Boatlaunching

[Trout,myster]

This seems appropriate at the early onslaught of springer season. I'm sure all of the iFishers have their ***** together when it comes time to "get wet". However, I know lots of folks surf this site and hopefully we (yeah...ALL of us!) can help them get off on the right foot (er...keel).

Launching at a ramp anywhere on the Lower Columbia or Willamette during salmon season requires some preparation. Here are some usual gripes and complaints to avoid.

1) DON'T get in the launch line until you're ready to dump the boat in the water.

2) Make sure your battery is good before you leave home. Turn the motor over or (better) start it up with a flush attachment if it's your first trip out with your boat. Asking someone else whose launched and ready to go for "a jump" is usually a bad idea. They may or may not give you one, and your lack of attention to detail is interfering with their fishing time.

3) Have your coolers, bait, rods, and all other crap in your boat before you start backing down the ramp!

4) Fish with a buddy or find help on the ramp if you can (ask!). Single person launching takes a little more time and ties things up.

5) Flip side of #4! If you see someone trying to do it alone, go offer to help. Chances are, their fishing buddy slept in or couldn't make it and they either go it alone or don't go. Someone to hold the rope or go tie off the boat makes a big difference.

6) Keep your cool! Fish don't wear wristwatches. Aside from tidal influence, they don't really care what time of day it is. And if you're thinking of being their first for springers, you should have left yesterday!

7) Get away from the launch area as quick as possible. Get your motor started, LIFEJACKET on, and motor out in the river a short distance at least. This reduces traffic at the ramp.

8) If you're new, please make sure you can back up your trailer! Clackamette Park or Meldrum Bar are no place to do the "zig-zaggies" and "jack-knives". Practice in a empty parking lot somewhere until you can back up accurately and quickly.

These are some that I've seen and run into over the years. Anyone care to add to the list?? It would be good to see folks with iFish decals on their boats or at least members set some examples out there! Let's make it an enjoyable springer season at least.



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Troutmyster

[Beer Waggin]

All of the above applies for taking your boat out of the water also. I've seen more people ****** off after a day of fishing than at the crowded boat ramp in the morning. Just remeber, there will be crowds, so get there early and be patient.

[This message has been edited by NorRivDave (edited 01-23-2001).]

[boater]

if after you get on the water and your boat is filling with water because you forgot to put the plug in, just take the plug, wipe it down real nice and stick it straight up your candy ass

[Pete]

One more thing to add to the list. If you are launching before sun rise and more than one launch lane is in use, TURN OFF YOUR HEADLIGHTS! No one else can see to back up when the guy at the bottom of the ramp has his lights on. Leave your marker lights on so others can avoid hitting you.

[chinook_hunter]

trout,myster that would be a good list to put on a 4x8 sheet of plywood at entrance to every boat ramp nothing worse than some one backed up to water and unloading $$it from pickup to boat

[OneLastCast]

Trout Myster

What a wonderful list and Pete your point is extremely important I don't know how many times those headlight have stymied me.

Every body should know that T.M.'s #1 means everything is ready to go before you get in line, don't load rods, coolers, coats, thermos', bait up.....be ready to drop it in and go. And if you are loading up, keep out of the way of everyone who is offloading or are trying to park their trailer.

Great list....it should be posted.

OneLastCast

[HUMPTIME]

Hey Boater,

I laughed so hard at your reply I about fell out of my chair. Sometimes the off the wall remarks I hear on this board kill me.

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HUMPTIME

[smilesforu]

See this one every year on a crowded ramp.....leave your safety chain on until you have your trailer in the water or youre boat will be on the ramp high and dry.

Also tell your buddy to pull the boat down the dock so others can use the ramp.
Good list and great advise
Tight Lines

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Marty M
Steelheader.net

[Pilar]

One more.

Don't be in such a hurry to get it down the ramp that you bash into the last boat that launched.

If there is no space on the dock then you have to wait, right?

I think there should be a practical test to go with the written on the boaters license.

Thanks for the common sense list. Lets make a sign out of a sheet of 4' x 8' plywood and post it at the Meldrums bar ramp, home of the accidental boater. My favorite is 'Fix it in the driveway not at the boat ramp'.

The bend is your friend!

[zipper]

Practical advise. Have a spare plug in your boat attached to the inside by the drain hole... much easier to put in place than reaching over the transom to get it from the outside. OK... any boater that can honestly say they have never launched without forgetting the plug at least once should get some sort of award. I will not be on that esteemed list.

[GutZ]

I have found that dropping the tailgate on my truck (bronco) helps a lot. You can see much better.

Sorry about leaving my lights on. I have a Canadian Made Ford. The lights are always on unless you have the parking break on.

GutZ

Thanks for the laugh boater!

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Fish Now,
Sleep Later.

[Trout,myster]

Boater, I never thought of that one! Does that keep the water from leaking in or brains from running out??? Does sound like a good storage spot!

Truthfully, I think most all of us have pulled that stunt somewhere...sometime. Admittedly, I know I did it once (really...only once!)

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Troutmyster

[jet]

Here is one

Remember to pull the emergency brake firmly
while on the ramp.

A few years ago while strugeon fishing out of Roster rock we were leaving around 2:00 after a great day. A guy in a red Jeep Wrangler (new) backed his boat in on the far side of the ramp, jumped out of the truck ran down to the boat to check if he was in deep enough, you know what happened next the Jeep and boat (on the trailer) scooted down the ramp. All you could see of the jeep was the black top and lota of little bubbles from the back of the Jeep it still ran for a short time.

We were at the top of the ramp and could not help this poor fella we just looked at each other and laughed and them ran down and offered a cell phone to call the tow truck. His phone was in the truck also, now ruined.

Remember the parking brake. Keeping your truck in park will not always hold the truck and boat on the ramp.

Jet~~~

[Mrdorkfish]

I'm sure that this would all change if EVERYONE did what i do....but during Fall Chinook season my partner (RyanFish) and I would be backing down the ramp by 4:30....and anchored up (with lights) before 5am. Even though we get there so early there are still people getting there too and i try to get my little tin cup all the way to the end of the dock WAY out of the way of others to make as much room for them as i can. SO.... It's even better coming in ...we usually only stay long enough to catch one for each of us....then are in by 1:00pm at the latest. Great ideas everyone !

Mrdorkfish

Louis

[ZaQ]

Boater, you watching wrestling while posting. The Rock says...........

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Fish this!
ZaQ

[boater]

someone did make a good point here about the new trucks with the headlites on all the time, that is going to be hard to deal with at the ramps, is there any way to disable them ??

[WaterDog]

Yes you can disable the DRL(daytime running lights). On the new chev's its easy and its in the owners manual. That's my understanding anyway. I too have a Ford from Canada with the DRL and I have not unplugged the control box yet.

Sorry you'll just have to put up with this slapnut until I apply the e-brake.

Now if we could get rid of those pesky "pleasure" boaters who use thier boat more as a driveway decoration, we'd have something goin'.

[Jellyhead]

Boater,

To disable your daytime lights on a new truck , just depress the e-brake 1 click. This doesn't engage the e-brake at all, and makes everyone's life at the ramp easier.

Good Luck

Aaron

[FishinMission]

Hey...good ideas from you all...especially the headlight comments. I just wanted to ad that not only is it important to be quick on the ramps when launching, but being quick when taking out is also nice too. Don't dilly-dally around on the ramp when you're leaving. Last fall I got caught in grid lock at Memaloose...two guides whom I won't mention just parked in the middle of the driveway to put their crap away, and didn't even leave me enough room to get lined up to the ramp...thus holding me and everyone else behind me up. GET OUTTA THE WAY...THEN PUT YOUR STUFF AWAY!!!!!

[Phish_on]

I've found it always helps to COMMUNICATE. It gets more complex when boats are taking out while others are putting in. Generally the first thing I will do is get out scout out the ramp and start negotiations ... If someone is taking out while most are putting in, it really helps to just let that person get out of the way. Some folks just don't get this concept.

It takes me a few minutes at the "preparation" area, and I know it, and I almost always tell this to the person behind me ... if you're all ready to go, just go ahead of me, I'll be here for a moment.

I love those instructions on the plug, that's perfect.

One day at Suttle Lake some twit (from CALIFORNIA) put his boat in as we came in to take out. Motor wouldn't start. I tied up, backed the trailer down, etc. Stood there holding the rope for about five minutes -- hint? -- I thought he was going to rebuild it or something, like he would have any idea where to begin. Finally I had to say hey do you think you could GET OUT OF MY WAY ? He was all put out of course ...

I know my old motor is cranky, I have to pull it 7 times when it works perfectly - - I just always head out under trolling motor (starts right up, electric!) and mess with it out of everyones path.