Keeping feet dry at launch/load

[livemusic]

I am curious if this is an issue with others. 'Tis for me! And that is... it seems that the launches I use are such that I often am forced to enter the water to launch or to get out of the boat and into my truck. I am still agile enough I can climb pretty good but still it happens a lot. I suppose this means that the launch angle is not steep enough. This is most common with high water on the lake. The water level might be above the designed grade of the launch. We have a lot of heavy springtime rains, so, it's pretty common.

 

I have a long rope that I use for launch which I tie to my trailer or my truck; this problem is more often an issue upon loadout. I have to climb out of the boat onto the trailer and it might be such that my truck is so far into the water, there is no way to NOT get my feet wet. A solution is some easy to get on and off rubber boots, which I have not found yet! (Of course, then the problem with this is I don't want to fish in clunky rubber boots and I have to stow them in the boat.) In warm months, I can wear crocs and just wade in but before it warms up, boots would be better! Have you found any boots you like for this? Or any other solution? Is this common for you? TIA!

[roadwarrior]

Rubber boots

[Bubba 460]

I manually load my 16" jet boat. I find it faster that way than powering it on. I keep a pair of light waders in the truck that are several sizes bigger then my foot size They slide on very easily and can be kicked off with one try. I put them on to load the boat. So easy and fast. I can have the boat loaded and drive away from the ramp in less than a minute.

[Deleted account]

4 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Rubber boots

Or body paint legs and feet with Flex Seal spray, and get the same lawyer as the Gorilla Glue woman...

[TnRiver46]

I walk through the back of the truck onto the tongue. With my small boat I walk halfway out the trailer and grab it, no rubber boots and dry feet 

[A-Jay]

Early season, and I mean right after ice out so the water tamps are in the high 30's & low 40's,

none of the local ramps have the docks in yet.

So my solo launch & recovery efforts always involve a 'wet foot' deal. 

I carry hip boots and a push pole.

Have to also say that the Twin 12 ft Talons help out here quite a bit. 

Happens again at the end of the season when they pull them out before hard water.

Works for me and and can pay off with big brown bass.

Which is very exciting.

A-Jay

 

[gim]

42 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Rubber boots

 

Same.  They put docks in pretty early here in MN so that's not usually an issue but its still a good idea to have a pair of rubber boots early and late in the season here when the water is cold.

 

In the summer I almost always wear my fishing sandals so standing in a few inches of water is perfectly fine.

[Deephaven]

55 minutes ago, livemusic said:

I have a long rope that I use for launch which I tie to my trailer or my truck; this problem is more often an issue upon loadout. I have to climb out of the boat onto the trailer and it might be such that my truck is so far into the water, there is no way to NOT get my feet wet. A solution is some easy to get on and off rubber boots, which I have not found yet! (Of course, then the problem with this is I don't want to fish in clunky rubber boots and I have to stow them in the boat.) 

Keep the boats in your truck.  At launch you have to park it and can change and at load you have to grab it and can change.  The launch alternative is a long rope and to pull the boat to shore.  Pulling out is more difficult if you are alone in particular if you have a sport utility and not a truck.

[Bakablo1]

I have the same issue. I pull my trailered jon boat with an SUV and often get stuck at lakes with no docks.. into the water I go. I think I'll be taking a looking at buying some hip waders this season. Will definitely prevent that uncomfortable feeling of driving home with soaked pants ?

[Bankc]

Rubber wading boots in the winter.  In the summer, I drill holes into the bottom of my old sneakers so they drain water easier.  The problem with easy on and easy off boots is they either won't come up very high on your leg, or they'll be so cumbersome that it'll make it hard to get in and out of your boat.  

 

Unfortunately, there is no easy solution, unless you can balance yourself on the trailer tongue and then climb into the back of the truck and hop down from the bed out of the water.  This is what I did back when I had a truck and boat, and was younger.  These days I fish from a kayak, and I can't even load and unload a kayak without getting wet (due to the weight of the trolling motor and battery).  So it's back to the holy shoes or wading boots.  

[MN Fisher]

Wear these over your shoes, sandals, whatever.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0055CBMPA/?coliid=I1LWFIG29QJMKQ&colid=3M9MGOWZE9YW2&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[K1500]

Crocks and roll your pants up. Stow the crocks and put on regular shoes once aboard. 

[RDB]

[galyonj]

Go back to the stern so you can get a running shot, then just jump the gap like Black Beauty.

 

 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, RDB said:

Or something like this that I installed on the canoe trailer...gluing some rubber to the top this week.

[gim]

3 hours ago, K1500 said:

Crocks and roll your pants up. Stow the crocks and put on regular shoes once aboard. 

That’s fine in the summer when the water warms up but when it’s 45 or 50 degrees here in the spring that’s a big no no.

[K1500]

I’ve done it in cold temps before, but it wasn’t pleasant. It is doable, especially if you have a towel to dry your feet and calves off. 

[Dirtyeggroll]

I keep a pair of super cheap rubber boots I found at Walmart in the back of my truck at all times for this exact reason. I’ve even fished in them a half dozen or so times and they weren’t that uncomfortable.

[Bluebasser86]

I wear muck boots when the water is cold. When the water is warm, I don't worry about getting in the water.