Northwest Fishing Reports

Today, as I was attempting to retrieve my lure from a tree and my Ugly Stick snapped in half, I got to wondering, what are some of your guys' mishaps while fishing? We all have them, as embarrasing as they may be. Sunken boats, broken gear, "the one that got away," falling in the water, leaving equipment at the lake, etc. I thought this would be a fun thread, so share away. I'll start!


On one occasion, I was fishing a high altitude lake, and the water was about one notch above freezing. It was COLD. I got an unexpected lunker trout on, and of course, I had no fishing partners with me that day, nor a net, nor anybody around to help me land it. I fought the fish and finally got it close to the bank. To my left was a bush that extended out into the water. The fish was quite attracted to this bush. Everytime I would get this fish close to being landed, it would run off, stripping the line off of my drag, and of course head for the bush. I was fishing for small trout, so I wasn't prepared for something quite of this caliber. After the fish made several runs towards the bush, I decided something needed to be done to land it...

Hind site is always 20/20. I should have played the fish out. Eventually, it would have tired and I could have landed it easily. This is common knowledge, but in the heat of the moment, we don't always react with reason. My adrenaline level was out of control, and I became paranoid I was going to lose this beast, or it would become entangled in the bush, so I decided I was going to try to land this trout like a bass. This was my first mistake. I got the fish in as far as I could, put the rod in my right hand and attempted to grab the fish with the left hand. This technique works a lot better with bass than it does trout. The following scene is a blur, and I don't remember how exactly it all came to happen, but suddenly I was knelt down to my knees in the ice cold water, with both hands around the fish (as if I was trying to restle it). I don't know where the rod was at this point. Like I say, by this time, I had completely violated all proper landing etiquete rules, and was just trying to save face. Fish slime is a funny thing. I had both of my hands around this fish, but the fish was still underwater and I couldn't get a grip on its mouth or gills with it thrashing around. It managed to shake itself free of my grip with its slime, took off, and split the line. I was still so pumped up on adrenaline that I made one last effort to get this fish. As I saw it swimming away, I took a plunge into the water to try grabbing it. As I surfaced, drenched in icy cold water, with a cool mountain breeze, I screamed out some profanities that would make a pirate blush. Teeth chattering and cold, I realized there were people directly across the lake who had witnessed this whole series of events. I can't even imagine what they thought.


Ok, that is my most embarressing fishing story! Now, tell me your mishaps. Have fun.

Joe

i think that i have so many that my wife, kids, and friends think that embarressing moments are normal for me. one that i remember every time i try to cross a log on a stream or walk out on from a lakeshore, happened when i decided to take a drive around a lake one sunday afternoon with family in toe of course. went to an area were the lake is up close to the road with plenty of parking were of course there were lots of cars(people) fishing. there was this huge log that went straight out about 50 ft. the water was fairly shallow along the bank area so me with my huckfinn attitude walked out on the log (had to make a jump to it first) looking for fish signs. well i saw some big fish so when i headed back to the shore i had forgotten there was going to be a jump to land from the log. just took a step and into the water i went. now this was suppose to be shallow water but a muskrat must have hollowed the bank out for it was at least 6ft deep because i was still straight up and down as my body, head and all went under water. of course after my initial shock along with the family and other shore fisherpeople there was alot of laughter all around. now i usually think twice about those logs when people are around and i don't do it in my sunday clothes. <')//<

I have had a lot of embarassing things happen during bass and salmon fishing. First of all, I ripped someone's shorts off when I was 12 with a salmon hook while casting. Then the same day, I got my line rapped around some guys neck some how when he was casting and he had to unwind it. Then, during bass fishing last summer last year I had my real come off my pole into the water and it made me pretty mad becuase I missed a good day of fishing. Then one time I was stupid and tried to build a ramp to a little Island that looked like a killer spot for bass. Well when I was walking across the ramp it snapped and I fell into the thick mud and I sunk in it 3 feet down. Last year my parents wouldn't let me go in a boat with my cousins so we always tried to get to the best spots on foot. The most embarrassing but really hilarious is when my cousin hooked me in the crotch in front of people and we couldnt get it off. It was actually hilarious. There is much more but that is some that came to mind. Im sure there is many more to come.

Mine has to be hooking the dog! (the wife did not like that one bit... neither did the dog).

halibut fishing in the straights with a friend, my line got wrapped around the sea anchor. I thought it would be easy to undo and so I leaned out over the raised outboard motor. Of course, the motor decided to slide into the "down" position and I was slide into the water - COLD! I had to strip down and wear some raingear I had in the boat. My friend told that story for years afterward. It did give me pause to wonder if I had been out there alone, would I have even been able to get back in the boat?

When I was 18 (5 years ago) I was fishing the Tootle River with a friend, and he decided to explore down stream. About two minutes after he was out of sight I hooked into a king of a chinook salmon (I'd realistically guess about a 25 pounder... that's down from 40 five years ago ). I played it for about ten minutes, frantically yelling my friend's name to come net it. Eventually when it was near the bank I tried to do the ol' pole in one hand and net in the other landing technique and it didn't work out. The fish broke my line of course. I then proceeded to cuss, kick the water, and snap my g-loomis rod in half a couple of times. After that I ran up the bank and punched a tree. To add insult to injury I don't think the tree even felt it! My left hand and wrist sure did though; my hand was pretty worthless for a couple of months. People would ask why my hand was messed up, and I'd have to tell them what a big baby I was.

On the bright side that was the last fishing tantrum I ever through. I think the reasons are a) I haven't lost a fish that nice again, they've all been small potatoes in comparison and b) having only one functional hand is tougher than you'd think... I have not bought a rod that costs over $100 since.

another embarassing moment was when i got skunked. i took a 6 hour trip by train when i was 14 with a group of explorer scouts to pick blueberry's. i went because i found out there was suppose to be a trout stream in the area. well as i was sneaking off to the stream from the blueberry patch by way of a trail through heavy brush, this skunk hopped out in front of me and would jump at me if i moved towards it , well there was a standoff that seemed to last forever untill i decided to pick up a pine pole which i figured was long enough and proceded to poke at the animal. well my mistake. that skunk let er rip and i got a full frontal shot and probably a back shot to boot as i tried to run away. of course i could not or should i say they would not let me on the train heading back home. lucky that my older sister was a part of the scouts and happened to be with and happened to have some extra (summer clothes). they made me bury my clothes of course, so i had a long ride back sitting by myself. i don't know to many people who have gotten skunked with out wetting a line. <')//<

panfisher wrote:another embarassing moment was when i got skunked. i took a 6 hour trip by train when i was 14 with a group of explorer scouts to pick blueberry's. i went because i found out there was suppose to be a trout stream in the area. well as i was sneaking off to the stream from the blueberry patch by way of a trail through heavy brush, this skunk hopped out in front of me and would jump at me if i moved towards it , well there was a standoff that seemed to last forever untill i decided to pick up a pine pole which i figured was long enough and proceded to poke at the animal. well my mistake. that skunk let er rip and i got a full frontal shot and probably a back shot to boot as i tried to run away. of course i could not or should i say they would not let me on the train heading back home. lucky that my older sister was a part of the scouts and happened to be with and happened to have some extra (summer clothes). they made me bury my clothes of course, so i had a long ride back sitting by myself. i don't know to many people who have gotten skunked with out wetting a line. <')//<

That sucks man! Hopefully your older sisters spare clothes did not include a skirt, lol. My cat got sprayed one time, and my mom, unknowing of the spray, let the cat in. We all slept with our doors closed at night, so when we walked out the next morning, the whole house REEKED of skunk. There is nothing worse than the smell of skunk!

Joe

I was with my friend last year fishing in his little john and we pulled up to the dock to get something at the bait shop forgtting to tie down the boat by the time we came back one of the guys on the dock goes "umm your boat floated away" by then the boat had floated 100 yards down the lake so i quickly emptied my pockets and threw off my shoes and dove in while everyone one the dock was laughin their a$$ off while i retrived the boat. haha

that was in ''76'' i beleive. back in those days bellbottoms, tubetops, flowery stuff was the norm. LOL <')//<

This is the story why I dont use out houses. About 6 years ago I was at potholes resevior. For those who havnt been there, there is a big dock and up by the dock there are out houses. So there is alot of familys, kids, old timers, fishermen, just a lot of people in general walking past these out houses. So I go in there to to use the bathroom, not too pee, the other reason you use a bathroom. About half way through I hear a buzz noise, didnt really think anthing out it. Then a WASP, so Im freaken out. I take off my shades and smash the wasp against the side of the honey bucket. Cool, Im good, continue on. Then another buzz noise, well I look up and Ill be damned, a wasp nest and theyre PIST at me. So only being half way done, I pull up my underwear and am going to walk to othere out house right next door, But Im not too calm about, screamen and yellen. But........ when I go to open the door......its stuck, yep stuck. Panic sets in because now there are bees everywhere in the honey bucket with me. So Im really yellen now, (very colorful vocabulary) so I try to kick the door, put my sholder into it, punchen the door you name it I WANT OUT. Now mind you at this time I was 6' 200lbs, and this out house is on a trailer, so the whole thing is just bouncing around. After what felt like a year the door flys open. Well when I get out there is quite a crowd that gathered, wondering what was going on. They see the door fling open, and me, pants down to my ankles, bees everywhere (at least I hope they could see the bees, because if not they really thought I was a nut), hobble to the next out house to finish. And that is why I dont use out houses

This is the story why I dont use out houses. About 6 years ago I was at potholes resevior. For those who havnt been there, there is a big dock and up by the dock there are out houses. So there is alot of familys, kids, old timers, fishermen, just a lot of people in general walking past these out houses. So I go in there to to use the bathroom, not too pee, the other reason you use a bathroom. About half way through I hear a buzz noise, didnt really think anthing out it. Then a WASP, so Im freaken out. I take off my shades and smash the wasp against the side of the honey bucket. Cool, Im good, continue on. Then another buzz noise, well I look up and Ill be damned, a wasp nest and theyre PIST at me. So only being half way done, I pull up my underwear and am going to walk to othere out house right next door, But Im not too calm about, screamen and yellen. But........ when I go to open the door......its stuck, yep stuck. Panic sets in because now there are bees everywhere in the honey bucket with me. So Im really yellen now, (very colorful vocabulary) so I try to kick the door, put my sholder into it, punchen the door you name it I WANT OUT. Now mind you at this time I was 6' 200lbs, and this out house is on a trailer, so the whole thing is just bouncing around. After what felt like a year the door flys open. Well when I get out there is quite a crowd that gathered, wondering what was going on. They see the door fling open, and me, pants down to my ankles, bees everywhere (at least I hope they could see the bees, because if not they really thought I was a nut), hobble to the next out house to finish. And that is why I dont use out houses

gpc wrote:This is the story why I dont use out houses. About 6 years ago I was at potholes resevior. For those who havnt been there, there is a big dock and up by the dock there are out houses. So there is alot of familys, kids, old timers, fishermen, just a lot of people in general walking past these out houses. So I go in there to to use the bathroom, not too pee, the other reason you use a bathroom. About half way through I hear a buzz noise, didnt really think anthing out it. Then a WASP, so Im freaken out. I take off my shades and smash the wasp against the side of the honey bucket. Cool, Im good, continue on. Then another buzz noise, well I look up and Ill be damned, a wasp nest and theyre PIST at me. So only being half way done, I pull up my underwear and am going to walk to othere out house right next door, But Im not too calm about, screamen and yellen. But........ when I go to open the door......its stuck, yep stuck. Panic sets in because now there are bees everywhere in the honey bucket with me. So Im really yellen now, (very colorful vocabulary) so I try to kick the door, put my sholder into it, punchen the door you name it I WANT OUT. Now mind you at this time I was 6' 200lbs, and this out house is on a trailer, so the whole thing is just bouncing around. After what felt like a year the door flys open. Well when I get out there is quite a crowd that gathered, wondering what was going on. They see the door fling open, and me, pants down to my ankles, bees everywhere (at least I hope they could see the bees, because if not they really thought I was a nut), hobble to the next out house to finish. And that is why I dont use out houses

I'm reminded of a scene from the movie "tommy boy." "Bees, they're everywhere, save yourself!!!" That's a pretty good story man, it made me chuckle. Thanks a lot for sharing with us all... Stories like that keep people interested in the site and comin' back! :thumleft: Don't feel bad though. I almost had to walk into the pacific ocean at lincoln city (as you say, "not to pee, but the other thing.") I was miles away from the hotel, and good ol' mother nature hit.... I'll spare details, but it was not fun. Tight lines bro!

Mine was when I was fishing with my mother-inlaw in my aluminum row boat and my butt started hurting. So I grabbed a life vest and proceeded to use it as a cushion. Not too bad accept for when I didnt notice I was close to the edge. I got a really good bite on my fly rod, flipped it up to set the hook and prceeded to slip backwards onto my back in the most ackward of fashion. I however didnt lose the fish, I kept stripping him in until my mother-inlaw could help take the rod for me and hold the fish on until I could get myself upright again.

fishnislife wrote:Dropping my $400 dollar camera in the lake. Getting a hook in my back......ohhh man nuff said. I'm starting to twitch. The worst has got to be the days I get completely skunked and I've spent all day on the water, that has got to be the most embarrasing moments.
I thought an Ugly Stick was unbreakable. I hope your sending it back for a new one.


fishnislife

heh thats why I attach a lanyard around my neck instead of just using a wrist strap

Leaving my buddy holding the boat at the dock while I was getting the trailer. When I got back there was another guy holding the boat and my buddy was rolling around on the dock trying to unhook the large Rapala that had him shackled. I almost wet myself. OK now for the rest of the confesson. That same day as I lowered the kicker into place my glasses slid off my head into several hundred feet of water behind Chief Joe dam in January. No diving in after them. But you should have seen him rolling on the dock!!!!!!!!8-[

this is one about a buddy of mine (VERNE). we were fishing on an old peir at pearl harbor. we were in an area that many tourists could watch. i was on one end and he was on the other, we were catching alot of your aquarium type fish's when i heard this awfull scream from verne's way. all i saw was verne doing some weird jiggity dance with something long at the end of his hand. well he had caught an eal and was reaching down to unhook it when it flipped up and grabbed his finger to which was why he did the dance and then flung the eal off his finger shedding it pretty good. there was some laughter comming from the tourist area which only made me laugh harder. i'm sure verne hasn't tried to unhook any more eals. at least my scarred fingers came from a big pike and nobody was around to witness the hand in mouth grab when it almost got away. <')//<

this one didn't happen TO a fisherman, just in front of a few of them...

i was waterskiing behind my friend's boat and when i shouted "hit it", she dumped the throttle and fell right off the back of the seat she was sitting on. here i was behind a boat doing about 50mph since she wasn't around to throttle down, and looking at a pair of feet sticking straight up into the air! i had no choice but to hang on (slalom, no less) because i wasn't going to drop off and sit there waiting for a driverless boat to circle back around and hit me!

everyone got a good laugh about it, but it was one helluva ride!

Here are a few more of my more embarrassing fishing moments.

1) The first one is perhaps the most humbling experience I have ever had. I was about 14 or 15, and was just learning how to operate a boat. Until this experience, I had never had a problem putting the boat on the trailer…. It was vacation on the Snake River and we were staying at fishhook park. My father and I got up early that morning and completely annihilated the catfish in a special little cove, and headed back to the marina. When we arrived, it was quite busy, and the only parking option in the marina was right in between two other boats on the dock -- parallel parking style. My dad got out, and I hopped into the drivers seat, not anticipating any difficulty. I was pretty confident. As soon as I saw dad backing the trailer down, I pushed the boat away from the dock and began to work myself out of the semi - difficult parking predicament I was left in. It’s important to note that my father is very particular about his boat. He washes it after every outing, and waxes it way more times than it probably needs. In other words, it’s his baby. I digress.

As soon as I pushed off from the dock, I realized I was in trouble. I was getting too close to the boats in front and behind me, and couldn‘t quite wiggle away from them. I hit the panic button!!!! Had I remained calm, I am sure I would have been just fine, but that’s what makes the story more interesting. As I recall, at one point, I almost rear ended the dock trying to work out of the situation. Had it not been for a young kid on the dock that gave me a big push as I started to ram it, I definitely would have rear ended the dock. Eventually, I worked myself free of the surrounding boats, only to find I worst problem. I had managed to work myself into the shallow area of the marina. Suddenly, I felt a terrible vibration throughout the boat, and as I looked up, I saw my father screaming at the top of his lungs “you are on the rocks, put the prop up!!!!” The prop was right on the rocks. It was enough to make any boat enthusiast cringe. Worse, dad had a stainless steel prop on the motor, which means that you will ruin your motor before fins break off the prop. Also, stainless steel props are quite spendy. Somehow I managed to find myself to the trailer, welcomed by my very upset father. Like I say, I was young, so I was a little more fragile and my tail was definitely between my legs. The few hours that followed were a little quiet. I cried some, and dad used a file to take out some of the dints I made on his prop…. We joke about it now, 11 years later.

2) On another occasion, I waded through the water to reach my largemouth hotspot, but forget I had my cell phone in my pocket. Later that night, when I attempted to charge it, the phone got so hot, it almost burned my hand -- Something tells me the water was to blame, haha. It never worked again.


Other incidents include losing my swim trunks riding the tube, throwing my back out on my conelly slalom and falling into the lake/ river on accident on many occasions.

Beerman