Finally on the fish and disaster strikes

[airborne_angler]

Went out today against my better Judgement. Pretty windy at the lake, Occasionally youd see whitecaps on the water. I figured Id try it anyway. Launched my 10 ft Jon Boat and off I went.

Used a Dropshot and on the first cast I hook into a Huge male Bluegill.I then started to drift into the thick nasty weeds,even while anchored,so I decided to move to the back of the lake,where its rocky.

Started hammerin the Small Bass and Large Bluegill on a Berkley Powerbait dropshot worm. It was so windy I never felt a single bite,The fish were just there.

The waves were crashing over my transom and I decided it was about time to get to the bank to pull the drainplug,the water was starting to collect. As I was pulling up my anchor,it got stuck. I pulled and pulled and as I was pulling the waves kept crashing over the back of the boat(Where I was sitting) I reached down for some scissors to cut the anchor rope and suddenly a huge wave of water came over the back of the boat and started filling it.

I jumped ship and managed to tow the sinking boat to shore(I was about 6-7 feet away from shore) I managed to save everything,with the exception of an ultralight spinning setup. Then when things couldnt get any worse,I was in a flusterewd/Panicked state,I pulled and pulled on the boat to get it up on the bank,So I could drain it. I ended up breaking the transducer for my Fishfinder,Breaking a fin off my 2 fin prop,destroyed the TM Mount and bent the shaft.

So there I sit with a totally useless TM. I waited about an hour to catch my breath,think things through,Let things dry out. I finally came to the conclusion of just "Going for it" I reattached the TM as best I could, And headed for the boat ramp. The TM still worked,Barely,and with the wind in my face, I was catching some H*LL,But I made it back in one piece.

Id say im a lucky guy,think its time to go buy a lottery ticket.

And to think, I finally got on some good bites and then this!!! Well I know what to use next time,and no matter how bad I wanna go fishing,Whitecaps mean im staying off the water. Did I ever tell any of you just how much I hate the wind,After this I hate it even more!!

[DINK WHISPERER]

That is awful man! I had a similar experience on a big lake in my area(Lake Istokpoga). God and my bilge pump saved us though! The important thing is that you are OKAY! BE VERY THANKFUL

[Fishing Rhino]

That is a bummer.  

But it will be a great story to tell in the future.

Never, never, anchor by the stern, especially in sloppy weather.  

The football players that drowned off the coast of Florida were anchored by the bow.  When they could not free it from the bottom, they tied it to the stern to pull it free with the motor.  Waves crashed over the stern and capsized the boat.

Where I fish, there is the ever present possibility of the anchor gettin stuck on the bottom.  It did the other day.  Fortunately it was in about a foot and a half of water.

I was able to reach over the side, and maneuver the anchor out from beneath a couple of boulders.

I have the anchor tied so I can pull a loop of line, freeing it form the boat.  I also have a float on the end of the anchor line.  If I cannot work it free, or it's too sloppy to try, I can leave it all there, and find it when conditions are better.

[Big-O]

Glad you're OK A_A, and that stuff can be found, fixed or replaced.....You will find those fish again and in better fishing conditions...Then It's On  

Big O

www.ragetail.com  

[jturner]

It was really windy here in Nashville tn yesterday too. We were having a hell of a time. THEN our anchor got stuck too! Except we were in 12 feet of water! NO GOOD! We tried and tried to pull it loose...even using the motor...no good. So we had to cut it. We had some waves too and took on a litlle water but nothing too bad thankfully. WINDY DAYS SUCK!

[Long Mike]

Some days you are the windshield, and some days you are the bug.  Glad everything worked out.

[Bassn Blvd]

Forget the lottery ticket. It's time for a bigger boat.  But I feel your pain. Most of my mishaps happened in my 10' jon also.  

[skeetermike]

Yes the bigger boat is a good idea, but I know due to cost thats not always possible.  I started out in a 14' Aluminum boat myself and had some windy days out there.  I put 3/4" decking down and that really made the vessel more stable.  Course it made it heavier too!  Closest I ever came to capsizing it was while carrying a load of rock to make a fishing place.  Large load of rock in small aluminum boat....NOT GOOD!  I got rid of my load asap to say the least.  Wind does suck though sometimes.  

[Sam]

That's a close one.

Glad you are OK.

I always check the weather for wind when I go out.

Wind is our enemy.   >

[airborne_angler]

Well I now realize the mistake I made. I anchored on the rear of the boat. I was anchored,the wind was at my back and the waves were able to crash over the rear of the boat.

I couldve fished with the anchor on the front, and just swiveled my seat around(which is what I shouldve done and will do from now on). Its a pain to fish from the rear and to have to crawl to the front and raise and lower the anchor when fishing by myself,but if that what its gonna take then so be it.

I have a friend that says if im operating this little 10 ft flat bottom of mine and im heading INTO the wind,a good strong gust and a big wave can catch the front and flip me over backwards,any truth to this thought process,Anyone ever seen it happen?

Im kinda spooked at the thought,and thoughts or suggestions?

[George Welcome]

It would have to be a big big wind. Not much truth to that one. Suggestion would be: watch the weather, never anchor from the stern, and always were a life jacket when fishing from that craft.