Can't read? No sonar? Stay out of Willard Bay

[Tin-Can]

I have been fishing the waters here in North Utah from a boat since 2004 and I don't consider myself an expert on any of them. But I DO know that the water levels fluxuate greatly. And when a popular fishing and recreational boating lake like Willard Bay has BIG yellow and black signs at the boat ramps warning of shallow water, they are serious. I find it very hard to believe there are boaters that can't read, don't read, don't believe the signs, and don't have depth finders in their boats. Now I know I only have a small boat. But you can bet I keep a sharp eye on my sonar when I'm on the water. The term "FishFinder" is really a misnomer. They don't FIND fish, you have to do that by experience, and luck. They only show you that you HAVE found fish, how deep they are, and depending on the quality and cost of the "Fishfinder" they can be pretty accurate at showing the size, depth, and sometimes actual photo quality representation. But that isn't my issue here. Any boat operator that does not have even the simplest sonar system, is, well, to put it nicely, not real smart. In the last 2 trips I made to WB, Saturday 31 Aug, and Saturday 7 Sept. I have pulled other boaters off of sand bars or barely submerged humps both just off the north ramp, and out around in the north east area off of the swim beach. On 31 Aug, as I was puttering back in to the marina, motor locked up on shallow drive and the bottom indicated at about 6 ft. I actually watched a guy in a bigger boat, approx. 20 ft. fiberglass, I/O motor, run his throttle up to over half way, make a sharp left hand U turn, and just as I said to myself "he's gonna hit that sand bar there" HE DID ! About launched himself out of his boat. Well, his 3 buddies on the ramp thought it was very funny, and started wading out waist deep to help him off. The 4 of them couldn't budge the boat. I thought, OK, I'll see if I can help. I may need a hand myself some day. I came in close enough to toss a bow line. He tied it to his bow D Ring and with me pulling , and his buddies pushing, we got him floated again. Did he read the sign on the Ramp ? I don't know. Did he have any sonar ? Nope.
Then Saturday 7 Sept, I was anchored out north of the marina in the shallow water off of the swim beach in about 4-5 ft. water. Was having some luck with the Cats, then a guy in an older boat, I guess at about 20-21 ft. I/O motor, out drive trimmed all the way down, came past me about 10 MPH, and less than 100 yards north and east of me, SLAM ! He too hit bottom. OK long enough story shortened some. I pulled him off also, towed him to where my sonar read 9 ft. turned him loose, and warned him, don't get in any closer, it gets shallow fast. Did he have a sonar ? NOPE. Man a reliable way to see how much water is under you, and when there are submerged hazards should be as mandatory as a life jacket in any boat.
But even with the grounded boat incidents, I did take home some nice fish both those days. 2 Walleye 1 Yellow Perch and 3 Cats.
[signature]

[RockyRaab]

Yup.

The only thing more expensive than knowledge is ignorance...
[signature]

[wiperhunter2]

Yea, I know what you mean, that is why I try not to go there on the weekend. Last Friday, I drove over to the South marina to check it out and there was a guy there with a 21 ft maybe longer, wake board boat. I thought this guy was crazy to be launching there but he told me he had a depth finder and felt better launching there than the North marina. He said it was 3ft deep before you get to the channel then of course it is deeper. He had been out without a problem when I talked to him. I told him the North marina was deeper but he wasn't sure about the hazards there so he did not want to chance it. There was two or three other trailers in the parking area, so I guess it is still do able but there are no docks. Looks like you have been doing ok with the eyes. Were you bait fishing or trolling to catch them?
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

WH2... The day I caught the 2 Eyes, I was trolling from west wall about the light pole kind of angling south east towards freeway bay. Actually trying for some Wiper, running about 2.8 to 3.1 (GPS indicated) long lining a couple Rattle Traps. One blue and chrome, one a kind of speckled color like maybe a baby LM bass. Caught one on each lure. So I guess those two were hungrier or more aggressive that day ? Dumb luck more than anything I think. Photo attached is best one I have of the lure. I got that lure as a gift a year ago or so, and until this year, it hasn't done anything at all. Tried it earlier in the summer about mid June and it has been almost magic. Every time I put in the water at WB, something hits it, walleye, wiper, cats, even one big ugly carp. It's pretty chewed up now, and have had to replace one of the treble hooks when it broke off in the ide jaw of a bigger cat. And as usual, I got a lure that has been hot for me this year, and I can't find another one.........
[signature]

[Old_Coot]

[quote Tin-Can] ... when a popular fishing and recreational boating lake like Willard Bay has BIG yellow and black signs at the boat ramps warning of shallow water, they are serious. I find it very hard to believe there are boaters that can't read, don't read, don't believe the signs ... [/quote]

I could be wrong, but those big signs leading into the south marina have been there all year. They were there in the spring and never moved. I remember thinking that that is "calling woolf" and may have less impact come low water times. Personally, I depend on information from other boaters and comon sense more than those signs. I wish they wouldn't put those signs up until the water is in fact low. I kind of wonder if those signs are there for another purpose ... to keep law suits at bay.
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

I know that there are signs at both north and south marina's just before or just after you pull thru the entrance gates. Those are there ALL the time, and have been ever since I can remember. But a few weeks ago they put up some even larger signs actually at the boat ramps. The one on the north ramp is on the east side of the ramp just after you pull out of the prep line area. The one at the south marina was (last time I was there about 3 weeks ago) on the up-hill-drive to the 3 launch ramps. Last time I was at the south end, the docks were all but totally out of the water, and even in my small 14' Tin-Can, my bottom rubbed the mud at the corner of the one dock that stuck out a couple feet into the water.
My peeve is that people with large, expensive boats with expensive motors and outdrives, don't have the smarts to install even a simple inexpensive depth finder to tell them what is under them.
I agree with you OC, the permanent signs at the entrance gates are quite likely a form of disclaimer warning, like the writing on the McDonalds (and other) coffee cups " Warning Hot" well no kidding, coffee fresh out of the brewer is hot. And any smart boat owner operator, especially in Utah should know that water levels fluxuate quickly especially in a dry year like we have had. But when the DNR folks make and put up even BIGGER ones to be sure everyone knows it is shallow, they didn't do it for their own amusement. Having to maybe go out and rescue someone that has run aground cost money. Money that could be better used to improve and upgrade the fisheries in Utah.
Anyway, I'm just venting I guess cause I've been the good guy that has pulled 2 some ones off a hump in 2 weeks. Breaking down due to mechanical failure, I can understand. Eventually it can happen to everyone. And I hope when and if it happens to me, there will be some kind soul nearby to help me out. But to get stuck only because you were ill prepared, well that's a different kettle of fish.
[signature]

[dubob]

[size 3][quote Tin-Can]My peeve is that people with large, expensive boats with expensive motors and outdrives, don't have the smarts to install even a simple inexpensive depth finder to tell them what is under them.[/quote][/size]
[size 3][/size]
[size 3]Peeve: To cause to be annoyed or resentful.[/size]
[ol][li][size 3] A vexation; a grievance.[/size][/li][li][size 3]A resentful mood.[/size][/li][/ol]
[size 3][/size]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]TC, this is not a slam on you; but why are you annoyed or resentful of other’s lack of preparedness? It really is an exercise in futility to get upset over things you have absolutely no control of and this is one of those things you don’t. Let it go man.[/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3][/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]I applaud your willingness to help others in need when warranted. I’ll always do the same if able. But I don’t ever harbor any ill will towards somebody just because they didn’t fully prepare for all contingencies associated with their activities. At some point in our lives we will all make that mistake.[/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3][/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]Anyway, I’m not dissing you on this, but getting peeved about a stranger’s lack of foresight will get you nothing but heartburn in the long run. Have a great day and may all your lines be tight.[/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3][cool] [fishin][/size][/#800000][/font]
[signature]

[RockyRaab]

I suspect that he's peeved because he's a nice guy and takes the time and effort to pull those careless idjits out of their predicament - and losing his own fishing time thereby.

I noted that with the very low water, the two patrol boats are nowhere to be seen. Anybody with an emergency out on Willard is SOL without the help of strangers. Good strangers, anyway. Like Tin-Can.
[signature]

[PBH]

[quote Tin-Can]


[/quote]


Tin-Can -- the real question that I have for you is: how do you get the blood out of your carpet??

I'm really paranoid of this right now. I hardly dare bring a fish into my new boat because I don't want to stain the pretty carpet. Obviously, you are past this stage -- so, how do you clean the blood from your carpet???

Thank you.
[signature]

[dubob]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]PBH,[/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3][/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]If you look REAL close, I believe you can see that it isn't carpet at all but the vinyl covering that hoses down easily. At least it looks that way to me. the blood near the rear end of the fish wouldn't pool like that if it were on carpet.[/size][/#800000][/font]
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

[quote dubob][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]PBH,[/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3][/size][/#800000][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]If you look REAL close, I believe you can see that it isn't carpet at all but the vinyl covering that hoses down easily. At least it looks that way to me. the blood near the rear end of the fish wouldn't pool like that if it were on carpet.[/size][/#800000][/font][/quote]

dubob you are exactly correct. It's a vinyl deck, I got home sprayed it with some full strength Simple Green, sprayed the garden hose at it, and "Presto" no more Catfish blood. BTW, that was the second cat in the boat in about 20 minutes that bleed like a stuck hog. So I had 2 puddles just about the same spot. But that's what fishin is about. Learned my lesson the hard way on my first Lund, a 2004 Pro-Sport 1700, carpet IS NOT the way to go for a fishin boat.[]
And as far as all the rest, well I was just venting and spouting. Better to do it here I figured.
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

[quote RockyRaab]I suspect that he's peeved because he's a nice guy and takes the time and effort to pull those careless idjits out of their predicament - and losing his own fishing time thereby.

I noted that with the very low water, the two patrol boats are nowhere to be seen. Anybody with an emergency out on Willard is SOL without the help of strangers. Good strangers, anyway. Like Tin-Can.[/quote]

Thanks RockyRaab
[signature]

[PACMEN]

If there is enough time spent on the water every one of us depth finder or not is going to have a brain freeze and run into something. I know I have done it. It is worse when you know of the hazard and do it anyway.
Most of us have been in water that goes from 50' or more to less than ten feet in about 1" distance.
[signature]

[submoa]

I had some chucklehead pull a skier between me and the shore, in just a few feet of water. If he wasn't on plane he would have likely hit bottom. Glad his skier didn't fall or he'd have been a gonner for sure.
[signature]

[Tin-Can]

I've had ski boats come pretty darn close. And during the mid summer on a weekend I can almost expect it. But I was at WB last Friday . Launched late when the rain stopped for awhile. was smack dab in the middle of the lake fast trolling from west to east, and a big yellow and white ski boat with 3 or 4 guys in it, but no one on skis behind it blew behind me no more than 50 ft. off my stern. I saw that they weren't going to turn wide, and I tried to slow down to let my lines sink hopefully under them. One line did. The other didn't sink fast enough and that guy snagged it, spooled off about 30 yards of line in just a few seconds, then snapped it. Lost one of my favorite chrome and black 3" Bill Lewis Rat L Traps. Then almost as a consolation prize, the one line still in the water started singing out. Boated a nice Wiper.

Did I mention, we were the ONLY 2 boats on the water for probably a half a mile in any direction? Guy had the whole lake to go around me.[mad]
[signature]