ice on ramps

[kc]

I know everyone is wishing instead of fishing this week but I have burning question for all of you cold-weather fishermen. How are you guys dealing with ice on the ramps when the temperatures are below freezing? I have fished some pretty cold days and have run into ice several times where boats pull out and drip up the ramp and then it freezes. If you guys are fishing on days in the teens and twenties that's got to be happening. What do you do? 4-wheel drive? Bag(s) of salt? Wish and a prayer? I would hate to drive all of the way to Dale or Cumberland and run into a frozen ramp.

kc

[floatman]

cat litter

[artcarney_agr]

I've dealt with frozen ramps many times when duck hunting. If I know there's going to be ice on the ramp I'll take some salt with me (not real salt, but the environmentally friendly stuff, a.k.a. "Ice Melt"). A lot of times, if the ice is just at the water's edge, I can get by without the ice melt by just backing the truck as far into the water as possible to get a running start up the ramp.

Probably the funniest I've ever done was use the boat as a bobsled down the ramp. There was probably an inch or two of snow on the ramp. So, my buddy and I just unloaded the boat onto the ground (jonboat of course). We then started pushing it down the ramp and then once it got going we jumped in! It was a good 150 - 200 ft ride, and we got moving along pretty good! Once we hit the water, the nose took a little bit of a dive/submarined under water but popped back up quickly. We then fired up the motor and away we went! We didn't shoot all that many ducks, but it was fun! When we got back we just used a long rope, hooked it up to the truck, and then drug it back up the ramp!

[artcarney_agr]

If there's a will there's a way!

[bevo]

As a duck hunter icing ramps are the norm, but they can be avoided if everyone would take 15 seconds to let their trailer drain back into the river or lake instead of just pulling all the way out.

LET IT DRAIN then pull out the rest of the way ...

[CTFSHWHISKER]

ice melter and i carry a pointed shovel to break it loose too.

[steve604]

Art, I find that where there is a will there is usually a dead guy! Bob sled boating?!! yeeee haaaa!

Steve

[steve604]

Art, I find that where there is a will there is usually a dead guy! Bobsled boating?!! yeeee haaaa!

Steve

Sorry for the double post.

[Cobra190]

Ice on the ramp!! No problem, I'm a diabetic, coffee drinker. Have yet to find a ramp I couldn't melt down, and always at the ready.

[trentonc2000]

fortunately, i haven't found a ramp that 4wd can't handle. I have seen trailer brakes freeze up though. btw, i also drink a lot of coffee.

[crazyfishinnut]

I have found that even on wet ramps if you put your truck in neutral it wont slide and if you sprinkle a little ice melt sorry guys I use salt too on the ramp as you are putting in they are usally ok when you pull out i have seen guys slide backwards all the way down the narows ramp on barren. all the had to do is take it out of gear
tight lines

[SSKY]

Just a thought, If we could get enough fishermen to donate some money on the ramps of their choice that are now out of the water, to have enough funds to extend the ramps down to 660, where the power plant will not work, and those that donate for the concrete will be free from paying a launch fee forever, (we could still charge the runabouts and ocean boats that will not contribute),would you say that is a petition worth being started? in the various places on the corps ramps or not. I would think the technology is very simple to do that sort of pouring a driveway with a good gravel base and those that made the concrete for the bridge for highway 90 seem to be close. i would think it would happen faster that way then waiting on contracts form the politcos. If they would let us do it. I have doubts that they would let us do it but what is your opinion?