Great Lakes Forum - A Very Bad Iceout Trip

You know how some things can get really messed up when you get the ITCH in the springtime to go open water fishing?Well it definately did this day,9 years ago.

My neighbor Ron,and I decided to go out for some early iceout crappies to Lake Minnetonka.This day seemed no different from all our other outings that we have done over the years.

After getting the boat loaded on the car with the sponge holders,holding it to the roof,while tying the rope to the bumper,my hand slipped and caught the bumper on the sharpest corner in the world.With my finger almost sliced open to the bone,I rushed inside the house to bandage it up.No problem....

Finally we are on our way.Klunnnnk.Wrong! The balljoints broke on our way.We sat on the side of the freeway for 2 1/2 hours waiting for the wrecker to show up.Weird since the wrecker was only 3 blocks from where we were stranded?!My wife came and got us and dropped us off back at home.1 hour later,the shop called and said Ron's car was ready.Finally on our way.

We arrive on the lake only to find the 101 bridge is completely covered with ice.No going out there,so we went to the NE corner access on Wayzata Bay.We unloaded.We parked,jumped in the boat and proceeded on our way to our favorite spots.I noticed there was a bit of a chop on the lake that day,but like so many other trips,I thought nothing of it.

Now I have a 12 foot duck boat equipped with a measly 4 horse Johnson,and a locator,oars,and we had our lifejackets strapped to the boat seats.

We are cruising along in the middle of Wayzata Bay,when all of a sudden the boat hits a big wave from the main lake,no problem...The boat breaks through that wave,but the next one was even bigger!That wave hit us so hard it knocked Ron out of his boat seat,causing him to land backwards on the boat floor,on my side of the boat.The boat tipped,we rolled out,and the boat kept going.OH NO!!!

NO KILL SWITCH ON THE MOTOR!!!

We tried swimming after the boat to no avail.We could not catch it.The boat took on some water and made a slight angle away from us.

When you get dropped in frigid cold water,it takes your breath away.I hear most people drown when they gasp at the shock of the cold?!
So....here we are 4-500 yards from the south shoreline,and 5-600 yards from the north shoreline.We were treading water for about 20 seconds trying to figure out what shoreline we were going to try for.By now,Ron's skin around his eyes were turning a slight blue from the cold.My fingernails were turning blue too.The goosedown jacket I was wearing added an extra 80 pounds to me causing me to struggle to swim.I took my jacket off,losing it to Lake Minnetonkas depths.

While we were trying to get our plan going,I noticed a floating cushion about 15 yards from me.I swam for it and grabbed it.There was'nt another one.I gave it to Ron.He is 10 years older than me.Ron immediately told me to raise up my arms?? I thought,this guys mind must really be going...because he kept repeating it over and over...

Hyperthermia causes people to start acting irrational.I knew this from reading it somewhere.

I thought his mind must be going.He finally pointed behind me.I turned around and was shocked to see a bass boat coming fast right at me.I raised up my arms,waiving them at them hoping they would'nt run me over.They immediately stopped within yards of me.Someone testing their brand new Cajun Bass Boat from Minnetonka Boat Works saw my boat with noone in it.

I looked up and saw a yellow lab sniffing at me.Behind the dog was a beautiful blonde and her man behind the boats console.I reached for the boat rail.I struggled to hold on.The guy ran and grabbed a hold of me, yanking me in like a rag doll.I started shivering.Ron was too struggling at that point to get to the boat.He grabbed the rail.He had these black rubber boots on and he pulled one off and threw it in the boat.He grabbed the other one off his other foot and he lost grip of it.It immediately started sinking.He dove for that damn boot!He once again struggled.I had to reach over and grab his hand.The guy helped me yank Ron out of the water.

We chased down my boat and grabbed it.They towed our boat back to shore where we launched.We thanked them and they left.I was grateful for their towing us back.I bailed out the water the boat took on when we tipped.Ron took all our gear out of the boat.We walked over to the car,and there on the windshield is a damn parking ticket! Go figure!

We should of known something bad was gonna happen when the day starts out so crappy! I think twice now,when circumstances happen in my everyday life.That day was a close call to death.Neither Ron,nor I,was wearing a lifejacket that cold spring day.

We never knew our heroes names and I often think of them.Thank You!

Ron is now deceased.He died of small cell cancer a year ago,this past September.He was my best friend and my fishing partner.I miss the time we spent together...... !!!

To Ron....!

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