when to pull the boat out?

[chuckwagon]

This will be my first spring with a boat and I am wondering when everyone puts there boats in the water for the first time? Should I be waiting a little while after ice out or is putting the boat in the water right after the ice is gone safe?

[eyebjim]

I'll be pulling my boat out this weekend or next so I can go down to red wing and fish the miss in the next couple weeks to chase eyes. you can use a boat all winter if you can find open water just make sure to drain everything when you take it out of the water then put the motor down all the way and start it for few seconds to push the water out of the water pump.

have fun with your boat.

[jwmiller33]

i have spent the last week getting my boat ready for water in the garage... i fixed all the little odds and ends that needed to be fixed. today i spent a half hour shoveling out infront of the garage door thru about 2.5 feet of solid ice so i can actually get the boat out of the garage. now later this week i am going to bring it into the shop to get the lower unit oil changed and two other small things that need tweeking on the motor... i'm hoping to be out on the water next week. going to hit up pool 2 here in saint paul since i live just down the road. will also be hitting red wing in about 2-3 weeks but 95% of my time from now until opener will be on pool 2.. gotta love rivers with year round walleye season

[Ralph Wiggum]

I hope to get mine out mid-March!

[reddog]

I was on the water in South Dakota last Wednesday.

With that said, Im at least 10 trips behond this time last year. (weather)

My boat goes into storage,(mid May) about the time most guys are making the first hook for the year.

[solbes]

I would say if it's your first spring with a boat, don't rush right out and break morning skim ice or duck floating ice chunks. I wouldn't recommend a river either unless your comfortable launching or it's a launch with little current.

Life jackets are always on everyone in my boat until water hits 60's at least. Especially important in really cold water. Other than that, enjoy yourself. I'm sure you are super pumped!

[Wish-I-Were-Fishn]

I don't bother until the crappies are hitting

[Fish Head]

The Rainy River around April 1st will be my first open water. Unless I decide to hit Red Wing first.

I agree with Solbes. I wouldn't be in a hurry unless your very comfortable with what your doing. The crappies usually won't be hitting yet at first open water.

[harvey lee]

My first trip is typically for early crappie action right after ice out and the Mississippi river for eye action on pool 4 or 5.

I will bwe getting the boat out of storage and bringing it home in about 3-4 weeks.

[bigbucks]

Mine will come out next week if I can get to the shed it's in with my truck. Planning to prep it for Red Wing a few weeks ahead of time. Always go the last weekend in March & March Madness starts the weekend before. This year I'm going to LOW the weekend before that, so that means the first weekend in March is prep time. Plus the carbs need some work, so I need to give my buddy a little time to do that.

[Tim_Anderson]

Rivers are the first to open in Minnesota, and I am usually hitting the lower Mississippi pools sometime in March, as well as the Rainy River up north in early April (and maybe even earlier this year).

Be careful on nights that freeze to make sure that all of the water is drained out of your lower unit, and out of your boat, and you should be good to go. I'm pretty anal about it, so I actually run my engine out of the water until it quits "peeing". Then tilt my motor up and down until it doesn't drip any more.

I had a lower unit freeze and crack years ago, and hope to never ever have that happen again.

[jigginjim]

As soon as my snow pile go down enough to get in and out of garage I'll hit the river.

[GRAND DAD]

Dug my boat out and now its in the garage defrosting. Getting it ready for pool 4 next weekend if the weather is going to Cooperate , But the old lady wasn't to happy to lose her garage parking spot for the boat. O well she'll get over it

[PerchJerker]

This will be my first spring with a boat and I am wondering when everyone puts there boats in the water for the first time? Should I be waiting a little while after ice out or is putting the boat in the water right after the ice is gone safe?

You can put it in the water as soon as there's open water. I'll be out on the river later this month.

Couple things to be aware of since this is your first spring with your boat.....

1. Most boat launches won't have docks in right away

2. Marker buoys for hazards and channels won't be in the water yet

3. After you pull your boat out of the water you need to be aware of water freezing in the boat, if it's stored outside and the temps drop down --- lower your motor to drain the lower unit, maybe even turn the motor over a time or two but DO NOT start it out of the water --- make sure you drain your bilge and especially your livewell pumps and plumbing (livewell plumbing is notorious for cracking when just a little water freezes in it).

4. There tends to be more debris in the water early in the year -- branches, logs, boards, etc. -- so make sure you're paying attention to the water in front of you.

[jigginjim]

I have even put plugs in livewell pump holes and drains to keep water out of the plumbing.

[pulleye16]

Just don't wait until opener and be that person at a busy boat launch to run into all your boat problems...I'll usually run mine with muffs and a hose first, then usually go out a few weeks before opener to make sure everythings running good.

[Far-I]

I was on the water in South Dakota last Wednesday.

With that said, Im at least 10 trips behond this time last year. (weather)

My boat goes into storage,(mid May) about the time most guys are making the first hook for the year.

why does your boat go into storage so early. too busy working in the summer, or you hate the crowds?

[Bassinbob84]

I think I'm going to get mine out of storage this weekend. That gives me plenty of time to watch fishing shows in it and do some work before red wing in April

[chuckwagon]

Thanks for all the good response on my post! I have taken many good notes form it. Hmmm I may have to take a look at the Miss pools. I had not thought of fishing those! Thanks again.

Wagn.

[Scott K]

Mine will be coming out of storage in a couple weeks. I have a coupe ice fishing trips planned yet this year, and it is to hard to work on a boat, when you are still excited to go ice fishing.

[Mr.690]

Taking it out next week to out fit with new electronics, the day a landing is clear of ice i will be in the water, hopefully sooner rather then later.

[7outof10]

NOW pool4 !!!!!!!its being fished

[Ralph Wiggum]

Picking 'er up on Saturday

[walleyemaniac]

Like it's been said make sure everything is drained out. With all the snow and spring thaw water levels will be up watch for floating debri from shore I'm sure there will be alot this year right off. Remember warm clothes it usually feals alot warmer on shore then it does out on the water. A little bit of wet this time of year gets cold really fast.

Double check everything the first time out, have seen alot of guys forget the simple things. Drain plugs, bad batteries, bilge pump or live well not working, lights if your out after dark...

If it's your first spring with the boat I might even take it in and have the motor checked out. It might start and run fine in the driveway, but they all run differant in the water under load. Seen to many docks backed up in the spring cause people just pulled it out of the garage and expected everything to work. [PoorWordUsage] alot of people off in a hurry if your blocking their way to the water.

[harvey lee]

Cleaning the garage out today to get the boat this week. I cannot wait to hit the river.

Need to pack the wheel bearing, charge the batteries and change oil. Then put on my new Birds and away we go.