IDLE SPEED MEANS IDLE SPEED

[RatherBFishing]

Well, if finally happened.  I was on my local lake today for some early morning fishing.  It was 19 degrees heading for a high of 38.  I'm not sure why I was on the lake since it seems all I did was clear ice from my guide, but hey.  The lake is 650 acres and allows large motors as a courtesy, but clearly states IDLE SPEED ONLY all over the place.  Sadly, guys go by half on plane all the dang time.

With it so cold was having a heck of a time throwing my sliver buddies, and got a monster rat's nest.  Took of my light weight gloves and was working to clear it.  I finally  had to take off the side cover and take out the spool and cut away some line.  I was about to tie a blood knot (not easy when you can't feel your  hands!!) when an IDIOT ran by doing a good 20 MPH.  The wake rocked my tracker big time and "plop" spool in the water .  It was a decent reel (quantum $69) but not super expensive.  I cleaned up my gear, found the offending idiot, informed him of his idiot status  and my loss and we're all square.  Sadly, he was clueless on idle speed.  He just figured he could go anything but on plane. 

The point of my rant (sorry to do so gents) is to hopefully help some good guy who truly is just starting to boat to understand that "idle speed" is just like "no wake". 

I'll be heading to Gander Mountain on Monday to pick up a new reel, but I sure did like my old one.

[Ron Fogelson]

Man thats some bad luck on the water, sorry to hear you lost the spool 

[RatherBFishing]

Thanks Fogy.  Spool really didn't mean much in the big picture, I'm just glad I didn't go in the drink.  The lake is only about 50 yards wide at that point, so when a guy goes past at that speed, you've got maybe 10 seconds before the wake hits you.  If I had a big Ranger or Skeeter, it probablly wouldn't have done much, but my Trakcer 175 is a little on the light side......

Got skunked that day too!!!  Headed out next weekend to see if the stable weather has unlocked their jaws.