It’s what you can’t see that will hurt you…

Just had to vent. Bought a brand new 620 Ranger this summer. Love it. Was out last Thursday heading down river from Red Wing. Cruising along at top speed on a clear blue morning. Right in the middle of the channel, THUMP. Hit something but didn’t see it. Stopped to look for it, but nothing.

Got to where we were going and after about 15 minutes, the auto bilge kicked in. At that time I prayed I forgot my plug again.

Got back to the boat landing after a few hrs. of fishing and the first thing I looked for was the plug. Still there. I could hardly bring myself to look. Sure enough, about a 9″ crack right in front of the keel. I should have taken a picture to post, but I didn’t want the memories.

I have fished this river for 40 years and have never hit anything. Guess I was due. The boat is in the shop and I hope to have it back in time for the November run.

Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

I cant believe you havent hit anything in 40 years. I have gotten lucky this year, but every year I tend to bounce my boat off something floating downstream just below the surface. Its more of a problem in the spring time.

It can be a scary experience… be happy it didnt rip a hole in your hull and cause extreme damage! I have put some nasty scars in boats.. but I run aluminum which isnt indestructable either.

Nothing worse than dinging up a brand new boat…. Well, maybe sinking one.

40 years is a good stretch. Hope ya go another 40 without a hit.

-J.

THAT SUCKS

Bad news for sure. Good one Jon !!!

big g

Atleast it left you a lower unit to drive in on. Seems to happen to everyone eventually.

Ouch, sorry to hear that. I hit a log on my maiden voyage down there several years ago….scared the crap out of me but the boat suffered only a small dent. I know a guy (who shall remain nameless, but is bald and has sausage fingers) that ran his new RiverPro up on an iceberg on that very stretch of water! Expect the unexpected on pool 4.

I remember when I was 16 and found the famous sand flat in July on the back channel to on Pool 4!

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I remember when I was 16 and found the famous sand flat in July on the back channel to on Pool 4!

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I remember when I hit that last year…and the year before…and the year before that…and the year before that.

Be thankful it was in July. Stickboy and I beached my boat twice in two days this April. And Beerkooler and I once beached my boat in February.
It seems I say “I think I can make it” a little too often.

That’s river fishing for you. I can feel your pain. I have a pile of bent up aluminum props to show for it but going to a stainless steel sure helped for durability.

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I remember when I hit that last year…and the year before…and the year before that…and the year before that.

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Note to self…Don’t let Lenny lead the way .

There are pictures somewhere of a blue boat absolutely beached on taht sucker…….. And I filled a motor twice in one day the same day as the league event down there!

I have bounced off of more stuff in all the years I have fished the river. Only once did I do more damage then just a prop.

This happened when I had my Pro Craft bass boat. Running up pool 6 at night following the Wi. side cans with spot light. Seen a flash of green out of the corner of my left eye, bamm hit a can that had come loose. It hit just behind my front trolling motor. Scared the crap out of me and the wife. Never lifted the throttle I didn`t know how much damage we had. I was afraid if I did stop she would sink. So I put the hammer down until we got back to the dock. FW was not a happy camper. Come to think of it that was one of the last times she went out fishing with me. Finally reached the dock, caved in the port side just in front of the console from the water line up. $3,800 dollars later she was fixed.

I have heard stories of people hitting that sandbar in the back channel. I think it is usually when they get bad directions(most likely from their kids). The river can definitely be a tricky place to play but it sure is fun!!!!

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I remember when I was 16 and found the famous sand flat in July on the back channel to on Pool 4!

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I remember when I hit that last year…and the year before…and the year before that…and the year before that.

Be thankful it was in July. Stickboy and I beached my boat twice in two days this April. And Beerkooler and I once beached my boat in February.
It seems I say “I think I can make it” a little too often.

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Got to clean the barnacles off someway, may as well sand them off

And you guys laugh at me because I drive slow!

Jeremy

Hey did anyone see where the log went that had the marker on it. The one just south of the Y??

Brian I think it is down by Fifth cut.
There has been tons of stuff floating since the water went up four feet.

There is also another really big one down the back channel.

Be careful out there.

Thanks Vandy. I’m going to pick up Dean’s marker once it beached.