boat sank today

[benelli_dude2002]

I stopped and checked out the results of the walleye tournement held out of Warroad today. A guy I work with was in it so I thought I'd see how he did. I think he said he placed like 20th. He did however go on to tell me that a bank sank out there not too far from him. I think he said they were downrigging and a one of the weights grabbed bottom and pulled the one side of the boat down somewhat and then the wind did the rest and blew the boat over. He said it was a 20 ft boat and it only took like a minute and a half to sink out of sight. He ended up pulling out one guy but I dont think no one was hurt. He said they had their lifejackets on. I often heard that lifejackets dont work unless you wear them. My friend said he was a little tense for awhile after it happened because I guess it could've been a lot worse. One weighed over 11 lbs and it looked like they had a good turnout. They had a pretty good "walleye chop" out there. Be safe on the water and good luck fishing! Brian

[Hines R]

Thanks for the post about the boat! It's kind of serving as a reminder for me to be more careful, and to take being prepared more seriously. I've seen Kaz mention a couple of times that he's always ready with a pair of sidecutters. I'm now going to make sure I get one in the boat, but also make sure it's always out on the floor in back when we're running the downrigger's. <P>I've got full insurance but I'd rather not end up using it. Especially, with a boat sinking. This could have been horrible especially if they hadn't been fishing with a crowd.<P>Ryan

[benelli_dude2002]

The story on the boat was way off. Sorry about that but I did talk to the guy I work with and he pulled one of the guys in his boat. He went and seen them later that day and they just took in too much water was all from the back and then it drowned out the one outboard and down she went. They were gonna try and put some tractor inner tubes and float it up. But havent heard if they got it out yet. Good luck fishing! Brian<BR>

[Eastwind]

Instead of carrying side cutters, why wouldn't you just put your downriggers in to free-spool like you do when you are letting a ball down if you snaggged the bottom? Most of them also have a drag that can be set so that a ball snagging on the bottom would not cause damage.

[Hines R]

Eastwind definitely has a point!<P>I guess I've just always heard that you should have a pair ready just in case and never really thought about the option of just letting out some wire. I suppose if you just released the wire to take tension off, and then reeled back you should be able to at least try to work it free from the other side. <P>I would imagine that things tend to happen really fast though. I've got a couple of pliers for taking hooks out of fish, and they both have cutter's. If I couldn't get it loose or it was going to go into the engine I would need to be ready to cut it though.<P>Ryan

[cashcrews]

Don't know if this is already "common knowledge" among downrigger fishermen, but I always use edger/trimmer line to attach my downrigger balls to the cables. Same theory as using lighter line on your leader than what you've got on the spool. The trimmer line will break if you get a ball super-jammed, but you'll get most of your terminal gear back.<P>Cashcrews

[sledhead]

The boat is now sitting at lake of the woods marina.

[bajafisher]

What kind of boat was it?

[sledhead]

From what my grandfather has told me, it was a 21 ft bayliner twin engine boat. his neighbor up there told him. The neighbors kid owns the marina. That all I know about it. If i'm wrong, well all I've heard is what I just said. sure hope to get up there ove labor day weekend and catch the eye's.