happens 9 out of 10 times but that one time i let my boat float out there and hits someones boat and messes it up. Im a broke white boy, i can barely afford to fix my little boat much less someones elses. just a peace of mind thing.

not trying to be a smart-azz or know it all but go spend a few years fishing open tournaments and it will change your thinking.....you will see guys back down the ramp with bow already unhooked and their boat launched in less than a minute.....every tournament you will see a dozen or so boats floating around in the harbor while the owners go park their trucks and catch a ride out to their boat...you will see guys load their boat by shoving the nose of their boat up against the winch stop and hold it there with the engine while their partner slowly pulls up the ramp...

Funny, in all the times I have had trouble loading or unloading, had boat starter troubles, etc, I have only ever had one person offer to help me out and that was with my starter in cold weather.

Conversely, in all the times I or my fishing partner have done things at the ramp I know must annoy people, I have only ever had one person say anything and it was at a big tournament of which we were not a part. It was for having the headlights on as a matter of fact, and the guy was very rude about it. I quickly let him plaintively know that he didn't need to worry about us and he didn't talk anymore.

And furthermore, I tend to mind my own business at the ramp and be patient with people. I do get a little flustered, but I keep it all to myself. I go fishing to relax and I try my best to not get aggravated.

Based on what I have seen at the lakes over the years and what I read about on the forums, I think a lot of people like to say one thing on an internet forum and do another thing in real life.

The jacknut that pulls boat out of water and pulls to top of ramp, thus blocking that ramp, and then begins packing up is the guy that infuriates me. He is the same guy who probably backed it down and then started loading the boat at the ramp. Why is it not common sense to pull back into the parking area and pack up.

not trying to be a smart-azz or know it all but go spend a few years fishing open tournaments and it will change your thinking...

been there --- done that.
did not change "my" way of thinking.
Each to his own....... don't get upset, mad or frustrated ........ & the rest of the day will be just fine.
How much time do you lose when someone else takes just a few minutes more ?
"R-E-L-A-X

Same with me. RELAX

what got me was the guy with the kayak on the trailer , nose of truck facing the lake blocking 2 lanes on the ramp will setting up his electronics and rod holders. he got the idea when my boat started backing up towards him.

Something I apply to my fishing decision making process are these 2 questions. It has helped me tremendously
1) Will said action get a 1oz rattle trap thrown at me
2) Am I going to get blasted on the Forum for this.

Most times #2 is inevitable.

MC Crown ramp at Whitney was a case study in bad manners/ narcissistic behaviour this morning. Wish I had the video camera

So,,,,, 1 - 2- even 3 people ahead of you spend an extra 5 minutes getting their boat in the water,,,,,,maybe they are 64 years old & by themselves ,,,,,,, I resemble that remark ,,,,,,,, but I digress.............
1-2-3 people an extra 5 minutes ---- that is 15 minutes that you do not get to fish. If you are complaining mainly about headlights it means that you are there before "safe-light" and you will probably be waiting to take off anyway...If you are leaving the ramp before safe light then you are probably there way early anyway and have the 15 minutes to spare. If it is at a BIG TOURNAMENT like Bass Champs then you are going out into the cove and just complaining because everyone else is floating around in your way,,,,,,,,,why is that guy on his big motor,,,, why doesn't that guy use his trolling motor ,,,, why did that guy put his power poles down RIGHT THERE ,,,,,, if you are boat 150 why are you already in line to go pass Jeff for your livewell check ?
Like I was saying an extra 15 minutes because 3 old farts were slow ,,,,,,,, more than likely you only get right behind one of them,,,,,, not 3...... R-E-L-A-X ....... maybe you only had to wait an extra 5 minutes.
have you ever thought about offering help to that old man by himself instead of bitchin about them

well you get the idea ----- except for the headlights thing in the dark,,,, all the other stuff is just "whatever"

Now with all that being said: I will be by myself at the Toledo Bend Bass Champs event. My partner has a BFL event to fish.
I will get to the ramp at 5:30am (1.5hrs before kick-off) I will be in a grey Chevy truck and be pulling a red n white Stratos. if anyone wants to back me in or pull my truck up out of the way for me ...... I will gladly accept any and all help...... If NOT and you say something to me about my truck sitting on the ramp while I beach my boat and come back to it,,,,, I will simply reply with R-E-L-A-X and Have-a-Nice Day......

I am about to splash my boat now. I suspect it will be ok. Lol

Oh and there is a report of a forum member shaming himself by cutting people of in line at squaw already today lol. Little nitro white and red bahahahahaha
And yes the guy you cut off is that big lol.