A cautionary tale and fishing report

  • timohmann
    St. Paul Park, MN.
    Posts: 4
    #1309448

    This is my first post as a new member and longtime observer to this fishing community. First, my cautionary tale. I had taken 2 of my sons up to fish Pelican and Ash lakes this holiday weekend. Our plan was to fish Pelican Friday morning on the way to the cabin at Ash lake. While loading the boat at the access in Orr, I had a terrifying experience. I was winching boat up on the trailer and I foolishly had the truck parked with only the parking brake. As I was winching the boat, the truck broke free and started to roll into the lake. I quickly jumped aside and managed to get in the cab, stopping the whole rig from submerging in the lake. My oldest boy (12 yrs old) was helping me by holding the guide rope which I use to get the boat aligned and on the trailer. I did not realize that he had not gotten himself clear of the rolling vehicle. I should have made sure he was clear before stopping the trucks lakeward movement, I failed to do that. I now realized what had happened. The truck rolled over his foot and I saw him on the ground clutching at his leg. After a few panic filled minutes we figured out his foot was mostly OK, with only some really good bruising. I am so very thankful that he was not seriously injured by my foolishness. From now on I now will be turning off the engine, putting the stick in 1st gear with the parking brake on, and then winching the boat on the trailer.

    The fishing was pretty good on Pelican. It was a rough boat ride with a strong and stout south wind a blowing along that long north/south fetch on Pelican lake. We did not get as many bass as I was hoping for, but the pike more than made up for the lack of largemouth cooperation. Pelican lake water temps were 59 to 60 degress everywhere we fished, with some nice cabbage up and very green to provide cover. We started out throwing suspending jerk and rattle baits. The pike were very aggressive and we landed numerous fish from 12″ to 32″. Over the winter I built myself a 7′ St Croix Avid rod which I was dying to try out. I built this rod mainly for jig fishing which I enjoy the most. I tied on 1/8oz jig with a Moxi scewered on and started casting. On my second cast I hooked and landed 13″ largie. My new rod was broken in and it performed really well, just as I had hoped. I kept jig fishing for the rest of our trip. The boys like tossing rattle traps and they worked well also. We caught perch and pike on the crank baits, and pike, largemouth and crappies on the Moxi’s. We did not get into any smallmouth on Pelican, which was a bit surprising and must be operator error on our part. The story for Ash lake was the same, with water temps around 60 degrees and abundant pike and some decent smallmouth bass mixed in, but with noticably less plant growth in the lake. Sorry I do not have any pictures to add. I tend to pretty hard on electronics (and 12yr olds) as I’m on my 4th cell phone in 4yrs. The SgtMaj is reluctant to let me take the camera in the boat. Please be careful out on the water, or at least more careful than I was. I hope to report again soon, and thanks for letting me share our trip. And Bowman, I am not “WICKED”.

    bret_clark
    Sparta, WI
    Posts: 9362
    #969900

    Spooky story with a happy ending!

    Glad all turned out well

    And welcome to IDO

    Tom Sawvell
    Inactive
    Posts: 9559
    #969901

    Oh, how quickly this could have had a different ending.

    Welcome to IDO and thanks for the great first post. It sounds as though the fish were willing to help soothe things a bit.

    Here’s hoping the rest of the holiday is good to you and yours.

    stuart
    Mn.
    Posts: 3682
    #969905

    Welcome Sal,heck of a first post.Kids are tough but not indestructable.Glad it turned out ok for him.

    joshbjork
    Center of Iowa
    Posts: 727
    #969906

    The parking break on a manual makes me nervous. I use a wheel chock. Tie a rope to it and drag it up the ramp with you.

    timohmann
    St. Paul Park, MN.
    Posts: 4
    #969909

    Thanks Bret.

    timohmann
    St. Paul Park, MN.
    Posts: 4
    #969910

    Thanks Guys.
    The chock behind the tire is an excellent idea, and one I will be looking into.

    DrewH
    s/w WI.
    Posts: 1404
    #969912

    Welcome aboard sir. That lesson learned could be as simple as Good things happen to good people.Only you can determine if it applies to you. Looking forward to your reports ect.

    sandmannd
    Posts: 928
    #969915

    Great first post. It could have been a lot worse. I’m glad to hear you boy was good to go and the fish biting, I’m sure, soothed that bruising. I don’t have a manual but I always put it in park, engine off and parking break on. Chances are it’s not going anywhere if it was on, but I don’t take the risk.

    I think the block is a great idea as well.

    AllenW
    Mpls, MN
    Posts: 2895
    #969934

    Good to hear nobody got hurt, maybe call this a cheap learning experience.

    Al

    tvfishermn
    Posts: 75
    #969944

    It is so easy to forget your young adult fishing partners are still kids. My 11 year old son at the time had a large treble hook stuck in his finger when I asked him to help with a large northern in a net. He was shy of hooks for three yaers after that. Glad all is ok.

    Rodney Bondele

    basscatgreg
    Sconnie
    Posts: 51
    #969963

    Glad everything turned out ok. What a trooper to stick it out all weekend

    tpmorgz
    Central Iowa
    Posts: 257
    #971412

    I look back at some of the things I have done or been involved in and realize how lucky I have been. Everything happens for a reason and you just learn from it. Hope all is well and here is to fishing with our kids while we can.

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