Opening Day Check List......

[jwmiller33]

I always have a trolling motor that works and fully charged when launching so that I can use that to get out of the way at the launch. It's not that hard to just zip out of the way, then get settled once your waiting for your buddy to park the trailer.

+1

what fishinfey said is how it should be done... if you launch and there are guys waiting and you are in the way, it should be common curtousy to use your trolling motor to get out of the way. it takes only a couple seconds as long as you have it hooked up prior to launching (which you should).

[fishnowworknever]

Yeah when I go to the lake BY MYSELF and unload the boat, tie it off to the opposite side of the dock from the landing (if there is one), then go park the trailer and come back to the boat, I'll surely use my trolling motor to get out of your way at that time.

There is no way I can do that in 2-3 minutes. You guys are nuts for getting ticked off about stuff like that. I can understand someone taking their sweet time loading/unloading, but when someone is by themselves you can only do so much. Give those people a break.

[Fly2day]

Well said jhall, I totally agree I know that when I go out alone it takes more than 2-3 minutes, some boat launches I go to take 5 min to walk back from the parking lot. How about instead of everyone getting their panties in a bunch about someone by themselves or a rookie taking to long we go help them out? Now back to the checklist how about sunscreen? I sure hope we need it this weekend!!!

[Jim Almquist]

When I said 2-3 minutes what I meant was the amount of time that you tie up the launch. Push your boat off and drag it to the end or the other side of the dock or even beach it on shore. When its time to load up you just have to reverse the procedure and get your rig away from the launch area so other can come and go. Loading may take a little longer if you have to winch your boat in but that is or should be another 2 minutes at the most.

[srfishin15]

HAVE A BACKUP PLAN

[PierBridge]

Not everybody lives on the internet or is a seasoned pro.

I usually get out and try to lend a helping hand if at all possible, that can really make somebody's day.

Getting all [PoorWordUsage] off doesn't do any body any good and again all 1,000,000 of us aren't going to be as into it and prepared as some of you seem to be.

It's not military boot-camp it's the fishing opener.

[Juneau4]

Seems like a lot of stress for some-I'd just stay home. If a plug fails, the boat leaks, don't catch any fish, get hungry, get wet, no duct tape, who cares have fun and enjoy the day. It beats going to work for me.

If some one unloads a boat like an [PoorWordUsage] remember when you were an [PoorWordUsage] not a pro of today. They want to fish next to you- for some it may be 10 to 100 ft. for others some one may be to close if they are a half a mile away.

Have A SAFE and FUN TIME and no one can drink a beverage of choice wrong- good luck.

[BFJ]

Gents!!! All take achill pill! We realize the nature of the post! We've all watched folks struggle to get a boat in and then make 5-10 trips to the truck loading Sh+t that should of been in the boat already! I've tourny fished for years...if I'm behind a GUY LOADING OR UNLOADING BY THEMSELVES... It takes all of a couple minutes to jump out and help!! C'Mon we're all in this TOGETHER!! HAVE A GREAT OPENENER!!!

[mr_jman]

I guess I wasn't trying to get everyone mad, as this was a one time instance in my case where there were clearly plenty of people waiting to get on and off. With only 1 dock to do this it really tied things up and it took them 3 tries to back the trailer in correctly after they had spent 15 minutes trying to start a motor that wouldn't fire.

I wasn't trying to be a bad guy or anything and they had about 5 people there so they had enough hands I would think. Anyways, I left and went to another lake about 30 minutes away.

Everyone is trying to have a good time and catch a few fish and some people may not go out again all season and many of us will fish many times all summer and never have to wait at a launch the rest of the year. About 95% of my fishing is done by myself so I know how long it takes to load and unload a 16' boat by yourself (Not always easy to load on a windy day either). When people are waiting though I tie off the boat on the opposite side of the launch and drive away when landing, or when I load the boat (Even if its not perfect) I can adjust it on the rollers in the parking lot instead.

I'm not there to waste others anglers times or ruin there day by crowding the access for 20 minutes... PATIENCE is the key, and yes motors don't always start, people forget to grab something, etc. But its just common courtesy if someone is clearly waiting to launch or load, if you know it may be a few minutes, at least pull the boat clear of the launch. I always feel bad if I struggle to get my boat on the rollers and other people are trying to load up as well.

[Fish Head]

Is it just me, or is this the slowest week of the entire year? I can't wait for the weekend!

[Acemac]

this forum is way more exciting then the other forum i visit that is devoted to boaters who only go boating to make it take longer for you to launch your boat.

[Irish]

Is it just me, or is this the slowest week of the entire year? I can't wait for the weekend!

This is most definitely the longest week of the year.

[mr_jman]

All this rain we're getting in this part of the state is definately making it a S...L...O...W Week! I could be out fishing after work if the weather would cooperate a little, but no its been raining all week. Suppose to clear up on Friday though!!!!!!!