What's the safest way to take a boat back into the trees at Ray Roberts or Fork? I fished with a guide on Ray Roberts last year and I'd like to try that lake again, but I'm a little intimidated about taking my boat into the trees.

I was thinking about trying it by trimming the motor up 1/2 to 3/4 of the way to the top and then just going slow. Does this work or is there are better way to do it? I don't have jack plate so that's not an option.

The thought of tearing up the motor's lower unit scares me. Anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

Rex, you will probably have to learn like we all did,,,putting through the trees and learning the boat lanes. Once you do that you can run through the trees at 70mph with the best of us!!!

[This message has been edited by FiShYBoY (edited 03-26-2003).]

that's the only way I know to! just use comin cent's! or put trolling motor down hit the hi button an go. it's tuff up there. them lower unit's are hi belive me! I no at least 4grand new!if you have old motor and ins. they will total it out! they did mine. luckly i have a spring on mine and hand controll on it too no foot thing

[This message has been edited by flexpress (edited 03-27-2003).]

I wouldn't put the troller on high either. I bent the hell out of a MG shaft in Flat Creek going AGAINST a wind trying to get out before a storm caught me in no mans land. I had to stand on the pedal to keep going straight. if I was going with the wind it would have more than likely broke my mount off. Been on Fork many times that I could not see the stumps 1' below the water. I would rather putt-putt with the big motor trimmed up as long as you have a SS prop. When you feel a bump, put it in neutral and coast over it. You will get the feel of it soon enough.

[This message has been edited by j.steve (edited 03-26-2003).]

Rex-

Probably the toughest pick thru the trees to me is:

1. getting over to Big Bass Point from the old railroad bed coming out of Buck Creek ramp, then
2. heading up Isle duBois Creek, getting to Stirrup Ranch cove from Big Bass Point.

Try this at night like I did a couple of times...

The best advice I can offer is watch the other boats as they zip by you. Once you have fished this lake enough times, you'll know the boat lanes by heart. In the meantime, just keep refering to your map and current position and look for the natural (logical) creek bed thru the trees. Still, you have to be careful because this lake is getting to the point where the timber is rotting and breaking off at the water line, leaving the tops to float for awhile, then water-log and suspend before sinking completely. Just keep taking it easy and learning the lanes and you'll do just fine.

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I would rather not think about the suspending logs just under the surface.
Thanks Redfin..

Take it slow and easy. I have not been lucky enough to follow someone on Ray Roberts. So, I trim up and just putt along and when I bump a stump, put in neutral and coast like j.steve said.

As for the trolling motor thing, DO NOT PUT ON HIGH! Also, do not go down wind with the trolling motor. I smacked a stump last year in Sand Branch. I almost went overboard as well as my trolling motor! No fun.

I agree with RedFin on the trecherous places, and would also add that anywhere north of 922 in Isle Du Bois you should be cautious, was up ther last weekend and put a pretty good bend in my prop. Luckly no bend in the prop shaft this time around !!

As you are coming from the main lake, once you get east of Wolf island, it seems like it forks, north and south. I always am cautious going into and out of Isle DuBois, seems like I always find a stump. Going on east on the south side of the lake you will find railroad tracks and that is a major boat lane. Also, it seems some generous soul painted some of the tree limbs green indicating the boat lane. Like the other guys said, once you get used to it you will feel better, but I always need a couple of trips to remember where they are.

Hopefully I will see you up there this weekend. (I had to bail on the Fork trip since my brother's wife decided to come down with him so only one day of possible fishing)

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"Pain is weakness leaving the body"

Mike L is right you can get thrown real easy. I was at Fork and by buddie hit a stump and out he went.He didn't get hurt.The next week had a tourney there and another member was trolling hit a stump went out land on another stump enden with stiches in his leg.

Thank you for all the help. I did not know about putting the motor in neutral when you bump a stump. That's a good idea, thanks for telling me about it.

Thanks for the suggestions on the areas to watch out for and for the boat lane tips. I wasn't expecting that information but I sure do appreciate it.

Thanks!

I have the same fear and trepidation with the trees. Last time at Raybob I was going slowly and boats were just wizzing by. Made me feel kinda silly but till I get more comfortable with it I would rather get laughed at than replace the lower unit. I also tried using the GPS to track my path into the trees. It made me feel a little more confident on the way back out.