Docks & Storms?

[MOPanfisher]

I have had to use slips in private docks on Pomme and LOZ before and have yet tohave a problem anywhere.  sometimes you roll up to a dock thinking you can slide in without anyone noticing and there is someone out on the dock, so you either pretend to fish the dock, or give them the sad puppy dog face, and try to snuggle up to the leeward side.  The conversation usually goes along the lines of "you fellers are gonna get you butts wet if you don't get under this roof.   I would like to say I don't get caught by storms, but sometimes you just aren't paying attention, just enjoying life and fishing, until you hear the growl of thunder getting close, you do the quick look, calculate your odds of making it back to the ramp/truck.  Some little pop up showers have trapped me for longer than I want to admit, and gotten dang cold afterward.  Decided to make a run back to the truck/ramp once and ran right into the hail, if you see me running for the truck, just pull into the nearest shelter, your odds will be better if you assume I have chosen poorly.

[Flysmallie]

Me and a buddy were fishing a tournament on Table Rock and of course it was raining. It wasn't stormy but it was a good steady soaking rain. We pulled into an open spot on a dock near where we were fishing just to eat some lunch. I think we had made it in there before a truck started heading down the hill from the house above. He slid to a stop next to the ramp and came running towards us with something in his hand. Turned out to just be a big thermos of coffee and plenty of cups, sugar, and creamer. Super great guy.

[Champ188]

Great story, Flysmallie. There are still a few good folks in the world. You just kinda have to look harder to find em these days.

As far as getting caught out in the weather, Donna and I purposely fish on the bad weather days. There are so many docks on TR that you're rarely far from an empty slip and we've never had anyone complain about us sliding into one. Never had anyone bring us coffee either, but they've probably read my posts on OA about jerseys or Power Poles or cutting the sides off bass or ...

[MOPanfisher]

Off season and bad weather seems to bring out the best in dock owners.  

[GNSfishing]

 

Even if the dock owner would prefer you not pull in, they probably won't venture out of cover to come down and crab about it.  It's a shame that being neighborly and helpful to people is becoming a thing of the past.  I understand to a degree why some owners get upset, but generally I think it's pretty easy to tell when folks are just taking cover and when someone is up to no good. 

For the most part I've found that dock owners won't mind if there is a storm brewing and you pull into an empty stall. Also there are a select few who think's that they own the water that their dock sets in. I told one such person that they were lucky to be allowed to have a dock setting on the public's water and I was not on their dock, just fishing around it. So there are a few bad seeds out there. 

[TableRockBoater]

As a dock owner, I welcome anyone who needs help . . . shelter from a storm, engine problems, needing to bring me a Bud Light . . . .

As a long-time TRL/Branson resident, I can tell you there are a lot of old buttheads who live here.

So, take your chances.

😎

 

 

[Champ188]

1 hour ago, TableRockBoater said:

As a dock owner, I welcome anyone who needs help . . . shelter from a storm, engine problems, needing to bring me a Bud Light . . . .

As a long-time TRL/Branson resident, I can tell you there are a lot of old buttheads who live here.

So, take your chances.

😎

 

 

Thanks for your kindness, TRB. Given there are a fair number of jerks out there who would NOT respect a dock owner's property, I can understand why some would not want boaters taking shelter in their slips. I always stay in my boat and just slide in and out without banging around. 

[fishinwrench]

On 3/30/2016 at 9:57 PM, Paul Nienhaus said:

any port in a storm

 

Yup !

[edwin]

I'm all up for helping out when the weather takes a turn, but we've had tons of things on our dock go missing after folks seek shelter from a storm.  Life jackets, towels, fish finders, rods and reels, cans of gas, and even had people go thru the cooler of our boat and take all the beer.  

As mentioned - tie up, stay in the boat if possible is a good rule of thumb.  Things go south when folks start wandering around looking into folks boats.  

Tight lines,

Edwin

[shark bait]

On 3/30/2016 at 10:26 PM, dtrs5kprs said:

If the nasty stuff is in the forecast I plan to stay close, and will scout for an open slip when I pull into a place to fish. My pecking order is basically resort slips, marina, anything else at need. It can be surprisingly hard to find an open slip in some places.

On a related note, I was going to start a thread about lightning tracker/alert apps. I'm sure a lot of folks have a favorite, or just use local TV apps or weather channel. Just loaded one called "WeatherBug" that is working nicely. Wanted it for fishing as well as sports practices and events. Have had a few chances to test it against Weather Channel and such, and it is more accurate, and quicker to update. 

It is recommended by Little League Baseball. Features a lightning tracker, radar, and basic forecasts. So far nothing annoying, or requiring purchase. Expect it to maximize fishing time, and help keep everyone safe on the FB field. Wife already used it at a track meet last week to know when to bail on the metal bleachers.

I use Weather Bug lightning tracker.  It works well.