llbaker2

Think I could get away with it but just seem wrong that have to break the law to be on the safe side or spend hundreds of dollars for a second trolling motor of electric wench unnecessarily.

Now there's a thought. Not sure which wold be more economical, and electric wench or a second trolling motor mounted on the stern. Use to use a canoe but dont get around well enough for that anymore. Cant bend my knee that far since having it replaced and my balance isn't very good anymore. Thanks.

No bother, dont mean to be critical. Just find it unjust that it appears MDC doesn't put safety first. I realize you dont make the rules. Sorry if I offended you. Im just a crabby old fart. Thanks for your comments.

How is your health? Got any titanium body parts? How old are you? You may very well do it all the time but that doesn't change the fact that it would be safer for someone like me to use gas motor. I back trailer until bunks are mostly submerged, no need to wet them. Regardless of how its done there's potential to damage motor shaft, except under the calmest of conditions. For that matter I could use a paddle under calm conditions. Could be a real PITA on a windy day. I normally wear some sort of water shoe and shorts or muck boots in cooler weather so stepping into the water is not normally and issue for me except for falling on my butt on mossy ramps. Yes, I could load without motor but would be safer with its use. Just dont know if its allowed. Sorry for the double post but couldn't figure out how to delete the one that didnt include the quote.

How is your health? Got any titanium body parts? How old are you? You may very well do it all the time but that doesn't change the fact that it would be safer for someone like me to use gas motor. I back trailer until bunks are mostly submerged, no need to wet them. Regardless of how its done there's potential to damage motor shaft, except under the calmest of conditions. For that matter I could use a paddle under calm conditions. Could be a real PITA on a windy day. I normally wear some sort of water shoe and shorts or muck boots in cooler weather so stepping into the water is not normally and issue for me except for falling on my butt on mossy ramps. Yes, I could load without motor but would be safer with its use. Just dont know if its allowed.

I almost always fish solo. No one else to help. I also have had a total hip and knee replacement. Not all that steady on my feet anymore and in my mid 60s. Not a spring chicken. Seems to me your method would require a good deal of luck except in the calmest of conditions. Taking a good chance of damaging the shaft on you trolling motor by pulling it up at the last second plus you would be weighing down the front of your boat with body weight operating the trolling motor. Wold be way easier and safer to use gas motor. Just don't know if its allowed. In the interest of safety only seems logical that use of gas motor to load/unload should be allowed. Guess I could run boat up on bank, tie a rope onto front, push boat back into water and lead/pull boat with rope onto trailer but once again Ive got a bad knee and hip and not as young as I once was. Not as safe as using gas motor. Seems to me safety should be priority number one. Thanks for your comments

Anyone know if you can you use gas powered boat motor to load/launch boat on Missouri lakes where use of gas-powered motors is not permitted (many small MDC lakes)? I have a 1752 Jon boat with a 60/40 jet. Not exactly a light boat. Not crazy about the idea of trying to load my boat using just the wench. Puts a lot of unnecessary stress on the system. Not really meant for the sole means of loading a boat. Cant use front mounted trolling motor. Motor shaft would hit trailer. Don't intend to run gas motor for anything except loading/unloading. Think I would rather go to different lake than attempt loading using just wench.

I paid my dues. Your day will come.

Dont have to worry about me catching them all. Not with my skills/luck., but that's OK. I enjoy fishing and playing on the river. If Im lucky enough to catch something its just an added bonus.

Hey Camburgersoup What part of MT? I lived in Bozeman/Belgrade from 2003 thru 2008. Nice place to be. I live near Rolla MO on the north central edge of the Ozarks. I got a few yrs on you. Im recently retired. Do a lot of mid week fishing in attempt to avoid crowds. If you have interest in jet boat fishing or yaking in the Ozarks give me a shout sometime.

Howdy everyone. I am expecting! Got a Bonafide 127 on order. Went to pick it up a couple days ago but boat was damaged so sent it back. Supplier said they would ship me a replacement as soon as they receive the one I refused delivery on. My due date should be in a couple weeks. Was so disappointed that I had to send boat back. Had planned to be on the water today (a beautiful day by the way) but here I sit. Im new to kayak fishing but am a competent class III whitewater canoeist (lived and boated for many years in Colorado, Utah, Montana and the Missouri Ozarks) and have a couple years of river jet boating under my belt. So Im fairly confident in my paddling/river skills but have a lot to lean when it comes to catching fish. Haven't had much luck yet but am willing to pay my dues. Hope to hook up (pun intended) with some other Ozark yakers. I live near Rolla MO. Im about 2 miles from the Gasconade (as the crow flies), 20 or so from the Big Piney and Meramec and 60-70 miles from the Current/Jacks Fork. Im recently retired so do most of my fishing during the week to avoid the crowds. Have been spending most of my time on the Gasconade and local lakes (Little Prairie, Council Bluffs). The plan is to start hitting some of the smaller streams like the upper Gasconade and Big Piney. If any of this interest you give me a shout and maybe we can hook up for some Ozark smallmouth fishin. Sometimes you get and sometimes you get got.