I was reading a post about a man that thought he had been embarrassed at a boat ramp. I don't know if this has allready been covered but thought it would be fun to hear some embarrassing stories from the ramp. Tell on yourself or someone else just for the funny in it.

For myself, soon after getting my boat we went to Falcon for a tournament. Not knowing the lake I wanted to get in early and get ready to go. Having launched the boat and started fishing around the docks waiting on daylight my P stepped into the bottom of the boat to find it had filled full of water. Not to panic I sent him to the front fired the boat up and started to idle out. We were soaked by a spray of water. I had forgotten to pull the trolling motor. Ok we were fisherman-0 dumby-2. I finally got enough water out to pull the boat praying the other club members had used a different ramp. No such luck. With water still running from the drain hole another team pulled up asked if we were having a good day fishing launched their boat and were gone before we started agian. I got poked and prodded at the weigh-in until we unloaded our fish.

I have several more but will wait and see if this thread takes off.

Here's mine :P

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Formerly known as KC GSR

Here is a whole lot of embarrassing moments. http://www.texasfishingforum.com/.ubb/Forum1/HTML/002958.html You are not alone.

Here are a few that I remember from over 30 yrs. of boat ramp madness.
1. Drain plug.
2. Son locked keys in truck on ramp.
3. Failed to remove transom tie-downs.
4. Slipped and fell in on slick ramp.
5. Slipped and fell in off bow of boat.
6. Hit trolling motor on-off switch-took out chunk of fiberglass.
7. Stumbled getting out and spilled entire tackle box with everyone watching.
8. Boat trailer (Old one) broke after pulling boat up on trailer. Had to tie up with rope to make it home.
9. Waves came over rear transom swamped boat.
10. Opening the live well to find that one fish you missed on the last trip out.
These are just some that come to mind. I guess when you fish long enough, the list will continue to grow. Didn't even mention the times I broke down on and off the water. Kind of scary when I think about it. Good fishin! Jimbo

Jimbo--Was going to add my own list--But you just about covered it all--If you have fished very long at all--Been there done that!!!

I wasnt on this fishing trip but my buddies told me about it. Three of them went out with a guide one weekend. After a little fishing one of them (weekendwarrior)(not to mention any names) decided he needed to releive himself of some morning coffee. He goes to the back of the boat and proceeds to warm the water. All of a sudden the rod & reel (belonging to the guide) shoots off the boat and into the water. My buddy (weekendwarrior)(not to mention names) reaches for the rod & reel while still taking a very long must needed leak in the lake, slips and falls in the water and you guessed it RIGHT IN HIS ON WARMED UP SPOT !!!! His buddies said he looked like one of those water fountains when he came back up ( squirting water out of his mouth )They said those little pee bubbles were all around him. Everytime I think about this I cant help but laugh. He claims he made a swan dive into the water to save the rod & reel. I was told by other a totaly difernt story. Who do you beleive ?

[This message has been edited by jimmye4fish (edited 12-17-2003).]

[This message has been edited by jimmye4fish (edited 12-18-2003).]

Thanks Jimmye,
I knew I could count on you to bring that up I wish I had something on you right now, but nothing comes to mind. I will keep a notepad close by though

Here is my second most embarrasing moment:

Went to lake with the little lady (no, not Jimmye) to spend some quality time sandbass fishing. Pulled up to the ramp we normally launch from and untied the boat and removed the transom saver. Backed up until there was at least 15' of water between the front of my truck and the shore. I decided the lake was too low to launch from there so I put the transom saver back on and motored around to the marina to launch. I backed down the marina launch and got in th boat to lower the motor and pull out. The motor would not go down at first so I tilted all the way up then went back down and it went. Right about the time I went down, I had realized that my transom saver had just fallen into 4' of water. By this time 2-3 boats were ready to back down the one ramp launch. The water was a tad under 60 degrees and when I stuck my leg in to feel around for the TS, I knew it was going be a long wet morning. To make a long story short, I had to dive in and feel around in order to retrieve my TS. I would have just left it, but my motor hydralics has a leak and will slowly fall as I drive. I went the rest of the day soaking wet in 55 degree weather.

Me and I buddy rented a boat so we could compete in a Crappiethon USA tournament in Arizona a number of years back. The boat was a 17' Bass Tracker Guide Special and the trailer had rollers instead of carpeted rails. Well we disconected the wench strap and started backing down the ramp. Oh, before I forget, there was a bass tournament launching from this ramp as well so there were fisherman everywhere. The back of the boat was just about to enter the water when my buddy put the brakes on and the boat came rolling off the trailer and the back end ended up in the water with the front of the boat still up on the trailer. But it got better. The plug wasnt in so water started running in. It took the 2 of us and about 4 other guys on the ramp to get the boat back up on the trailer. We ended up waiting until everyone was gone before we put the boat back in.

Scott

On a COLD Lake Fork day in 1995, with a borrowed boat and winnebago.......Isnt that the way a lot of stories start? Fishing with a friend and my brother (the boat and winnebago belonged to the friends dad). A cold front had blown in, it was overcast and windy. We put the boat in the water and began our short trip fishing. We soon realized that we had forgotten the plug and made haste to the ramp. Pulled the boat onto the trailer, but the little Nissan pickup just didnt have enough in it to move the boat and 1/2 of Lake Fork which was now in the hull. Finally got that problem solved and just gave up fishing. Loaded the Winne and headed for home. On Hwy 82, just west of Sherman, our friend began seeing someone WAY behind him flashing his lights. So he wakes up my brother and says, "Go look out the back window and tell me what you see." So my brother goes to the back, comes back and sits down and says, "A trailer." Boat was MIA. Of course they found it, about 5 miles back. It had come off the trailer on the 82 bridge that crosses 75. It skidded about 150 yds in a straight line (you could see in the asphalt were the lower unit carved a path), then just as it passed the end of the guardrail, it made a sharp right turn into the ditch.

Well they turn around and show up at the "scene" where there are already DPS, sheriff deputies, etc. One guy says, "Is this your boat?" To which my brother replied, "No, we always drive around with an empty boat trailer in case we find a boat." Heres your sign.

To make a short story long, they got it back on the trailer and hauled it home. It was battle scarred and the lower unit was about 10" shorter than when he had borrowed the boat from his dad. Suprisingly enough, dad was just glad nobody was hurt, he had insurance and made out like a bandit.

That doesnt sound embarrassing. It sounds more like a horror story. That was one bad trip. How much had yall drank ?

LOL! Great story FishinAg


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Formerly known as KC GSR

A few years ago Marshall Hagman (yes he's kin to Larry Hagman of Dallas fame) and I went out to Lake Weatherford on a beautiful weekday in early May to do some bass fishing. While we were getting the boat ready some teenagers came screaming up to the ramp in a brand new red Chevy Silverado with a matching red Mastercraft inboard and matching trailer. One of the boys jumped in the boat and cranked it up and the engine was smoking before they even reached the water. So we started to take interest in the show and waited to see what would happen next. They all piled in the boat except the driver who peeled rubber all the way up the ramp and across the parking lot and then ran down and joined his buddies. They roared out of the marina as fast as they could go having obviously skipped school and snuck their dad's new boat out. With our ears still ringing from the sound of their take off we returned to our business. Before we could launch our boat here came the teens roaring back into the marina full blast with three of the teens perched up on the engine cowling with the transom noticeably lower in the water having forgot to put the plug in. They were all screaming at the driver to hurry up and land the boat. I could here the prop making contact with the lake bottom as one of them raced up the ramp to get the truck. He peeled rubber all the way to the ramp again and backed into the water ramming the boat in the process then when they started to pull the boat out of the water they didn't get it on the trailer straight and with the extra weight of all the water it crushed one of the fenders on the trailer. They were really histerical by now and they finally got the boat on straight and started up the ramp when the hitch came loose and the tongue creased the back of the tailgate all the way up before sliding back in the water. They managed to stop its descent before the tongue completely disappeared. By this time we were just sitting in the back of our truck on the tool box watching the whole spectacle with great anticipation of how they were going to get out of this mess. They finally used the pickup jack to get the trailer back on the hitch and the burned rubber all the way up the ramp all the time the engine just smoking away. They stopped a few yards away and turned the engine off and strapped the boat down before taking off. Marshall and I both looked at each other and said it doesn't get any better than this. And if you think this is a whopper then just think of the one that kid told his dad about what happened to his new truck and boat!!! For some more hysterical stories check this webpage out from Seattle: http://www.pugetsoundanglers.org/Fishing%20Info/boat_launch_observations.htm

About 20+ years ago, back when Monticello always had a big crowd lined up for a mile or more at the boat ramp every morning.

I wanted to be one of the curteous fishermen who had everything ready prior to pulling onto the ramp apron. Checked and double checked!!

Had the wife and daughters loaded in the boat....Everything was ready to go....I even unhooked the front winch strap just so I could back the wife down, let her launch and pull right off!!

Problem being...I had one of those old boat trailers with the rollers, instead of carpet bunkers.

Started backing down this steep ramp when I felt the boat move, it kept moving, and moving, until if fell off the end of the trailer....transom down on the concrete five feet from the water, trucks lined up for a mile.

The winch rope broke twice while I was trying to winch the boat back up on the trailer enough to get it on into the water. Third knot I finally got past the sun rot!!

One thing bothers me to this day....That fifteen minutes or so I likely had the ramp tied up....Not one person offered to help....Folks, please don't be like this, even if all you can offer is moral support.

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Mike
www.WhiskerKitty.com

Okay, It is spring break, 1986. My buddy Tim and I are headed to Holy Lake Ranch for a week of Fishing and Golfing at his parent's vacation house. Tim is a great guy, but a little big and clumsy, answering to the nickname of "Barney, as in Barney Rubble from the Flinstones. Tim's father gave us the keys to the house and told us that they would probably be down during the week. On Tuesday, Tim's parents show up and his dad is just giddy. You see, Tim's dad is a firm believer that one man's trash is another man's treasure. He does the garage sell thing and the Canton first monday, Ect. Well his father had found and purchased an old outboard,15hp, and worked on it until he got it running. He was so proud of this motor. On Wednesday, Tim and I decide to go to Lake Hawkins with the motor, rent a john boat and go fishing. His dad was a little skeptical, but agreed to let us take the motor. He gave strict instructions that only Tim was to operate the motor. Yee of little faith! We get to the lake, rent the boat and attempt to attach the motor. The mounting clamps were a little big for the transom on the back of said john boat, so the nice man provided us with a piece of scrap wood to help secure the motor on the boat. The nice man also provided us with one broken oar, just in case. We set out for a afternoon of fishing and cruising the lake. After about an hour of fishing, we had caught nothing and decided to cruise the lake. As we reached the dam are, Tim asked if i would like to drive the boat. I reminded Tim that his dad had expressed only Tim drives the boat. It was at this time that Tim made comment that would haunt him the rest of the week. Tim stated," He'll never know, besides what's the worst that could happen?" Tim explained the controls, "Move the lever to forward to go forward and to reverse to back up. To start the motor, turn it all the way to one side or the other and pull the cord. You may want to give it a little gas, to make sure it starts." Sounded simple enough. We changed places and I prepared to give it a try. What we did not realize, is that when Tim killed the engine or when he was demonstrating, he had put the motor in gear/ forward. I tugged the rope and nothing happened. I braced myself, twisted the throttle and gave another hard tug and the motor started.We had just completed our second donut before i was able to right myself and turn loose of the throttle. About that time that piece of scrap wood the nice gentleman had provided broke in half and fell to the bottom of the boat. With the boat working on it's third circle from our continued momentum, The motor fell off the back of the boat. Tim and I sat there and looked at each other in disbelief. Just then the gas can began bouncing in the bottom of the boat. I realized the fuel line was still attached and reached for it. However,it came loose and all that was left of our motor was the bubbles coming up from the bottom of the lake.Tim was very distraught, I am not sure if it was the motor or me lying in the bottom of the boat laughing hysterically, probably a combination of the two. We were about a mile from where we put in, with one broken paddle. Tim rowed and I laughed all the way back to the ramp. Tim did not find it as amusing as I did. He kept mumbling about how his dad was going to kill the both of us. We got back to the house and Tim made me promise that when his parents returned that he would tell the story or at least a version we had agreed upon and that i could not laugh. I really did try to honor my promise! However, as Tim's dad entered the house, his first words were " well, how did the motor do?" Well, I lost it and without hesitation i responded, " well it ran like a champ and sank like a rock!" I thought Tim might actually save his dad the trouble of having to kill both of us by taking me out himself. Tim's mother and I went into the kitchen, laughing hysterically while Tim tried to explain to his dad. His dad took the news surprisingly well, he asked if we could remember where we lost it. He stated he would try to figure out a way we could get it back. I continued laughing every time i thought about what had happened, Tim and his father never did see as much humor in it as I had.

The next day, Tim and I had gone golfing and when we returned, Tim's father was awaiting anxiously. He told us that he had a way for us to retreive the motor if we could remember where we lost it. We said we could and he explained that a friend had given him a magnet that would pick up objects under water. He said we would eat lunch and then head to the lake. Of course, my curiosity was going wild, After all, this magnet must be huge to be able to pick up something like a motor? I finished lunch first and Tim's father told us the magnet was in the bed of his truck, wrapped inside a cloth. He told us not to mess with it because it was strong and did not want it on his truck bed. I went outside and could not stand it, I had to see this magnet. I looked in the back of the truck and all i could see was this small shop towel and a coil of rope. I opened the towel and began lauging hysterically. This magnet was about the size of a jumbo hershy's chocolate bar! Tim came outside and saw me with the magnet and asked me what the HE*% i was doing. I said relax, "what's the worst that could happen?" I had to see what was so special about this magnet. So i was standing by the back chrome bumper of his dad's truck, when i guess i under estimated this magnet. Before i could react, the magnet lurched from my hands and slammed flush on to the bumper. I began pulling on the rope attached to the magnet,but it was stuck. It did not matter how hard i pulled it was not coming off. Tim and I both began pulling and we pulled so hard the whole truck was rocking back and forth. I began laughing and Tim assured me if i did not get this magnet off of the bumper before his dad came outside, I would not be around to witness the outcome. I finally started sliding the magnet to one side of the bumper worked it off. However, all of the chrome that the magnet touched also came off with the magnet. OOPS!.
We put the magnet up and headed to the lake. Row back to the area where the motor came loose and as much as i tried, i could not keep from laughing. Tim's father is in the front of the boat, dropping this magnet in thirty foot of water in the middle of lake Hawkins, expecting that at any time to hollar, " Motor On!" It never happened! Tim and I are still friends, However, Tim's father never has gotten the full story. As for the bumper, I conviced him that someone must have backed into it while we were on the lake. Ahhh, what a week!

Tim's father ended up hiring a diver, who successfully retrieved the motor. It took a little cleaning, but it still ran like a champ.

Troyboy

I got one that at the time was not funny but is now. I went trotline fishing with a couple of old timers that were known for some big cats in there hay day. I though that I could get some much needed info for my self so I could get some of those big cats in the boat too! Well The day was great at first. We caught bait "perch" with rod and reel for the night set,And they drank beer. We got everthing loaded in the boat and they drank beer. Don't get me wrong I drink beer but they DRANK Beer! We got to the river and unloaded the boat and you guessed it. The beer flowed down. We got to the honey hole and set the lines and they were still going. I was ready to get back to the house by now. But I did have high hopes of the big fish that would be on those line in the morning! On the way back to the ramp the old Mercury 25 fell dead. The gas was good but the motor would not go. They pulled the rope and drank beer and cussed the motor for a while. Lucky we went up river!! Any way the more they pulled and drank the more mad they got. Finally one of them disconnected the fuel unbolted the motor and pushed it off the boat into the river and said " Them blanking motor will never leave him stranded again" And he said give me a beer. So I decided to drink beer with them as we floated theriver to the ramp. To this day I have no idea if there was a fish on those lines but I did learn where to put my line out. Man was that a day!!! lol