This big hole at the end of the ramp is going to become a nagging problem and may make the property manager do away with us using big motors on the lake. I would hate to see that. I wish that everyone could power their boats onto their trailers like I do. I back my trailer in far enough (when the waters up and my trailer tires don't drop into that hole) so that I can run my boat up onto the trailer without having to stop before it hits the trailer's stop thing. That way I don't have to use much thrust to power up the trailer. But then there are times when I misjudge the trailer and have to back up because I get the boat on crooked and it's leaning to one side. That I hate doing. But my trailer allows me to get on easily. Other boats don't have that luxury.

I have watched a lot of guys running their boats up onto their trailer so that they could get the wench rope to latch onto the front hook on their boats.

Maybe if they (IDNR) drop some big rip rap into that hole at the end of the ramp it would help. Either than or add some length to the ramps by lower the water levels some more to where they can add another leg of concrete at the end of the ramp. That way even if the water levels get low as they are now there will still be more ramp to play with. I doubt that they will have the money to do that. So it's just a wish on my part.

We did get some rain these last two weeks so maybe that will start raising the water levels.

I don't have four wheel drive and I worry a lot about getting stuck on the ramps. I already got stuck once at the South End of Blue grass on that slick concrete ramp. Otter pit's ramp is slick also. From time to time I will go over there and sweep off the algae with a big broom. I bought that stiff broom just for that purpose. When the algae gets growing the ramp is quite dangerous to walk on. I have seen a lot of the older fishermen trying to launch boats and falling on the slick concrete.

If you have ever launched at Lynville Park's ramp you know what slick as Snot is all about. That ramp is very slippery.

My little truck doesn't have the weight in the back end when the boat comes off so I have a lot more trouble pulling up off the ramp after launching the boat. With the boat on the trailer it's much easier for me to pull out.

One trick that I could use before calling for a tow truck if I get stuck again is to let some air out of the rear tire to give it more traction. I have an air pump with me and a DC/AC 100 Watt Converter that will allow me to run a AC air Compressor.

What I need to carry with me is a "come-along" That way a guy could pull their truck out if they get into the slick algae. I also figured out that I can throw some small rocks onto the ramp by my back tires and that gives me the traction I need to get going and pull the trailer out of the water.

Once I got stuck so bad that the truck kept going farther back into the water with each try to get out. I ended up having to stop the truck, put the parking brake on and asking for help to get pulled out that day. It's been a concern of mine ever since that day. I was lucky that someone was there or I would have been stuck with my truck and empty trailer blocking the ramp for a while. I keep a good thick tow belt in the truck these days just in case I need someone to pull me out again.

I'll bet that I am not the only one that wishes the ramps were not so slippery.

Thanks for the fishing report. Last time I fished Otter pit the surface water temps were in the 90's. These cool nights have been dropping the water temps. That's good. It will put more dissolved oxygen into the surface waters. I like the fishing when the water temps get into the 50's. The fish seem to come alive and bite good when the water cools down.




Quote Originally Posted by bassmanic1 View Post
Moose ,
You are right about the ramps , my trailer dropped off the end of Otter pits ramp and I had to power break my truck in low to get it out . I had to get the boat off the trailer by hand and stepped into the hole , sank up to my chest . The hole is 2-4 ft deep and your tire will drop off into it so be careful ! As for the fishing , the crappie were small { 6" } but caught 7-8 in a couple of hours at the beaver lodge in the cove across from the ramp . Some small bluegill and a 12" bass from the area in front of the drain under the road . The wind was very bad in the afternoon so I called it a day . Have been on vacation this week and fished as much as possible , seems the smaller bass { 12" - 16" } are feeding more and had a 2lb plus crappie break my line on a private lake Wed. Caught 2 more - one was 13" , the other was 14" . Several nice pound gill also on minnows . Crappie were in some wood ranging from 6" - 4' with most 2 foot range . Water temp was 81 dg , wind out of the north { oh well } , sunny skys . The wood in the water was also in the shade until 11:00 AM . Water temp at Otter Pit was 77 dg at most spots , water clarity is what I would cal " stained " . The pit is down but so is most every lake I have fished this month .