This. Diablo East and Air Force ramps on Amistad, Coleto Creek, and the ramp at Elm Creek on OH Ivie are a few examples of ramps where I hook the winch up everytime

If you are in that big a rush to chase down that 2.5lb bass go somewhere else, If I paid my ramp fee I load/unload as needed. I'm not going to dragass but I wont try and be the fastest guy ever to save you 3.5min. I mean its suppose to be a fun day on the lake, CTFO.

I like to fish, not try to be the best at loading and unloading boats.

Trailer ain't coming out of any water without bow strap connected. I got way to much money invested to risk an accident vs. the 30 sec. it takes me to connect the strap.

Couldn't have said it any better.

Pro's suck.

boat buddy

if you have some reservations about not hooking up your winch strap prior to pulling up the ramp,try this....pull your boat about halfway up the ramp with winch strap hooked up....hop out and put about 6 inches of slack in your winch strap.....go to back of the boat and see if you can pull your boat backwards enough to take out that six inches of slack...get you buddy to help you pull.....pretty sure you gonna find out that if you haven't done anything to make your trailer bunks slick, once that 3000lb boat and motor sits down on that trailer,it ain't gonna move til you float it off (or have a wreck going home)�.obviously you need to hook up your winch strap if it's below freezing and there is a chance of ice on your trailer bunks....

Exactly

you know your at the pro level when you keep the motor in gear and throw a rooster tail as the boat is being pulled out of the water.

This pretty much.

Maybe one day I'll fish Bass Champs, BASS, MLF or BPT but in the mean time I'll continue loading and unloading my boat the same way I have for the last 35 years. Actually that's way down the list of my worry's, right below cleaning my golf shoes.

This pretty much what I do every time.

I'm prior US Coast Guard small boat/ tactical qualified. If you want to call them/ me amateur on trailering/ handling a boat and hooking the strap before the tow vehicle moves....then call me an amateur. I bet I could show a few of you "pros" how to handle your boat a little better.

I only throw rooster tails on empty boats floating around the ramp area unattended.