A list of things not to do this summer

Boats are on the water, fishermen and outdoorsmen are now all smiles after our long winter. I’ve gotten my boat out of storage and paid a visit to South Side Marine. They do a wonderful job preparing the boat for launch. The motor has been checked, tires on the trailer lubed, batteries charged, the bilge and other accessories are working, and the trailer lights are a-go. My boat is now resting, ready for action on my lift at Tetonka. 

Here are a few pointers I can give you after years of boating.

⧫ When you get to your favorite landing to fish, if the lot is full it’s a sure bet the fish are biting. 

⧫ That full lot may also draw the attention of the local game warden. You need your fishing license and boat and trailer license up to date. Don’t forget a life jacket for everyone and a throw cushion. 

⧫ Know where your plug is. With the age of invasive species, you have to drain your boat and motor after every outing. Your trailer must also be weed free. I used to never pull my plug when fishing, but after forgetting to put it in a couple times and watching water rise on the floor of my boat, I wrote myself a message on the back of my boat to put the plug in.

⧫ If the landing is really busy, pull off to the side and load your boat with everything you need before backing it into the water. You have the time as the launch line grows smaller. I’ve witnessed people get very irritated when someone takes ten minutes with their boat in the water loading it. 

⧫ If you are not great at backing your new boat in, practice on a day when the launch lot isn’t busy. Backing a boat for the first time can be a “several backing tries” experience.

⧫ When backing your boat in, leave your trailer safety strap hooked to your boat until you are somewhat in the water, especially if you are backing down a hill. 

⧫ Make sure your motor is tilted up. I’ve seen fishermen have real catastrophes when they unhook their boat before backing, especially with a roller trailer. Boats have slid off the trailer, crashing onto the cement ramp, putting giant holes in fiberglass and huge dents in aluminum. I’ve seen the lower units of boat motors completely destroyed.

⧫ Always fill your motor with non-oxygenated gas, no ethanol. It’s a bit more expensive but will save you heartaches and headaches, especially if you own a four stroke motor. On fishing trips, I’ve seen fishermen all excited for their week-long vacation fishing trip back their boats into the water and the motor is a no-go! The problem: moisture and water in the gas or fuel line. 

⧫ Make sure you have enough gas in your boat: Many times the fuel gauges aren’t very accurate or don’t work. I’ve towed several boats back to their docks on Tetonka when they’ve run out of petrol and signaled for help. 

Last year, I was out on Tetonka fishing and the back of a big inboard boat was really smoking. The boaters had an electrical fire, extinguished it, and were in a frenzy. I towed them back to their cabin, a long journey across water, a very big boat.

When it comes to being mechanical I’d receive a C- for a grade, however, when I make a trip with my boat I better have the knowledge to change a flat trailer tire or deal with a non-functioning trailer light. You can’t travel after dark with no lights, or leave your loaded boat on the shoulder and drive miles for help. Traveling, pulling a boat, and having a breakdown can be a real conundrum.

Lisa reads many hours and has a super sophisticated vocabulary. I do not! It’s really rewarding to add a few vocabulary words to my arsenal when I hear them. “Conundrum” means a difficult or confusing problem. “Booyah, that 17’ crappie is the biggest I’ve ever seen.” “We are putting that one on the wall, grandson!” 

“Booyah” means a well-played victorious moment in sport; a pure moment of joy. 

Seeing the baby wood ducks jump out of the box was serendipity. “Serendipity” means good fortune and good luck: the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy, beneficial way.

The next time you are socializing with friends, throw “conundrum,” “booyah,” or “serendipity” at them. They will look at you and ask, “Who are you?”

Until next time! The Big Z