Alright, Spill It...Personally embarrassing, foolish, boneheaded DOH!! Moments

[Gaines721]

Several years ago, while fishing with my father, I failed to properly stow the new Minn Kota Terrova trolling motor we had recently installed.  We were getting ready to head in so I pull the trolling motor up, swear I hear it lock into place and take a seat.  Dad gets us up on plane and I experience a sinking feeling in my gut as I watch the trolling motor redeploy at 30-40mph.  The shaft splintered just below the steering housing but remained intact.  Took me 45 minutes to get stowed and around $350 to get it fixed.

 

[islandbass]

12 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

 

That was awesome. Bottom line, you didn't lose the fish. 

[Koz]

5 hours ago, Finesse Wayfarer said:

...broke the tip of my rod in a doorway

 

 

And here I thought I was the only one that did that.

 

A few months ago I was bank fishing in a lagoon that has dense forest and vegetation all around it except for two casting areas. I was making long, long casts with a Whopper Plopper 130 attached with a snap that had not bothered to re-tie that day. One cast later the Plopper is going, going, gone to an inaccessible part of the lagoon.

 

I still look around for it every time I fish that lagoon. Maybe one day I'll catch a bass that already tried to feast on my trusty Plopper.

[J Francho]

That time I bought a Whopper Plopper, and then fished with it.

[geo g]

Years ago a trip to Okeechobee with a friend, and I forgot I removed the kill switch key, and forgot to bring it.  I was stuck trolling only for a few hours.  A senior moment I guess!!!!!

 

Forgot to put the drain plug in before putting the boat in the water.

 

Took off on plane with the trolling motor still down.  Got soaked when the boat came off plane.

 

A thirty year boat ownership!!!!!!!!!

[Spankey]

I've had some bone head moments as everyone else but my craziest is the falling out of the boat with a fish on. I'm generally by myself all the time. I was feeling my oats that day running around from one deck to the other (fish was no prize) acting like "Ike" (Ike fan). My foot came up on that painted aluminum gunnel and in I went. About 6 1/2 feet of water. Landed the fish. Lost nothing. Pretty easy swim back to the boat. But I do consider myself very lucky. A dumb act like that could have been fatal. 

[jimf]

This isn't limited to a lifetime of bonehead things, right?   We are talking only past few weeks?   If the former, I could write a book.   If the latter, then:

1. Forgetting to take the tie down straps off and wondering why the boat wouldn't float off of the trailer.

2. Leaving tackle bag at home,  yet still managing to go out and catch just as many fish as I normally would with what was tied to the rods.  

3. Misjudging how far the boat would drift on a windy day as I was taking a pee and drifting into sight of another boat that had a women on it.

4. Letting my wife try casting a bait casting reel.  There are many things I like for my wife to grab a hold of, my baitcasting rigs it turns out is not one of them. 

 

[caclunker]

had at least a 6 on and in wv that's a hog..was definitely my p.b and instead of waiting for my net guy I I arrogantly said "I gooooot it" followed by an overly aggressive yank to the boat and lost her in the slack...tears everywhere!!

[A-Jay]

Well, I flipped my GoPro Remote over the side today ~ That was fun.

Not.

A-Jay

[scaleface]

1 hour ago, jimf said:

Forgetting to take the tie down straps off and wondering why the boat wouldn't float off of the trailer.

2. Leaving tackle bag at home,  yet still managing to go out and catch just as many fish as I normally would with what was tied to the rods.  

3. Misjudging how far the boat would drift on a windy day as I was taking a pee and drifting into sight of another boat that had a women on it.

4. Letting my wife try casting a bait casting reel.  There are many things I like for my wife to grab a hold of, my baitcasting rigs it turns out is not one of them. 

 

I'm guilty of all four but not all in a few weeks .lol

[BrackishBassin]

First time I ever put a boat in, after months of work to get it working and 15 minutes of cursing trying to back it down a ramp that was created by Satan himself, I finally got the boat in the water and was admiring my handiwork when the wife says, "Why is the back sinking like that? Shouldn't it float?" 

 

Plug was at home an hour away. Pulled the boat out, tied it back down, and drove away without ever wetting a line. 

[ww2farmer]

Take your pick:

 

My once a year "forget to put the plug in the boat" moment, or

 

My once a year "forget to tie the launch rope to the trailer" moment, sending the boat out into the lake with no way to get it other than going for a swim, or waiting for someone to come to the launch and give me a ride out to it. OR

 

My multiple time a season beaching my boat at the launch, go get the truck, only to find I didn't beach it far enough and it floated away while I was getting the truck moment....OR

 

My once a year falling off the boat moment...OR

 

well...you get the picture, this could go on for hours.

[UPSmallie]

1.  Messing around with my homemade automatic fishermens and leaving the treble hooks on the end of the lines.  Took an ER visit to push one of the hooks through my thumb and out the other part of the pad.  Not very fun, but it didn't leave any scars so that was nice.

2.  Trying to ice fish in 20 mph winds.  Never ends up working but I still try every winter.

3.  Trying to cast a 1/8 oz sinker across my yard into a plastic bin for a fishing trick shot.  On one of my casts I wound up and loaded the sinker right into the bush behind me, instantly snapping off my line.  Couldn't ever find that sinker lol

4.  Trailering my 14 footer home when I kept hearing loud thuds and grinding coming from behind my car.  Pulled over and realized that the trailer had popped off the trailer hitch and had been ramming my car for the past minute.  It had only stayed on because of the additional safety chains.  Scratched paint and dents everywhere.  Sad part was that the trailer hitch had been locked to prevent that very thing.  And I didn't even have the key since my dad had driven home earlier with it.  Not fun.  Thankfully touch-up paint was able to hide all of the scratch marks.

[jimf]

First time launch story above reminded me of mine.  This would have been 30+ years ago, bought an older but very gently used 15' Cajun bass boat.   I had no idea what I was doing, but loaded with confidence.   Bad combo.   Took it out on the Missouri River in March upstream of St. Charles MO.   Cold fast current.   Because my wife was with me and she was really nervous with the vehicle's back wheels in the water, I unhitched the boat and had her park before I even started the engine.   I had forgotten to attach the fuel line, it took a minute to figure that out, and in the meantime I'm drifting fast and out of control down the river.    Put the fuel line on and still it wouldn't fire, and then I remembered I needed to prime it which I did with gusto.   Flooded the engine.    There were rocky bluffs on the shore and I was dangerously close to them, used the paddle to keep from running aground.    Even if the trolling motor battery was charged (which it wasn't), it wouldn't have helped in that current.   A couple of guys in a jonboat saw the emergency and rescued me, I eventually got the engine started and took it for a test spin, and then got the boat out of the water with a newfound respect for boat ownership. 

 

Today I could launch and load in my sleep, you forget that you weren't just born with these skills.   I always tell people new to boating that you need to take some time and learn a few skills before you go out, it's not rocket science but there is potential for danger and great embarrassment.   Since then I've had no major issues, leave the tiedowns on now and then and other minor infractions, but nothing major.   I always make sure that the engine starts before I'm untied, launching alone usually I generally just tie up to the dock or a tree, but I won't untie until the engine is fired up.  

 

I did have one boneheaded move that was potentially serious - I failed to lock the trailer hitch.   Half way down it hit me, I pulled over and sure enough the hitch was just resting on the ball.   One good bump and I would have had the issues described by UPSmallie.   I did have the safety chains on.   

[Gundog]

One cold, rainy May night a friend and I decided to go fishing on his boat. He told me to bring a rain coat cause we'd be out till dawn. Remembered everything but the rain coat. Spent 7 hours wearing a garbage bag like a poncho. 

[boostr]

When i'm pitching or punching and forget to depress the thumb bar, and the weight and lure do a loop dee loop almost smashing me in the head.

 

 

On 9/1/2017 at 0:56 AM, Bluebasser86 said:

 

LMAO, I'm waiting for my moment.

[whitwolf]

Long story short. I was talked Into fishing on my buddies boat. He was and Is neurotic about time. I usually get my gear ready the night before but I unfortunately didn't. I woke up late and was rushing around to get ready. At the last minute I decided to take the car instead of the truck and not thinking of anything but getting to the ramp I didn't realize I hadn't loaded my tackle bag, worm bag, or sweatshirt in the car. It was on the trunk. I got to the ramp and as I was walking around the car I noticed the worm bag and sweatshirt on the trunk .....BUT $300.00 worth of crankbaits, spinnerbaits, and other tackle gone. I retraced my steps but didn't find it. I went back home and got a few more baits and as I was boarding the boat my new sunglasses fell off my head and right into the water. All In all a crappy day.lol

[Burtonxj]

I've forgot to pack a kayak paddle a few times..

 

One morning I loaded the yak ontop of my car for a quickie before work and for some reason I felt like I was forgetting something..made it down my neighborhood road (25 mph limit) before turning out onto the main road (50 mph) and decided to pull over to check everything over and it turns out I forgot to ratchet down my kayak (straps still in the trunk). Glad I caught that one.

[SuperCorona]

This morning my wife and I get out after a hectic weekend.  Beautiful morning, we launch with no problem.  Dumb thing #1: I had already stuck the 8.5' spike into the Micro anchor and with the tide getting higher we only had about 8' of clearance under a bridge.  Nothing broken thank goodness.  Dumb thing #2: We get to a bend in the creek  that looks promising so I deploy the TM.  I step on the pedal and nothing happens. I made sure the power cable was plugged in.  I checked the fuse block.  I made sure the prop hadn't fallen off.  By now we had drifted into a pad field.  Just as I was about to go ape ****, I reached down and hit the switch on the side of the pedal and turned it on.  My wife just shook her head and laughed.

[pondbassin101]

On 8/31/2017 at 9:59 PM, islandbass said:

) Being so hasty trying to get started fishing, rapidly tying my lure on, trying to be ninja quick and cut the standing line instead of the tag end...twice in a row. ?

 

Lets not get started on how many times ive done that

[Pro Logcatcher]

I have spent ten minutes tying and retying a new knot. I eventually gave up and thought "Well, hey, now it's fifteen pound test." Knot broke on the first fish.

[Bluebasser86]

On 9/1/2017 at 0:14 PM, islandbass said:

That was awesome. Bottom line, you didn't lose the fish. 

I was mostly worried about the bait. It was the only one in that color I had. The tournament had just started and that was my second keeper in my first 3 cast. 

14 hours ago, boostr said:

LMAO, I'm waiting for my moment.

First time I've fallen out of the boat in 30 years. Thankfully I had the camera going so you all get to share it with me.

 

[JustJames]

About this drain plug forgetting thing.

A buddy of mine who taught me all about boating and the first thing he told me is not to forget the plug. He also told the story he once forgot to put the plug on his dad boat.

You know what, he forgot to put the plug on my boat twice lucky we only half way into water when he remembered.

[nighthawk25]

Buying a new Revo Winch and wondering why it wouldn't cast far. Turns out it has a centrifugual brake unlike my Lew's Speed Spool's.

[Largemouth21]

On 9/1/2017 at 10:32 AM, RHuff said:

I like to take my aluminum boat sometimes up the backs of creeks and coves. I always till my motor up so I don't drag. I've started it up to run up the lake and forgot to lower it a time or two. That wakes you up. 

 

I forgot my boat keys once after driving an hour to the lake. Luckily my dad had his set. Luckily there hasn't been many major issues yet. I'm sure there will be...

 

 

Once I saw a man prep his Bass Tracker to launch. He put his plug in and took his straps off and got his rods ready. He jumped in the boat (in the staging lane) and started his motor up dry then jumped in and backed the boat down. I don't know if he doesn't know better or if he thinks he is saving time letting it warm up. He's the only person I've ever seen do that. I started to tell him but didn't wanna step on his toes. 

 

 

I watched a young married couple pull up with a brand new Nitro bass boat once. The guy was kinda being hateful with his young wife talking to her like a child he said "Now you hold this rope and don't touch anything or do anything until I get back. He launched the boat and drove to park his truck. The boat started to fill up with water. He noticed it and eventually came running down the dock. He yelled at the girl and said "WHAT DID YOU DO." She said "Nothing you jerk I held the rope like you told me to." He forgot to put his plug in. He loaded it up and they left. Bet she never went fishing with him again LOL 

I used to fish a lot at boat ramps when i was a kid for panfish. There was always the guy launching his boat who is a jerk to his wife for no reason. I remember wanting to say something to the man but what can a kid do? I have a feeling the wives quit fishing pretty quick.