tracman86

Fished the Stockton Friday night derby on 7/12. Wow the night bite is almost non existent. Had 24 boats competing with the winning weight being 9.72 lbs. My partner and myself had no fish and really no bites to speak of very frustrating! Hope they keep pulling water.

Yep that was us. We caught a few large mouth but not what we were hoping for. I wish they would open the gates!

I think I may have seen you on the flat up from mutton. I was in a older ranger graphing the break from the flat to deeper water. Tough bite out there! Was not many boats on the water.

Guys, I was thrown from my boat last summer. Was not wearing the kill switch and was struck by the prop. Causing a near left hand amputation. I was fortunate enough to get flown to Barnes hospital in St. Louis and have made a full recovery. I still have my hand and use of it. Regardless of how this happened . I know from expeince it happens fast and is scary. This should just be a reminder to all to always wear the kill switch and life jacket.

Thanks for the advice! I was thinking this was going to be a project. Owning a boat is so much fun. Always working on something.

The keel guard on my bass boat isstarting to peel off, was wanting suggestions on what adhesive I could use to get it back on. Or what the common solution to this is. Thanks for the help.

Stockton is not giving very much up right now. I dropped some brush today. Then fished and did not get a bite.

Fished Stockton (darn area) on Sunday. Was going after walleye. Started off fishing for crappie till it got closer to dark. Zero fish of either species. Went to Aldridge area Monday looking for crappie in brush piles jumped from pile to pile from high point to the 215 bridge. Did not catch a fish one. I blame the water temp.

Thanks guys I didn’t make it down.The weather made my decision for me. Thanks for the info I am itching to get down soon.

Thinking about coming down tomorrow. Any advice where to start would be great. Thinking about putting in at aunts creek or mill creek. Have been fishing Stockton it’s been a bust with the water temp being 37 degrees. Hoping for warmer water and some fish. Thanks in advance

Not to bad, they have pulled all the pins and the external fixater out of my arm/hand. The area across my palm that the prop hit is closed. The bones in my arm are healing slowly. I only have one artery feeding my hand now so the swelling is really taking some time to go down. I can move all my digits tho so it’s pretty good.

Nearly amputated my left hand in a boating accident the first night of June on Stockton. Was thrown from boat and the boat circled and got my hand with the prop. Broke both bones in my arm. 2 helicopter rides and a 11 hr surgery later I was put back together. That was my excuse. ALWAYS WEAR YOUR KILL SWITCH PLEASE DONT LEARN THE HARDWAY LIKE ME.

That makes since with the tiller handled comparison.

Well I for one am very happy to see this. I can not believe these 200 and 250 and even bigger engines are attached to the steering system with one bolt that has a locknut on it. Something has to change how is this not a bigger problem. I am so glad that he asked you to inspect it. This is what mine looked like shortly before the accident.

Yes that is the bolt. After going thru what I have, what I would do is get a longer bolt. Drill into it almost at the end put the locknut on it and then run a cotter pin thru it.

Very sad incident. Will be praying for the victims and their family’s.

Wrench this is what is left of my steering connection. I am now very curious of what you make of this. I wanted to let you know this steering system is a Teleflex. Also the picture of the bolt with the other components is all that on the steering connection.

Thanks everyone I am amazed at the views this has received I knew table rock forum would get a lot of views . That was my whole purpose. For any one that is real hard headed I can send pics of the damage.

My thoughts exactly it should at least be cotter pinned. I just hope everyone takes a minute to inspect their boats.

Being thrown from that boat at 53 mph was one of the scariest situations I have ever been in. Until it was fixing to run me over!

This is also what I had been doing. I was getting into a good habit of wearing it. This particular evening before take off it didn’t even cross my mind. I wish they would make them like lawn mower ls if you get up it cuts the engine off or at least shifts it ti neutral.

Wrench my steering is the hydraulic steering matching the first pic. The bolt that goes through the motor lost its nut and vibrated out. I urge any one with this system to inspect it and make sure the nut is present. It is not a bolt that is easily seen.

Bobby b I can send you some very gruesome images of what my hand looked like afterward. I urge you to wear the kill switch. Cold water the accident happened about 7:15 in the evening. If it would have been dark there is no doubt we both would not have survived. I was in the water for 3 to 4 minutes after being struck. 2 guys that where also fishing witnessed the accident and were able to pull me out and apply a turnaquite. Ben Henderson and Matt isenbacher were the guys that I give credit for saving my life.

Good morning all my name is Jared Henson I live in strafford mo. I have been a long time viewer of this website, although I have not posted much. I love fishing and the Ozarks. I was In a boating accident on Stockton lake. Friday June 1st of this year. My partner and I were taking off for a Stockton Friday night tournament. When we were taking off for the night running 53 mph we experienced mechanical failure of a key bolt in the steering system. The bolt that connects the motor to the steering component. When this happened the motor tourqed ejecting myself and my partner from the boat. At the time of this accident I was not wearing my kill switch. We were both wearing pfds. The boat went into a figure 8 and then began the death circle. At this point I was gathering my bearings in the water. I turned around to see the boat bearing down on me, I had to make a decision fast. I got my body away from the boat. My hand unfortunately was not so lucky. It was hit by the prop and nearly amputated my left hand and snapped both the bones in my arm, wrist and hand below the 3rd knuckle. I was pulled from the water and quickly taken to the hospital in Springfield by helicopter. Where they made the decision to have me flown to Barnes Jewish in St. Louis. They were able to replant my left hand. A true miracle from the one and only father in heaven. I wanted to tell my story. I also want to beg everyone to never operate a watercraft with out the kill switch attached to a PFD. I made a terrible mistake by neglecting to attach mine. I also want to beg everyone to inspect there equipment and pay special attention to key components. I had gotten way to comfortable in my boat. Please don’t let it happen to you. GOOD FISHING AND GOD BLESS!!

That’s what I was considering doing the only problem I have is I have lake master chips and brush piles marked on the graph at the console. I have been researching and it does not appear I will be able to get the brush piles from the Mdc on the new graph. Makes it a hard decision. Thanks for the input.