Posted by wnybassman on 05-05-2003 07:22 PM:

An "Erie" experience yesterday

This past weekend, the trophy season opened up on Lake Erie. I had to miss the tx's on Saturday (Which both of them had winnings weights over 12 pounds for two fish), but was able to make the one yesterday out of the Small Boat Harbor in Buffalo.

I fished with a buddy of mine, and we took his boat. Water temp was 43-44 and we had a nice light north to northeast wind all day. We didn't fair to well, and had two "dinks" for a weight of 10.1 pounds. That was good for 21st place, that's right, 21st place. Winners had over 13 pounds, and there was another 6 bags in the 12 pound class, including our own jiggin' n piggin' and partner with 12.7 pounds for 3rd place. These weights are getting out of hand, and it is hard to know what is good anymore

Not to make any excuses, but our heads weren't really on fishing yesterday. Shortly after blast off, and about halfway into our 8 mile run to our spot, we got hit by another boat out on the water. We were trailing another boat that was ahead of us, and slightly to out right. He started to veer to the left towards shore, so we veered to the right to cross his wake and continue on to our area. Just as we hit his wake, a boat came up on us from the right and hit the back of us. Our right hand veer was not that drastic, and we did not reduce our speed (we were travelling about 45-50 mph) at all when crossing the other boats wake. Anyway, both boats were damaged. The boat I was in had pretty bad spider cracking in the gelcoat on the right rear corner above the rubrail, and the boat that hit us had much worse cracking below the rubrail about halfway down the boat, along with decent sized flakes of gelcoat flaking off revealing the fiberglass underneath.

After a few minutes talking with the other party after the collision, and neither boat showing signs of taking on water, we agreed to continue on with the day, and talk afterwards. Like I said, hard to get motivated about fishing after something like that, and we replayed the event over in our heads all day long trying to figure out what happened. We also began to realize how lucky we were. A couple feet over, and we would have had serious problems!

I am not really sure if we ever came up with who was really at fault. It was somewhat our fault for not knowing who was around us when veering to the right, but it was also their fault for following in such a way whereby they couldn't react to our movements, especially out in open water miles from any land. It was the same thing after the tournament, we talked to the other party as promised, but nothing was really settled. Everyone kept real civil about the whole thing, which was good.

So, the morals of the story:

1. Be aware of who is around you when making any manuevers on the water.

2. Do not follow too close, or in such a way where you can't react to quick changes.

3. Get yourself to Lake Erie and catch some insanely large smallmouth bass

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Posted by Rob J in WNY on 05-05-2003 07:33 PM:

I like all 3 morals, bud.

I must say, you were NOT yourself at the weigh-in. That would shake up anyone.

I say that, if fault MUST be described, then the person who hit Dale was in the greater. He should never have come near enough to Dale and you in order to allow for any type of evasive maneuver that Dale may have had to make, bottom line. Especially since everyone was out in the open waters of the lake, and not the confines of the harbor breakwalls.

Actually, the bottom line is that I'm glad you and Dale are still with us, bud, and that no one was hurt. Erie is Erie - it's dangerous enough without people taking dangerous chances.

I look forward to competing on Erie as your partner next weekend. I'm thankful you are alive.

Tight Lines...

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Posted by JPBass on 05-05-2003 07:35 PM:

Wow! Scarey story. Glad to hear everyone's all right. Boats can be replaced, people can't.

And I believe Rob's right, the other boat shouldn't have been that close.....BUT! anytime you vere from a straight course it's best to look around.

All you could muster was a couple of 5 lb. smallmouths??..I just hate days like that. LOL

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Posted by JOHN G on 05-05-2003 10:12 PM:

Thank God you are okay Noel, that is the main thing....

yeesh, losing a two fish contest weighing in two 5 pound fish....you ERIE guys are so spoiled!!!!

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Posted by wnybassman on 05-05-2003 10:20 PM:

There were roughly 35 boats in that tournament yesterday, and no bass UNDER 4 1/2 pounds was weighed in.

Spoiled?.............YES!!!!

Posted by Meg on 05-05-2003 10:36 PM:

Noel, I am REALLY glad you and Dale

made it out of that "experience" without injury. Any blame aside, it could have been so much worse. I was really shaken just reading your report-I can't imagine how upsetting that must have been. I guess this is a somber reminder that we all need to keep alert.

On an off note, I would take one of those two fish and be psyched for a really long time! Nice job!

Posted by Bassin Dude on 05-06-2003 07:32 AM:

Glad you guys are alright! As you mentioned, another foot either way and you guys might have been a couple of bobbers in the middle of the lake.

Those fish sizes are insane!

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Posted by pitchindocks on 05-06-2003 07:49 AM:

Well Noel, Guess we both kind of lucked out this weekend, by avoiding REALLY bad situations. I sure hope the rest of the year goes a little smoother..... Look forward to seeing you on the water soon.

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Posted by AKO32 on 05-06-2003 09:16 AM:

Thank g-d you guys are allright! Boats and things can be replaced but, you can't! Great to hear cooler heads prevailed.

Posted by go orange on 05-06-2003 09:17 AM:

boating obviously is a more 2 dimensional experience, but when snowmobiling our crew goes by the rule that the person in front of you "owns" the trail to either side of him, and has the right to veer to either side to miss something in the trail at any time. If you decide to come along side someone, you'd better swing pretty wide and pay attention, because its your responsibility. Obviously boating has its own set of rules, but seems like the other boat would have missed you if thinking along these lines.

Posted by HugeFish4 on 05-06-2003 09:35 AM:

Sorry to hear about the mishap. I'll take a couple of those "dinks" anyday!!!! Never ceases to amaze me! Damn!

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Posted by Charlie on 05-06-2003 09:43 AM:

Hi Noel!

I am certainly ready for a few "dinks"!

Tell me something, knowing Lake Erie like you do, if I am launching from Buffalo, how long would it take me to travel to Bass Island?

I have the maps but I have a feeling we are talking "hours"!

Tight Lines!
Charlie

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Posted by BuckShotJon on 05-06-2003 09:51 AM:

Dang noel what a trip. Glad you guys are alright.

Those are some nice fish!

Jon

Posted by Sea Jack on 05-06-2003 10:06 AM:

That is a situation you hardly even consider. Glad to hear anyone was okay.

Posted by wnybassman on 05-06-2003 05:30 PM:

quote:

Tell me something, knowing Lake Erie like you do, if I am launching from Buffalo, how long would it take me to travel to Bass Island?

Charlie, you are kidding, right???

Why would you want to anyway

Posted by Charlie on 05-06-2003 05:40 PM:

Picture this Sicily 1945...oh sorry wrong website..

Fact is, B.A.S.S. are launching out of Buffalo for the NE regional tour this year. I wanted to know the time involved to make such a run 1 hour 2 hours at a constant say 60mph?

Any help is always appreciated.

Charlie

Posted by Bassin Dude on 05-06-2003 05:53 PM:

Charlie,

The Bass Islands are two states away...

I'm not sure of the exact time at 60mph but I would think it's between 5-8 hours one way depending on wind and waves.

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Posted by Scott C on 05-08-2003 09:12 AM:

Thank the higher powers that you and your buddy are alive......

There are lessons to be learned from this and it sounds like you all kept it peaceful....... Thats a good thing.

Nice fish as always pal..........

Looking foward to more reports soon.

SC