Your Moron Moments

[gim]

22 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

It hurts to watch, the sound of the impact is disturbing 

My old man knocked me in the head once with a crank bait years ago while casting. One of the hooks buried past the barb, but there is very little “meat” on your skull to hook into, so that wasn’t the worst part. The worst was the initial “thump” that the crank bait made when it it me. It felt like someone had thrown a rock at my head. The initial shock was so much I almost passed out. Went light headed and got very dizzy.

 

An hour later they removed the hook fairly easily at urgent care. I made my Father pay for my $30 copay.

[geo g]

I real stupid move for me was, while on vacation I took the kill switch out and hid it in the house.  If someone broke in the garage they couldn’t start the motor.  Upon returning, I planned a trip to Okeechobee with a friend.  A 1.5 hour trip one way.  Got there the motor would not start, NO Kill Switch.  One p***ed off fisherman.  real dumb!

[LrgmouthShad]

I've told this one before already but for those that missed it, here goes. Another kayak paddle mishap.

 

During a trip last summer, I got everything into my kayak and had it launched into the lake, and was already drifting away from shore while I fiddled with the electronics and getting stuff ready when I realized I didn't have my paddle. I look over onto the shore and see it right where I launched from. My first stupid instinct is to try and paddle with my hands. When I realized this was futile, I started looking for things to grab onto. Fortunately, the wind drifted me towards the end of a dock so I reached out with a rod and gently pulled myself towards it. I then used the dock and the shoreline as handles for me to push and pull my way back to where my paddle was. 

 

I don't forget my paddle anymore... knock on wood

[papajoe222]

Reading these is almost as entertaining as sitting at the boat launch on a busy holiday week-end!

[MN Fisher]

27 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Reading these is almost as entertaining as sitting at the boat launch on a busy holiday week-end!

So you've been to Minnetonka on a holiday?

 

Scratch that - ANY weekend on Tonka is 'entertaining'...which is why I don't fish weekends.

[islandbass]

@RDBI have had moronic moments and I can tell you I am grateful I don’t like cake because yours takes the cake, lol. 
 

As soon as I read, “Sitting one bed…” I knew it wasn’t going to end well. ?

[Jp_midwest]

for me it was when i was a dummy and stood right behind a fishing buddy and he started to cast and right when he was flinging the rod forwards on a over hand cast, the weedless spoon he had on hit my phone and then straight into my thumb and full force drove it in. after the shock and adrenaline wore off oh buddy did it hurt. and also when the ER receptionist saw it see look super scared.LOL. one of my worst experiences fishing.

6 hours ago, fin said:

 

I've done the equivalent as a bank fisherman - I left my shoes at home and had to drive back home because I was barefoot.

 

 

 

how???!!!! do you just drive bearfoot or what 

[schplurg]

I hiked 3/4 mile back to my truck after an evening of bank fishing and realized I'd left my rods at the pond. I hiked all the way back with no rods and didn't notice. I remember taking videos of the sunset and next thing ya know....ya.

[Big Hands]

Moron Moment? How about a Moron Morning?

 

Late 80's. We had a fishing club at the aircraft plant I worked at, and we had a club tournament down at Lake San Vicente near San Diego. My wife's aunt lived in Vista, so we drove down the night before and stayed there. Back then, the 'city lakes' as they were known, had long closed seasons, and even when open, they were only open a few days a week. So, as a result, whatever lakes are open, they are very crowded.

 

I get to the lake over an hour early, and start getting prepped. The line to get in is about a mile long. Seriously. As I am moving my gear from my car to the boat, I see the key is missing from the switch in the boat. I start looking for it, and can't find it anywhere. Soon, I am frantic. The key is nowhere to be found. I look everywhere. Three times at least. 

 

Someone suggests that Ranger only used a few different keys and I could probably find someone else in line that had a spare that would fit. . . . and that they would loan me. Walked the mile long line up and back. No dice. Then, just before that nannies opened the gate, I take one last look in the glove box, and way in the back, there it is. That was definitely a moron moment, but we're just getting revved up here. 

 

My nerves are shot as the line begins to move. If you've ever been to San Vicente BITD, you know 'the hill' that you have to climb to get into the launch area. All I could see were that each car would stop on this curve that I couldn't see past, and wait a few minutes, sometimes more, before proceeding. Then I get to the turn and see what's happening. The hill is so steep, that some need a few runs at it to get over the top. If they don't make it, they have to back down and take another shot at it or give up and leave. This whole situation has only served to wind me up a little more than I already was, but finally it's my turn and I make it over and into the line to actually launch. 

 

I found out later that my buddy couldn't get his Mazda B2000 to pull his 18' fiberglass Bass Tracker over the hill and had to drive to town and was able to pay a guy $20 to get him up over the hill. But enough about his moment, and on to my moron morning.

 

It's finally my turn, and I back the boat down the relatively flat ramp compared to what I am used to. The boat isn't floating off the trailer as soon as it normally would. I get out. Look. Back down more. Get out. Look. Back down more. Get out. Look. Back down more. I get out again, and walk out on the dock. The boat still isn't off the trailer. I finally realize that I neglected to unbuckle the tie downs. I get back to the car, and the floorboards of the back seat have about 4" of water in them. I pull up into the parking lot to unbuckle the straps, and shamefully bail the water out of the floorboards and get back into the launch line. 

 

Now, the boat gleefully pops off the trailer as it should when I am functioning normally and I tie it to the dock and take my rig to the parking lot. I finally get into the boat and idle out of the marina ready to put all of this behind me and have a nice day fishing.

 

Or would I?

 

As soon as I idle out of the marina, I throw the hammer down and a surge of water comes bubbling up through the floor drain. I pull back and stop.

 

First thought: "I know I put the plug in."

 

Second thought: "This is not good."

 

I flip the switches on both 900 GPH bilge pumps and they start pumping water as they should (at least they are working far better than my brain was). I was at least thinking enough to remember that if I get up and going, that it could help to drain water out. I stay on plane until water stops pumping from the bilge and turn the pumps off. 

 

I need to verify that the plug is in, so I quickly strip to the waist and hang over the back of the boat far enough to feel around to see if the plug is there as the water is slapping against my ear. The plug is there. Water starts coming up through the drain again so I turn the bilge pumps on again. I correctly surmise that I might have put the plug into a livewell hole rather than the drain hole for the hull and reach back down, pull the plug and put into the other hole.

 

** My third moron moment of the morning is finally behind me. I put my shirts back on and take off, headed somewhere. I don't know where, but I needed to go somewhere. 

 

** Or is it?

 

** Nope.

 

I run long enough that the water stops being pumped out, so I switch the pumps off and sure enough, water again surges up through the floor drain. What the monkey is going on here? I'll tell you what's going on. I turn on the pumps and stop the boat, strip down and reach down to find that I had taken the plug from one livewell hole and put it into the other livewell hole. I feel around and determine that two holes are alike and one is different. I put the plug into the one that is different. The water pumps out and stops and my fourth moron moment is behind me. My moron morning is also finally nothing but wretched memory. I get one bite and proceed to catch one of the bigger fish of our group and take some cash away from the event.

 

I submit that four moron moments in one morning qualify me for a moron morning. I will also say that if I had to choose, as much as that morning sucked, I think I would choose my moron morning to having my butt pinned to my bed with treble hooks and needing the help of others to remedy that situation ;~) 

[fin]

8 hours ago, Jp_midwest said:

do you just drive bearfoot or what 

 

Bearfoot is about right. Size 12. In the summertime I only wear shoes when I have to, so I would drive to the lake barefoot and put on my shoes when I got there. On the days when I remembered to bring them ?

 

I was raised pretty much barefoot. It’s weird to me that some people are so shocked when they see me barefoot, like I’m naked and crazy.

[Jigfishn10]

I've told this one before, but I was fishing a topwater on a bank adjacent to the road. On my back cast one of the trebles caught the side mirror of a passing F150...I was instantly spooled.

[BassNJake]

 

4 hours ago, Big Hands said:

Moron Moment? How about a Moron Morning?

 

My moron morning is also finally nothing but wretched memory. I get one bite and proceed to catch one of the bigger fish of our group and take some cash away from the event.

 

When I finished reading this I pictured IKE screaming NEVER GIVE UP !!

 

 

[volzfan59]

11 hours ago, MN Fisher said:

So you've been to Minnetonka on a holiday?

 

Scratch that - ANY weekend on Tonka is 'entertaining'...which is why I don't fish weekends.

I'm with you @MN Fisher, I rarely go out on weekends unless it's to a small creek. Then I only go early and leave by noon!

[Bankbeater]

I had to think long and hard about this one.

Some years back after my shoulder surgery I couldn't wait to get out on the water.  I made a list and went over it several times before my first trip.  I finally got out on the water and realized that I had brought all of my fishing equipment, but didn't have anything to eat or drink.

After fishing for most of the day I was hungry and thirsty.  On the way home I stopped at the concession stand a few miles from the boat ramp, and bought a drink and one of those sandwiches out of a vending machine.  About 10 miles from home I had to pull over and got sick as a dog.  I'm not sure if it was from not eating all day, or eating that vending machine sandwich.

[MidwestBassAttack]

Me and a buddy we’re bank fishing all day in the heat of summer. We fished until about 9pm that night. He leaves…I stay back to make a few more casts. By this time it’s dark. Flipped on the flashlight that’s in my iPhone to gather gear up, walk to the car, and load.

 

I load everything in the car, do a key check and wallet check before I leave. Suddenly…my phone is no where to be found. I’m frantically searching and re-trace my steps to the bank I just left. Looking high and low for the better part of 45 minutes.

 

Finally, I give up. Head back to the car and just before opening the driver side door, I flip the “flashlight” off.
 

There in my hand the entire time was the d**n phone.

[Aaron_H]

On 2/20/2022 at 11:16 AM, RDB said:

buried 2 hooks through my shorts and into the left butt cheek

 

 

Can't say I've taken one to the glutes, but I've been hooked a couple of times. This was the most recent:

 

 

[Trox]

My BIGGEST EVER moron moment... Just a few days away from the 1yr anniversary of this event...

I had just bought a brand new 2021 Phoenix 721ProXP... literally my dream boat...

I go to take it out for the first time to begin the break in the Mercury and give it a few hours of runtime.

I beach the boat and power pole down on shore like I have always done, and on this day there happened to be 20+mph winds blowing into the boat from the main lake (so, blowing towards the shore where I was beached)...

I hopped out of the boat, got in the truck, and drove about 300ft up the hill to park my truck and trailer.

Hop out of the truck, start walking towards the boat, look up, and notice my boat beginning its maiden voyage without me!!! I LEFT IT IN REVERSE, AND IN GEAR!!!

I run faster than I think I ever have towards the water and start swimming toward the my boat...

I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world, so luckily I was able to realize through my adrenaline that this was likely going to end up with me at the bottom of the lake, so I turned around and headed back to shore just in the nick of time as I was already starting to cramp up... It's important to note that water temps are in the lower 50s and it's a pretty chilly day, I was cold, just didn't know it yet... It was also in during the middle of the week, so I was the only person there that day... anyways...

I run back up to my truck because I had a leftover life jacket in there and I was going to try the swimming thing again, but with a PFD on (It was all I could think of at the time). Keep in mind that this would have only been possible because my boat is currently fighting 20+mph winds which are really slowing it down..

MY TRUCK IS LOCKED AND MY KEYS ARE NOT IN MY POCKET!!! Turned out I had dropped them during my first swimming attempt...

So now, with very limited options, I run back down to the lake, and just watch the boat, absolutely exhausted (I also smoked ciggarrettes at the time), barely able to breathe... praying that maybe, just maybe another boat would pass by that I could flag down to help... no luck...

With my back against the wall, I did the only other thing left to do... about a 1/4 mile up the road, there were a few houses... so I began to run... 

Finally got to the first house. Luckily, the owner and his son were home. I could barely stand at this point, let alone talk... But was able to get just enough out to let them know that I needed help by the water... plus, they could see the lake AND MY BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, from their house! lol

The son and his father immediately grab their ATV and and throw a kayak (and me) on it and head down to the water.

The son puts the kayak in the water for me (cause I was basically cramping up, dead and useless), hands me the paddle, and wishes me luck... great... alright, Kyle, let's see what you're made of.

I paddle... and paddle... and paddle... against 20mph winds for what feels like an eternity...

I FINALLY CATCH UP TO THE BOAT and just in the nick of time as the opposite shoreline was beginning to break the strong wind. Basically, my boat was less than 2 minutes away from being unhindered by the wind where it would head stright towards the rocky bluffs on the opposite shoreline...

After holding onto the boat for a few minutes to catch my breath the best I could, I am finally able to flop in and get behind the wheel... I eventually make my way back to the boat ramp with the steering wheel in one hand, and pulling the kayak in the other, still trying to catch my breath...

Finally get to the boat ramp where the father and son duo were waiting with a dry shirt for me to put on... 

Immediately after, I begin dry heaving for the next 30minutes. My body was completely broken down. I was shivering cold. About an hour later, I finally catch my breath. 

I called my neighbor to come pick me and pull my boat home for me since I had no keys to my own vehicle... 

Took an uber to the boat ramp the following morning where I waited for the tow truck that was going to take my truck to get re-keyed at the dealership (yeah, I also didn't have a spare key!)

$500 dollars later - I have new keys, and have learned a very important lesson...

 

I can't believe that happend to me... I wasn't a first time boat owner... and was doing something I have done hundreds of times before. But that day, I learned a new term. "new boat stupid" - It's when you are too excited about your new boat that you aren't thinking straight ?‍♂️

That dry shirt that I was given is now kept as a souvenir/reminder of that day. It's pretty neat because it actually has an outline of Medina Lake on it, the lake where it happened.

 

 

 

[GreenPig]

3 hours ago, TroxBox said:

My BIGGEST EVER moron moment... Just a few days away from the 1yr anniversary of this event...

I had just bought a brand new 2021 Phoenix 721ProXP... literally my dream boat...

I go to take it out for the first time to begin the break in the Mercury and give it a few hours of runtime.

I beach the boat and power pole down on shore like I have always done, and on this day there happened to be 20+mph winds blowing into the boat from the main lake (so, blowing towards the shore where I was beached)...

I hopped out of the boat, got in the truck, and drove about 300ft up the hill to park my truck and trailer.

Hop out of the truck, start walking towards the boat, look up, and notice my boat beginning its maiden voyage without me!!! I LEFT IT IN REVERSE, AND IN GEAR!!!

I run faster than I think I ever have towards the water and start swimming toward the my boat...

I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world, so luckily I was able to realize through my adrenaline that this was likely going to end up with me at the bottom of the lake, so I turned around and headed back to shore just in the nick of time as I was already starting to cramp up... It's important to note that water temps are in the lower 50s and it's a pretty chilly day, I was cold, just didn't know it yet... It was also in during the middle of the week, so I was the only person there that day... anyways...

I run back up to my truck because I had a leftover life jacket in there and I was going to try the swimming thing again, but with a PFD on (It was all I could think of at the time). Keep in mind that this would have only been possible because my boat is currently fighting 20+mph winds which are really slowing it down..

MY TRUCK IS LOCKED AND MY KEYS ARE NOT IN MY POCKET!!! Turned out I had dropped them during my first swimming attempt...

So now, with very limited options, I run back down to the lake, and just watch the boat, absolutely exhausted (I also smoked ciggarrettes at the time), barely able to breathe... praying that maybe, just maybe another boat would pass by that I could flag down to help... no luck...

With my back against the wall, I did the only other thing left to do... about a 1/4 mile up the road, there were a few houses... so I began to run... 

Finally got to the first house. Luckily, the owner and his son were home. I could barely stand at this point, let alone talk... But was able to get just enough out to let them know that I needed help by the water... plus, they could see the lake AND MY BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, from their house! lol

The son and his father immediately grab their ATV and and throw a kayak (and me) on it and head down to the water.

The son puts the kayak in the water for me (cause I was basically cramping up, dead and useless), hands me the paddle, and wishes me luck... great... alright, Kyle, let's see what you're made of.

I paddle... and paddle... and paddle... against 20mph winds for what feels like an eternity...

I FINALLY CATCH UP TO THE BOAT and just in the nick of time as the opposite shoreline was beginning to break the strong wind. Basically, my boat was less than 2 minutes away from being unhindered by the wind where it would head stright towards the rocky bluffs on the opposite shoreline...

After holding onto the boat for a few minutes to catch my breath the best I could, I am finally able to flop in and get behind the wheel... I eventually make my way back to the boat ramp with the steering wheel in one hand, and pulling the kayak in the other, still trying to catch my breath...

Finally get to the boat ramp where the father and son duo were waiting with a dry shirt for me to put on... 

Immediately after, I begin dry heaving for the next 30minutes. My body was completely broken down. I was shivering cold. About an hour later, I finally catch my breath. 

I called my neighbor to come pick me and pull my boat home for me since I had no keys to my own vehicle... 

Took an uber to the boat ramp the following morning where I waited for the tow truck that was going to take my truck to get re-keyed at the dealership (yeah, I also didn't have a spare key!)

$500 dollars later - I have new keys, and have learned a very important lesson...

 

I can't believe that happend to me... I wasn't a first time boat owner... and was doing something I have done hundreds of times before. But that day, I learned a new term. "new boat stupid" - It's when you are too excited about your new boat that you aren't thinking straight ?‍♂️

That dry shirt that I was given is now kept as a souvenir/reminder of that day. It's pretty neat because it actually has an outline of Medina Lake on it, the lake where it happened.

 

 

 

WOW! I think I'll just keep my old boat.

[MidwestBassAttack]

6 hours ago, TroxBox said:

My BIGGEST EVER moron moment... Just a few days away from the 1yr anniversary of this event...

I had just bought a brand new 2021 Phoenix 721ProXP... literally my dream boat...

I go to take it out for the first time to begin the break in the Mercury and give it a few hours of runtime.

I beach the boat and power pole down on shore like I have always done, and on this day there happened to be 20+mph winds blowing into the boat from the main lake (so, blowing towards the shore where I was beached)...

I hopped out of the boat, got in the truck, and drove about 300ft up the hill to park my truck and trailer.

Hop out of the truck, start walking towards the boat, look up, and notice my boat beginning its maiden voyage without me!!! I LEFT IT IN REVERSE, AND IN GEAR!!!

I run faster than I think I ever have towards the water and start swimming toward the my boat...

I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world, so luckily I was able to realize through my adrenaline that this was likely going to end up with me at the bottom of the lake, so I turned around and headed back to shore just in the nick of time as I was already starting to cramp up... It's important to note that water temps are in the lower 50s and it's a pretty chilly day, I was cold, just didn't know it yet... It was also in during the middle of the week, so I was the only person there that day... anyways...

I run back up to my truck because I had a leftover life jacket in there and I was going to try the swimming thing again, but with a PFD on (It was all I could think of at the time). Keep in mind that this would have only been possible because my boat is currently fighting 20+mph winds which are really slowing it down..

MY TRUCK IS LOCKED AND MY KEYS ARE NOT IN MY POCKET!!! Turned out I had dropped them during my first swimming attempt...

So now, with very limited options, I run back down to the lake, and just watch the boat, absolutely exhausted (I also smoked ciggarrettes at the time), barely able to breathe... praying that maybe, just maybe another boat would pass by that I could flag down to help... no luck...

With my back against the wall, I did the only other thing left to do... about a 1/4 mile up the road, there were a few houses... so I began to run... 

Finally got to the first house. Luckily, the owner and his son were home. I could barely stand at this point, let alone talk... But was able to get just enough out to let them know that I needed help by the water... plus, they could see the lake AND MY BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, from their house! lol

The son and his father immediately grab their ATV and and throw a kayak (and me) on it and head down to the water.

The son puts the kayak in the water for me (cause I was basically cramping up, dead and useless), hands me the paddle, and wishes me luck... great... alright, Kyle, let's see what you're made of.

I paddle... and paddle... and paddle... against 20mph winds for what feels like an eternity...

I FINALLY CATCH UP TO THE BOAT and just in the nick of time as the opposite shoreline was beginning to break the strong wind. Basically, my boat was less than 2 minutes away from being unhindered by the wind where it would head stright towards the rocky bluffs on the opposite shoreline...

After holding onto the boat for a few minutes to catch my breath the best I could, I am finally able to flop in and get behind the wheel... I eventually make my way back to the boat ramp with the steering wheel in one hand, and pulling the kayak in the other, still trying to catch my breath...

Finally get to the boat ramp where the father and son duo were waiting with a dry shirt for me to put on... 

Immediately after, I begin dry heaving for the next 30minutes. My body was completely broken down. I was shivering cold. About an hour later, I finally catch my breath. 

I called my neighbor to come pick me and pull my boat home for me since I had no keys to my own vehicle... 

Took an uber to the boat ramp the following morning where I waited for the tow truck that was going to take my truck to get re-keyed at the dealership (yeah, I also didn't have a spare key!)

$500 dollars later - I have new keys, and have learned a very important lesson...

 

I can't believe that happend to me... I wasn't a first time boat owner... and was doing something I have done hundreds of times before. But that day, I learned a new term. "new boat stupid" - It's when you are too excited about your new boat that you aren't thinking straight ?‍♂️

That dry shirt that I was given is now kept as a souvenir/reminder of that day. It's pretty neat because it actually has an outline of Medina Lake on it, the lake where it happened.

 

 

 

I think I’ll continue to bang the banks and just watch the boats after reading this. Truly, a comedy of errors but glad it all worked out for you!

[TnRiver46]

8 hours ago, TroxBox said:

My BIGGEST EVER moron moment... Just a few days away from the 1yr anniversary of this event...

I had just bought a brand new 2021 Phoenix 721ProXP... literally my dream boat...

I go to take it out for the first time to begin the break in the Mercury and give it a few hours of runtime.

I beach the boat and power pole down on shore like I have always done, and on this day there happened to be 20+mph winds blowing into the boat from the main lake (so, blowing towards the shore where I was beached)...

I hopped out of the boat, got in the truck, and drove about 300ft up the hill to park my truck and trailer.

Hop out of the truck, start walking towards the boat, look up, and notice my boat beginning its maiden voyage without me!!! I LEFT IT IN REVERSE, AND IN GEAR!!!

I run faster than I think I ever have towards the water and start swimming toward the my boat...

I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world, so luckily I was able to realize through my adrenaline that this was likely going to end up with me at the bottom of the lake, so I turned around and headed back to shore just in the nick of time as I was already starting to cramp up... It's important to note that water temps are in the lower 50s and it's a pretty chilly day, I was cold, just didn't know it yet... It was also in during the middle of the week, so I was the only person there that day... anyways...

I run back up to my truck because I had a leftover life jacket in there and I was going to try the swimming thing again, but with a PFD on (It was all I could think of at the time). Keep in mind that this would have only been possible because my boat is currently fighting 20+mph winds which are really slowing it down..

MY TRUCK IS LOCKED AND MY KEYS ARE NOT IN MY POCKET!!! Turned out I had dropped them during my first swimming attempt...

So now, with very limited options, I run back down to the lake, and just watch the boat, absolutely exhausted (I also smoked ciggarrettes at the time), barely able to breathe... praying that maybe, just maybe another boat would pass by that I could flag down to help... no luck...

With my back against the wall, I did the only other thing left to do... about a 1/4 mile up the road, there were a few houses... so I began to run... 

Finally got to the first house. Luckily, the owner and his son were home. I could barely stand at this point, let alone talk... But was able to get just enough out to let them know that I needed help by the water... plus, they could see the lake AND MY BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, from their house! lol

The son and his father immediately grab their ATV and and throw a kayak (and me) on it and head down to the water.

The son puts the kayak in the water for me (cause I was basically cramping up, dead and useless), hands me the paddle, and wishes me luck... great... alright, Kyle, let's see what you're made of.

I paddle... and paddle... and paddle... against 20mph winds for what feels like an eternity...

I FINALLY CATCH UP TO THE BOAT and just in the nick of time as the opposite shoreline was beginning to break the strong wind. Basically, my boat was less than 2 minutes away from being unhindered by the wind where it would head stright towards the rocky bluffs on the opposite shoreline...

After holding onto the boat for a few minutes to catch my breath the best I could, I am finally able to flop in and get behind the wheel... I eventually make my way back to the boat ramp with the steering wheel in one hand, and pulling the kayak in the other, still trying to catch my breath...

Finally get to the boat ramp where the father and son duo were waiting with a dry shirt for me to put on... 

Immediately after, I begin dry heaving for the next 30minutes. My body was completely broken down. I was shivering cold. About an hour later, I finally catch my breath. 

I called my neighbor to come pick me and pull my boat home for me since I had no keys to my own vehicle... 

Took an uber to the boat ramp the following morning where I waited for the tow truck that was going to take my truck to get re-keyed at the dealership (yeah, I also didn't have a spare key!)

$500 dollars later - I have new keys, and have learned a very important lesson...

 

I can't believe that happend to me... I wasn't a first time boat owner... and was doing something I have done hundreds of times before. But that day, I learned a new term. "new boat stupid" - It's when you are too excited about your new boat that you aren't thinking straight ?‍♂️

That dry shirt that I was given is now kept as a souvenir/reminder of that day. It's pretty neat because it actually has an outline of Medina Lake on it, the lake where it happened.

 

 

 

Oh man, what a poo show! Glad you didn’t get hypothermia. Please tell me you tie your boat off with a rope nowadays while parking haha

[Bird]

9 hours ago, TroxBox said:

My BIGGEST EVER moron moment... Just a few days away from the 1yr anniversary of this event...

I had just bought a brand new 2021 Phoenix 721ProXP... literally my dream boat...

I go to take it out for the first time to begin the break in the Mercury and give it a few hours of runtime.

I beach the boat and power pole down on shore like I have always done, and on this day there happened to be 20+mph winds blowing into the boat from the main lake (so, blowing towards the shore where I was beached)...

I hopped out of the boat, got in the truck, and drove about 300ft up the hill to park my truck and trailer.

Hop out of the truck, start walking towards the boat, look up, and notice my boat beginning its maiden voyage without me!!! I LEFT IT IN REVERSE, AND IN GEAR!!!

I run faster than I think I ever have towards the water and start swimming toward the my boat...

I'm not the strongest swimmer in the world, so luckily I was able to realize through my adrenaline that this was likely going to end up with me at the bottom of the lake, so I turned around and headed back to shore just in the nick of time as I was already starting to cramp up... It's important to note that water temps are in the lower 50s and it's a pretty chilly day, I was cold, just didn't know it yet... It was also in during the middle of the week, so I was the only person there that day... anyways...

I run back up to my truck because I had a leftover life jacket in there and I was going to try the swimming thing again, but with a PFD on (It was all I could think of at the time). Keep in mind that this would have only been possible because my boat is currently fighting 20+mph winds which are really slowing it down..

MY TRUCK IS LOCKED AND MY KEYS ARE NOT IN MY POCKET!!! Turned out I had dropped them during my first swimming attempt...

So now, with very limited options, I run back down to the lake, and just watch the boat, absolutely exhausted (I also smoked ciggarrettes at the time), barely able to breathe... praying that maybe, just maybe another boat would pass by that I could flag down to help... no luck...

With my back against the wall, I did the only other thing left to do... about a 1/4 mile up the road, there were a few houses... so I began to run... 

Finally got to the first house. Luckily, the owner and his son were home. I could barely stand at this point, let alone talk... But was able to get just enough out to let them know that I needed help by the water... plus, they could see the lake AND MY BOAT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT, from their house! lol

The son and his father immediately grab their ATV and and throw a kayak (and me) on it and head down to the water.

The son puts the kayak in the water for me (cause I was basically cramping up, dead and useless), hands me the paddle, and wishes me luck... great... alright, Kyle, let's see what you're made of.

I paddle... and paddle... and paddle... against 20mph winds for what feels like an eternity...

I FINALLY CATCH UP TO THE BOAT and just in the nick of time as the opposite shoreline was beginning to break the strong wind. Basically, my boat was less than 2 minutes away from being unhindered by the wind where it would head stright towards the rocky bluffs on the opposite shoreline...

After holding onto the boat for a few minutes to catch my breath the best I could, I am finally able to flop in and get behind the wheel... I eventually make my way back to the boat ramp with the steering wheel in one hand, and pulling the kayak in the other, still trying to catch my breath...

Finally get to the boat ramp where the father and son duo were waiting with a dry shirt for me to put on... 

Immediately after, I begin dry heaving for the next 30minutes. My body was completely broken down. I was shivering cold. About an hour later, I finally catch my breath. 

I called my neighbor to come pick me and pull my boat home for me since I had no keys to my own vehicle... 

Took an uber to the boat ramp the following morning where I waited for the tow truck that was going to take my truck to get re-keyed at the dealership (yeah, I also didn't have a spare key!)

$500 dollars later - I have new keys, and have learned a very important lesson...

 

I can't believe that happend to me... I wasn't a first time boat owner... and was doing something I have done hundreds of times before. But that day, I learned a new term. "new boat stupid" - It's when you are too excited about your new boat that you aren't thinking straight ?‍♂️

That dry shirt that I was given is now kept as a souvenir/reminder of that day. It's pretty neat because it actually has an outline of Medina Lake on it, the lake where it happened.

 

 

 

What an EPIC event. ?

[A-Jay]

9 hours ago, TroxBox said:

I can't believe that happend to me...

Glad this one turned out mostly OK.

Sometimes they do not.

Good on you for sharing this one.

Just like you, I do hope it might go over as a lesson learned, all be it a tough one.

Fishing solo leaves little room for error

and sudden stress has a way of setting into play a bunch more bad decisions

while trying it undo the first one. 

Can get pretty complicated really fast.

Regardless of the conditions.

Warm water drowns humans too.

Stay Safe

A-Jay

[Chris Catignani]

9 hours ago, TroxBox said:

My BIGGEST EVER moron moment... Just a few days away from the 1yr anniversary of this event...

I dont think I could even make up something like that...amazing.

[Chris Catignani]

My first boat was a BassBandit with stick steering...aka suicide boat.

On day on Tims Ford my buddy and I had pulled up along side a private dock (to do something).

When we go to leave...I fire up the ol 25hp Evinrude...drop the steering stick down and hit the gas.

Well something in the ol noggin forgot that boats don't drive like cars. The back of the boat hits the dock...I go over the port side gunnel (and no kill switch). I was wearing a life jacket and was able to orient myself to push the boat away. My buddy killed the motor, and the day was saved.

[FishTank]

I was about 12 years old fishing with my dad and my brother.  We were fishing an off the beaten path strip pit at our campgrounds. Our car was parked about 3 miles from the pond and we were 5 miles back to the nearest road. We had to carry our john boat, gear and motor to the pit. Fishing there was awesome and often untouched except by us. So after a long day of fishing we start to pack it all up and head back. My dad, still standing in the boat, says "Hand me the keys" to me, standing on the bank. So I toss him the keys. He reaches up to grab for them and they go flying over his head into the water. At the same time he is reaching for the keys, his shorts fall down to his ankles. Gathering himself,  he falls overboard.  When he crawls up on to the bank out of the water, his shorts are gone. There we were looking at our dad realizing we had about ten miles to hike back to our camper and we had to carry the boat and equipment with my dad without his shorts. Luckily by the time we got back (1am) nobody saw us. The next day we went to get the car and my Dad said, as usual "Don't tell your mother " but some how she knew and so did everyone else.