I read this post a few days ago and had to close down the computer and think on it for a second as it was pretty baffling that someone would actually write this on here. My conclusion was the same as most every one elses: both parties are wrong, and the "friend's" action was criminal. I doubt this even really happened. And, if it did, I really, really, really hope that pleasure boater finds you and your friend, takes his remaining winch strap and wraps it around....

The amount of damage that could have been caused, or may have caused, is certainly a lot more than a plastic boober is worth. It seems more jerky to me to not even consider that others could be harmed and/or killed by your action and the only thing that got hurt by the jerk's action was your pride and a some monofiliment. The one thing that would make this story half way interesting is if you found yourself driving behind that guy's trailer when his boat slipped off at 55mph. That would be an eye for an eye - tit for tat. Cutting a winch strap for a plastic boober, 10 feet of line, and a hook, is more like a head for a toenail. Just plain wrong.
Finally, if you and your buddy were just so overwhelmed that this guy was a jerk (btw ever been to a lake in KY - there are more jerks than bass) why didn't you wait for them to come back in and have words with them? Or as has been suggested leave a nasty note. Even a note suggesting that you knew what he drove and he's lucky that you didn't... etc., etc. may have at least prevented him from being a jerk the next time he's out. Most jerks are such royal jerks they don't even know that they are jerks until someone points it out to them and sheds light on to what exactly makes that person an a-hole. Funny thing is he probably knew right away that it was you knuckleheads when he got back to the dock and now he's got a grudge and will be buzzin' every line and bank fisherman he sees for the rest of his life. That's how jerks roll.