Let's here 'em. What are some of your biggest rookie boater mistakes and lessons learned. Forgetting the plug is too easy. Let's hear some of those things that will reduce the learning curve for us rookies.
Let's here 'em. What are some of your biggest rookie boater mistakes and lessons learned. Forgetting the plug is too easy. Let's hear some of those things that will reduce the learning curve for us rookies.
Don't forget to pick up trolling motor
Dan Beck
2013 Ranger Z119/SHO 200
This one made me laugh outloud!! My No-Brother-Good-In-Law bought a new Lakeland Bassboat about 25 years ago. We are fishing with it for the very first time and because it's a tiller, he has the transom mount trolling motor so he never has to leave his rear seat. He's got it down and maneuvering us around and we decide to move up the river about a 1/2 mile. He turns and pull starts his tiller and I looked him right square in the eye and said " aren't you going to lift and tilt that trolling motor up"? he says, "NO, IT'S DESIGNED TO STAY DOWN AND CUT THROUGH THE WATER"! We didn't go 200 yards WHAM!!!!!!!!! Broke the bracket clean off his new boat and fortunately, I had the presence of mind to grab the battery cables, or that baby would have sank to the bottom!! I didn't laugh at him to his face, but I sure did under my breath!!!
"Cast Everything in the Best Light Possible"
Don't forget to trim the motor back down before hammering the throttle.
I was fishing up shallow so had the motor trimmed up but prop still in the water - Hammered the throttle to move to another spot - Looked straight up at the sky and about sh*t thinking I was going down transom first. After the initial shock I looked around to see who was watching me be an idiot.
Keys left at home.
Lug wrench won't fit the trailer
leaving something on so the battery is dead at the ramp
Locking the keys in the truck on the ramp
If you have integrity, nothing else matters. If you don't have integrity,
nothing else matters.
Any stupid mistakes while learning to drive? I've heard backing off the throttle too fast if the boat starts to walk can cause issues - for example
take off the tiedowns and/or transom saver
BassCat '17 Sabre DC FTD Advantage Elite
175 Yamaha SHO
MK Fortrex 80
Most important.....forgot toilet paper.
Boat come unhooked from truck.
Back entire truck in water.
Forget to fill up boat and can't get far from ramp.
Left rods at home.
Compartments locked and keys at home.
Loose TM prop and no spare.
Throw blade off big mota prop...no spare.
Dump boat onto ramp.
Loose track of time and be late for weigh in and miss a check.
Throw ruler in water first thing while tryin to hit a bowfin.
Cull the wrong fish.
Give weigh master the wrong fish for big fish and miss big fish money.
Only have 4 fish when you culled too many.
Cut a turn short and mess up white letters and rims.
Put in by yourself, tie rope to boat and get in a hurry and pull out and it pulls the boat up ramp.
Put in by yourself, tie rope to trollin mota, get in a hurry and pull out and it snatches trollin mota off.
BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
www.ncboatguy.com
2000 520vx Ranger
250 PRO XS
SERIAL#2B115788/ 25P Fury 4/ 25P Fury 3 blade
These are all good to learn from! Anything relative to learning how to drive the boat?
steer right to on coming boats, if possible.
BULLET 20 XRD/250 Merc Sport XS
www.ncboatguy.com
How about always check your kill switch , fished a whole tournament then figured out why the motor wouldn't start .
Beach the boat on the bank (not nearly far enough). While getting the truck, the boat current drifts the boat out into the middle of the lake in very frigid waters. (Ask me how I know)
2019 Nitro Z20
2019 Pro XS 250 4 Stroke
112 Minn Kota Ultrex
Lowrance HDS 12 live
Lowrance HDS 9 Live
12" Atlas Hydraulic JP
Dual 8' Power Pole Blades
Tow Vehicle
2017 Toyota Tundra
2011 Ranger z521/2023 250ProXS