My first post

SuperPanga · 02-17-2004, 07:52 PM

Hi all. Have been reading this for over a year and enjoyed this board enough that I decided to join. I have fished the local rivers, Coweeman ,Cowlitz, Kalama , Lewis and the Columbia off and on for the past 38 years. I don't catch that much but I enjoy the great outdoors. I guess from what I have read ,This is the time to tell one of my fishing stories, kind of long , but here it goes: Back in late 73 a friend of ours found a boat that he wanted very badly, a 68 22foot Fiberform hardtop, complete with the then common candy apple metal flake upper deck and matching upholstery, or what was left of it anyways. The thing was a one owner that had spent its entire 5 years moored in the saltwater at Ilwaco. The guy wanted to sell it to my friend Bill for about $3200. Well the only thing that seperated the boat from Bill was the $ 3200. Bill knew that I had at least $1600 So I was invited to become his partner. He thought that by inviting me to go fishing on the boat I would gladly become part owner of this fine craft. The owner had dropped the boat off at Bill's house. Bill had nothing with a trailer hitch so my car was volunteered to tow the boat to Gearhart Gardens to launch. Bill had equipped the boat with the needed gear, (fishing and drinking). Well it did not start very easy but we got it going and headed towards the Columbia. Let me add that it was so foggy that you not see much past the bow. Bills plan was to anchor near the port of Longview. Well we got to where he thought would be a good spot for sturgeon and threw the anchor out. He tied the anchor off at the port rear cleat and we started to fish. Because of the cold and fog we zipped the back curtain and sat down and relaxed. All this time I was given a sales pitch that would put a used car salesman to shame. About that time I heard a distant horn. A little later a louder horn. I turned to Bill and seeing my unease , he assured me that was from shipping traffic in the channel. Then the horn got a lot louder and I decided to open the curtain and look over the top in the upriver direction . The fog had lifted a little and I am looking at tug, towing a large log raft, coming directly at us, at this point about 100 yards away. About this time Bill realized that we were IN the channel and frantically tried to start this fine Fiberform. I tried to pull the anchor and it would not budge. I yell at Bill who by now is running the battery down to get the thing going. By now there were several crewmen on the bow of the tug yelling some choice things at us ,and still no start or anchor realease. Now it dawns on me that Bill had tied the anchor rope onto the back cleat into a tight knot that 10 men could not undo. The tug was only 100 feet away when I spotted a rusty knife on the floor and with a swift motion picked it up and sliced the anchor line finaly freeing us. At about the same time the motor sputtered to life and Bill shoved the throttle, catapulting us away from the tug , which was only feet away. We had survived what could have been a disaster. I learned several important lessons that day. 1.Make sure You know where your anchored. Don't tie your anchor to a back cleat with a massive knot and don't let your fishing buddy try to talk you into a boat partnership. Well, as I said this will probably be my longest post ever , so back to reading and observing and good fishing to you all!

B-run · 02-17-2004, 08:10 PM

Welcome ASHORE!!
And always,keep a sharp knife handy.

Not Skunk'd Agin · 02-17-2004, 08:11 PM

This is my first post and or reply. Your story made me laugh. Reminded me of when I mistakenly lost sight of the South jetty down in Newport. When I finally saw it, my buddy was about to jump on it to get away from the boat. I learned to triple check my position in fog (and get braver fishing buddies)!