Most Embarassing Moments....

[ozark trout fisher]

I thought it might be a fun thread for us to tell about some embarassing moments that have occurred on the the stream, (or lake) over the years. I'll go first.

1. I am a terrible judge of depth in streams.

2. Due to embarrassing fact #1, I have come to realize that it is REALLY embarassing to fill up your waders at Maramec Spring, especially on a summer weekend when there is plenty of a crowd to watch your mistakes

3. My first few fly fishing trips (enough said LOL)

[hoglaw]

This one is easy. I got up before daylight one morning to head to Lincoln Lake (NW Arkansas). It's about a 25 minute drive from my house. Loaded up the canoe trailer the night before, and just jumped in the car with my dog (a puppy at the time). I tried to hit the bathroom before I left, but it was too early and I just wasn't ready.

Stopped at a gas station on the way for some honey buns and another trip to the head. Once again I was unsuccessful. I didn't have the urge at the time, it was just a preemptive strike. I got to the lake, unloaded the canoe and gear, set up the trolling motor, hopped in and headed for my spot. I motored about half way across the lake and started fishing in the dam area. First rumble hit me. I shifted my weight and delicately tried to relieve the pressure. After venting a little, I felt a lot better and kept fishing towards the creek at the back of the lake. I had the place to myself and it was a picture perfect morning.

Now, if you're not familiar with Lincoln lake, it's no motors and terribly difficult to access the water from the bank. If you're in a canoe, it's tough to find a spot where you can get out. The banks are steep for the most part, and the ones that aren't have a 5-10 foot collar of weeds. The banks are extremely brushy. They're so brushy it's almost impossible to get out of the boat.

Anyway, nature called with a thundering roar. There would be no "holding it." This demanded immediate attention. Doubled over in pain and frantically searching for a spot to get out of the water, I decided on a mid-lake boulder that stuck up about six feet. I pulled alongside it and tried to wedge the canoe in a crevice to hold it while I did the deed. Fortunately this rock was well angled and made for a perfect "dumping ground." I de-pantsed, took a seat on the apex of the rock, and let lose with authority on the other side. Unfortunately, I didn't have the lake to myself as quickly evidenced by two or three other boats who were rounding the bend opposite the dam. They had a full frontal shot that I could only hope was obscured by the low morning sun. With one hand holding onto the rock for balance, and the other holding the TP, I was in quite a predicament. Footing was a little....messy. Just as I was scrambling to attempt clean up duty (no pun intended) and get my pants back up, my dog decided it would be a great time to jump up on the rock. Well, the rock was steep and he missed. He was in about 20 feet of water and couldn't climb up. He was starting to freak out. Newton's first law came into play as well. Sam's leap from the canoe sent the canoe in the opposite direction and it started drifting away from my rock.

There I was, panicking dog in need of rescuing, pants around the ankles, poo all over the rock, and my last vestige of dry TP in my hand, and onlookers who were probably ready to call the police. I triaged and went for the canoe first. I grabbed it with a foot and managed to pull it back my way. Sam was next and he got belly tossed into the canoe like a lunker on a crankbait. Everyone else would just have to enjoy the view.

I've done lots of other embarassing things in my time fishing, but I still can't paddle by that rock without a laugh.

[Wayne SW/MO]

While it wasn't me, I witnessed what had to have been a Bennett fisherman's worst nightmare. I was fishing above the dam, back when the area was flat and about 2' deep except for a channel on the hatchery side. I heard someone come into the water just off my left side and for some reason in a hurry. He made it about 10' and then fell, and that's when the fun began, he bounced back up as if he hoped no one noticed and took about two steps and fell again. He jumped up from the second fall just he had the first and then immediately fell again. By this time his waders were so full he could hardly stand, but he did and then stood there for about a minute to finally gain his composure and then slowly left the stream.

[jjtroutbum]

After spending many hours fishing (read sleep deprived). I lost the keys to my car. After a frantic feeling of en-pending cash letting to get the ride started back to St. Louis. I was kindly reminded to check the bottom of my waders again after several time doing just that. Only find them located conveniently hidden by the cushy tongue of a new pair of chotas.

Now most would think that's not embarrassing. Maybe kinda dumb, lucky, or maybe even funny but alas this happens while in front of a couple of dozen people that I consider friends, mentors, and generally would like their approval.

Of course any friends of mine know. That a proper fishing buddy would never let a good ribbing get away.

And they didn't disappoint.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Hoglaw... that was hilarious! Mine is similar to yours, tell it later on here... gotta go!

[Brian K. Shaffer]

I once saw a guy at Rim Shoals in Arkansas fumble and lose his spool off his fly reel.

The water carried it until all the fly line and backing were off. 150yds or so.

He walked out of the river with fly line and backing in either hand.

It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen on stream.

I would never wish that to happen to anyone.

[KCRIVERRAT]

Happened at Stockton. Like I said, kinda like what Hoglaw went through. Motoring down the middle of the lake early morning... and the thunder roared, but the lightning hadn't flashed... YET. Sucked it up (literally) and headed to the nearest bank. Beached my old john boat while the wife and my buddy laughed at me while I duck-walked into the timber. In the midst of my ecstacy, I heard a little kid's voice going... "Eeewww look at that guy". I'd parked my butt next to a playground at a campground! Never even saw it and the leaves hadn't come out yet, it was early spring.

I continue checking, but as for now I'm not on the state troopers website...

[zander]

Although I thought it was the coolest thing ever when I was 16 I now realize that it was pretty embarrassing. My and a friend of mine were fishing at a spillway in Louisiana. The current was fast and the fishing was hot. We were using nightcrawlers and catching drum as fast as we could cast the line out. Some teenage girls drove up in their new car, and we figured that nothing would impress these Cajun girls like a man who knew how to catch drum like we were. We took off our shirts (for the sex appeal that only pigeon chested skinny dudes exude) and started horsing them in like it was the fight of the century. We would throw them high on the bank and sneaking a peek over our shoulder to see if they were admiring our prowess we would cast back again. Soon enough they drove away without getting our numbers or anything and we stared at the pile of drum on the bank. Not being Cajun's we didn't eat them but gave them to an older Cajun guy that drove up later. Good times.

[GloryDaze]

I've posted this under the "short stories" before, where it has some pictures- it's under the topic "Snap, Crackle and Pop" but still my best story ever:

OK, so this is not an Ozark River- but a trip report on a beautiful river in Northern California called the Russian.

After 4 years I finally convinced my wife to jump in the canoe with me and enjoy the Russian River on our vacation to "Wine Country" I decided to keep it simple (I thought) and not fish and only float 5 miles. We took off on Monday morning from River's Edge Canoe rental in Headlsburg, CA with a loaded cooler and a camera: about 1 mile in the river winds through a valley surrounded by beautiful mountains, redwoods and big rocks.

You see, I thought it would be a cool idea to step out of the canoe, climb those big rocks and have my wife take a picture of me. As I am standing up with one foot in the canoe and one on the boulder my wife says "be careful, you are going to hurt yourself. I respond, "honey, I have floated my whole life....................................." next thing I know, I hear a snap. crackle and paop and am in the water with my right arm sticking straight up in the air like I am raising my hand in school. Was it because I chose to do that- nope, instead I had slipped bounced off the rock fallen in the water and SEVERELY DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER!!

I managed to somehow at least pull my arm down and swim to shore. My wife took this picture as I was trying (with no luck) to pop it back into place. So here we are- 2,000 miles from home, floating on a Monday with a wife that has never paddled a canoe. It's hard to describe how it felt but not good to say the least. I told her she had to paddle as fast as possible for 4 miles so I could get to the ER. Luckily we came upon some people and they called the rental company, who picked us up and took me to the ER:

Where they pulled and pulled but could not get it back in socket- 2 hours and counting from the time it happened- finally, they hook me up with an IV and pump me full of pain killers and pulled her back in. As soon as the drugs wore off it was off to the wineries to sooth the pain with some bubbly!!!

[ozark trout fisher]

Oh yeah, I have another one.... I was fishing one time at Montauk, and I was stringing up my fourth fish. I untied my stringer from my vest, put the fish on, and then immediately dropped my stringer. I was fishing just above a long riffle, so I knew if I didn't get it right then, it would be gone for good. So basically, I had to dive in after it. A guy was sitting on the bank watching, just laughing his brains out. He told me I could sure catch fish, but I couldn't hold on to them afterwards. Good times.............