-got a big float for keys
-refuse to spend over 100 dollars on shades specifically for cases as that
-and the cell phone stays in the vehicle.


but i have pulled the boat outta the water leaving the motor down and dragged the skag for about 5 feet

I went through at least 6 cell phones last year...

'Nuff said.

Its been about a year and a half now since I dumped a phone, so I may be getting the hang of this phone thing on the water.

Well after reading the comments and the attached story I would approach the bird differently now. I would definetly use a towel, jacket, or even the shirt off my back to cover the bird's head before I leaned in to free the bird. Up close that beak looks like a deadly weapon.

great story, you did the right thing but those birds can be very dangerous. I have heard of guys getting there eye pecked by those birds doing the same thing.
I too have done all the things you have listed. I even threw a perfectly good pair of pliers in the lake instead of the fish once. I was just in a hurry catching fish one after another and tossed them in the lake. I realized it when they hit the water. I had to laugh at myself.

I was fishing on Texoma on a slow day and told a buddy to throw out a weightless shad and he could catch a seagull. He was a little gullible but since he did not believe me he had to try it. Sure enough he caught one and reeled it in and removed the hook. When it took off the seagull left something behind on his leg. Needless to say he was not happy. He said something about a dead bird if he had seen it sooner. My dad caught an owl once on a topwater mouse. I do not remember how he freed it though.

Well, I too have done ALL the above...
Flipped my Prescription glasses off my face swatting Mosquitos one time off a Pier and Snakes were in the water around the dock.
Luckily I didn't get bit! Scared of Snakes/Spiders!!!

I Caught a BIG White Duck one time using a Pop R around the waters edge/rock bluff. I was skipping it under a overhanging willow tree at the waters edge...was catchin' Alot of Bass.
Along came this BIG freakin' Duck...Quack, Quack, Quack and as she swam by at the waters edge under the overhanging Willow she Struck at the Pop R and I had HUNG me a Duck!!! DAM!!! What Now?

I was close to a Big Fishing Pier there at Lake Whitney...
there were Alot of Kids/Parents on it. It was Quite a sight and time I MUST say...Never EVEN thoght I was going to get it in!!!
I got her up to the Boat, stroked her head (VERY Cautiously!!!)
and once I had her calmed down I lifted her aboard and had her on the D/Side top cap. After I got the hook removed I couldn't believe it...I had me a "Pet Duck" on my Boat for about an hour or so. People/Kids were ALL laughing and pointing and hollering at me because of my new Buddy! I eventually had to slip her off the side when I got ready to leave...It was Unbelieveable...
Wish I could of had that caught on Video as well!

Ya Never know WHAT will happen/catch when Ya go Fishin'!!!

Bass Wishes,
Nitro Man

Wow! Are you sure you didn't get my list by mistake.

my uncle, dad, brother, and I went fishing on the texas coast with a guide. my dad accidentally threw one of the guide's expensive rod/reels into the water and we couldnt find it. he was mad, but didn't charge us because he showed up late for our trip and felt bad. haha!

Yep, been there, done that!

Also left my wallet at the house and arrived at the ramp with only a 1/4 tank of gas for the trip home, not good, wife met me half way to Cedar Creek, embarrasing for sure!

I hooked a heron on lewisville during the college national championship. Thank the lord it was during a time there was no camera boat on us. I just cut the line as close as i could and went back to fishing. If i had 20-20 hindsight i would have got the bird to the boat and get the hooks out but i had no idea what the bird would do.

My buddy and I were fishing a large pond from a bassbuster boat, we see something busting the surface about 200 feet away, so we start paddling to get closer. I start throwing a rattletrap at the surface activity and don't get a bite. I must have made about ten throws or more when all of a sudden the surface activity turns into three scuba divers who pop up and look around like "what"???!!! Needless to say we are relieved we did not hook these dim-wits!!! We just wave at them and move off laughing our butts off at their luck and our luck that no one got hooked. (I set the hook pretty hard usually!) You never know what will happen on the water.

Yep, got em all....I have found birds are really neat as long as they are out putting you on fish and not flopping around in the boat....

take dump off side of boat drift around point to lovely couple eating breakfast.

My son wanted to make some extra cash, so i had him clean my boat, you know wash and vac, this was on a Sat, when my wife and i got home he was finished and he did a great job on the boat, it was backed back in the shop all ready DAD for your pre fishing trip on Sunday.

Fast foward to Sunday 5am hook up and leave headed to lake Tyler from Cedar Creek, put the boat in, while waiting on my partner to show i open rod box to get rods out, EMPTY NA-DA, I called my wife told her the story and she went out to shop and all my rods were in the corner, my son had taken them out to vac the rod box.

Lucky i just used some of my partners rods.


Also i have showed up to lake with my cat in boat.