Boat Ramp Comedy Show

[fishfordollars]

LOL It never dawned on me to strip down I just wanted my boat back. I wish I had a picture to see that exact moment when you saw that family show up. ;D ;D ;D

They were backing down the ramp as I was idling up to the ramp. It looked like a ton of kids and a wife or two, but was actually two men and their wives and three children all under the age of ten. They were laughing a lot when they found out I only had a small hand towel and a life jacket to cover up with. One of the men grabed my shorts and tshirt off the back of my truck and brought them to me thankfully. I laid down in the boat and put them on and we all had a good laugh.

[Crowcommander]

If you really want to have fun go on the 4th of July to a large  public ramp,get a good reclining lawn chair,cold cooler of your favorite what ever and watch the circus. They're be wives/girl friends who can't back down the ramp,dead batterys,bad fuel,tie down straps not removed,winches not removed,etc. What a country!!! Crowcommander

[rondef]

I hear you, the 4th of July weekend will be fun to watch, I will bring my camera to take pictures that weekend.  I will post any pictures I take in this thread.

[BASS fisherman]

I know a guy who one cold, early morning before sunup  is at the ramp by himself.  He goes to launch his boat and does the hold onto the rope trick.  He launches the boat and lightly ties the rope to a rock.  He parks his truck and trailer and when he gets down to the water, he notices his boat slowely floating away.  

Being the only one at the lake so far, and decided to strip and swim for the boat.  He goes and gets the boat, swims back and as he is standing there butt naked, on a cold morning, a bass club pulls down the road to the ramp.  I don't remember what happened next.  Maybe he can fill in the blanks.

Jim?

[AnthonyRSS]

It doesn't bother me that someone isn't any good at backing a trailer, or forgets to unlatch something.  Its the people that hold up the ramp to work on their boat, or block the ramp while prepping.  Don't typically see anglers do that, just the twice a year pleasure boaters.

Anthony

[SnowBass23]

Since we have another twice a year boater's holiday next week I think I'll have to get the chair and watch this time.  I love seeing huge ski boats with attractive ladies in swimsuits yelling "Huh?" across the marina to some sun-burnt drunk without a shirt as he yells corrections.

Don't know how many times I've seen that.  He screams and yells at her as she backs the truck up wrong to trailer it, etc.  Then, after all that, he is sitting in the boat, and yells at her to pull him out.  Then you hear the scraping as the outboard chips the pavement because he didn't trim it.  HAHA

[71Rig]

I had the great fortune to meet Bob Clouser when I was a member of TU in Pennsylvania.  For you that don't know him he "invented" the Clouser Minnow fly and is a professional guide on the Susquehanna River.  He told us a story of taking a client out on the river one morning and in the dark. and also in a rush, forgot to tie the boat up when he went to park the truck.  The client showed up, they walked down to the river and both looked at the empty ramp in disbelief.  As I remember, he had a nice walk down river to retrieve his boat.  So even the legends do it now and again.

Just so happens that I forgot my plug this past weekend.  At least the boat was still hooked to the trailer when I noticed.  I think that was the last time I will make that mistake.  

[Long Mike]

Not to hijack the thread, but I keep my boat plug clipped to the boat's ignition key.  It's really hard to forget about the plug when you are about to fire up the boat.  I think I got the idea from Bassin' magazine.

[SnowBass23]

This isn't funny, but speaking of idiots at the launch... My wife and I went out at about 6 pm tonight to fish the 'magic hour'.  We launched, knowing full well that there were still a lot of pleasure boaters out.  Since we stay until after dark it usually isn't an issue (except for their constant wakes in no wake zones and right up on shore).

Tonight however, while it was still good and light out a storm started rolling in.  There were some clouds off in the distance and I knew they were approaching.  Suddenly I saw a flash and knew it was time to head back.  

When we got back to the ramp there were 2 trucks backed into the water with their jet-skis setting on the trailers.  Between the trailers a group of out-of-shape soccer moms and one dad were just having a good old time.  I thought for sure they'd be nice enough to get out of the way when they saw me pull to the dock (I might add I could see 3 more boats coming in a few minutes behind me).  So they keep talking and I go get my truck.  When  I pull up next to the lanes they keep on talking.  So I sat patiently for a few minutes.  With no sign of them leaving I finally had to go over and ask them to move their conversation elsewhere since lightning was rolling in and everybody else was trying to get to safety.

After reading stories on here about how important it is to not block the lanes, and get in and out ASAP, it kills me to see people just sitting there taking their time.  Anyway...  Oh, and my wife outfished me.  All though we had an arguement that she shouldn't count the one that jumped and threw the worm 10 feet from the boat!  (she won the arguement...giving her the tie-breaker  :-? )

[kms399]

I watched a guy back down and wonder why his boat wasn't floating, he walked into the water and realized he hadn't undone the strap holding the boat down so he bent down to loosen the strap and when he did the boat shot up and smashed him in the chin. u could have heard the swearing for miles he had blood all over his face but u have to give him credit he still went fishing

[Sam]

Your stories point out why I fish on weekdays.

I have most boat ramps to myself along with the rivers and lakes when fishing.

[flechero]

I usually ask anyone that makes more than 4-5 tries to back down, if they want a hand... surprisingly, I rarely get a refusal. I think it must be that I approach them with a straight face.

[SnowBass23]

I've noticed that when I'm securing my boat on the trailer, everyone that has ever come out and asked for help started it by first coming over and asking how the fishing was.  Kind of an ice breaker I guess.  They ask how you did, then when you ask how they did they casually mention a problem they're having (with loading, securing, or whatever else).

I'd never turn down someone who needed help when they are polite about it.  I've been fortunate enough not to require help after my first time launching and recovering but I learned a valuable lesson on the importance of help from strangers!

[OH-bass614]

my dad and i are planning on buying a boat withng the next month and all this is making me nervous lol :-/