Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

The following is a no S#!t story of the absolute worst storm I have ever experienced while fishing.
Bear with me , I’m trying to set the stage here

About 34 years ago I was stationed in north eastern Arkansas
I had assembled a pretty decent 12 ft John boat with a 6 horse evinrude that ran like a top and a 26 pound thrust minn Kota up front.
This boat put me on more fish than my new Lund bass boat.
Took that thing everywhere.

Well one day I was out with my buddy Brian who I went to basic training with like 5 years before
We weee on a corps of engineers built impoundment about 3000 acres of flooded cypress forest and lowlands.

We had caught a few early, but it was so hot , the fish just wouldn’t chase a moving bait .
So we went back overt the long stretch of cypress and lay downs with mixed grass pocketswe had just fished. . Dead calm

Tied on T rigged 6 inch black Mann’s Jelly worms ( still love em) and flipped all structure we came upon. Really worked it.
Started getting bit. Had a few keepers then my buddy brought my attention to the western sky

We talked about leaving but I made a command decision. 15 more minutes.

One of the top 3 bad decisions of my life and the only one that didn’t involve her having my last name.

That storm moved faster than I could ever have imagined.
It didn’t start light then intensify . It immediately started pouring the likes I’d never seen. Ever .
Wind picked up wicked.
Here we are in a 12 ft John boat 2 1/2 miles from the ramp
We were headed in and I couldn’t see any landmarks my guess should be 100 yards away
My buddy is using the battery lid to frantically bail water .
I remember I had a cheapi compass in my box. Pulled it out and sure enough we got turned around.
Pointed the boat the way we needed to go and hoping to hell the compass wasn’t lying to me.

Buddy was praying out loud and I was praying in my head.

We finally caught a glimpse of the ramp after almost passing it.
Beached the boat and just sat there for a minute trying to get the trembling down.

There were others at the ramp. Some almost loaded , some not.

Women and kids crying , people scrambling to move their trucks closer

The most scared I’ve ever been and I’ve seen some wild S#!t

Heard on radio after it died down we had a tornado 10 miles to the west and missed us by a mile and a half
3.25 inches of rain in an hour.

Buddy always seemed to have something going on every time I wanted to go fishing.
Huuuuh . Wonder why

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Yeah, really. The stuff we live through and could easily have not. Thank You Lord for not only saving my soul but for all the times You've spared my life. Amen.

Blackdog Loc: Round Rock, TX

Daaaaang Ben!!!!
I'm nearly 60+ now and I've been in one or two of those. Gives me goose bumps to read about ya. Jumped from a plane one Time and bottomed out into one those. Makes one wonder why we survived. I reckon we still have work to do. Either that or we are justt darn lucky. (LOL) in any case, experience counts. Thanks for a good story my friend.

BD

Sinker Rig Loc: Tampa area

So....the lord saved your soul and your life...tell me how that works.....I'm agnostic

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

What a story. I've in similar situations. Scary ain't it.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Yes sir.
It’s a wonder anyone lives to 30.
I think twice about when it’s time to call it .
Still have been out when I really shouldn’t have been as early as this year. Still pulled the plug early.
Couple times this year with just plain crappy weather on a trip 4 hours away. And a couple times when there were just way too many pleasure boats on the lake.

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Blindman Loc: Wisconsin

I was just talking to a friend about starting to act my age now.... Just saying.

Mike

Foodfisher Loc: SO. Cal coast

Looked it up. If you've got a better explaination as to why, I'm all ears.

Sinker Rig Loc: Tampa area

I have no explanation

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Woah. We went there. …
Hmmmmm. Never intended that to happen.

Sinker Rig Loc: Tampa area

My bad

Ben Bragg Loc: Dayton Ohio

Still love ya sinker

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Well if you have put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior then your soul will be saved. And all the things we've lived through and probly shouldn't have , then the Lord has spared your life. There's no other explanation for some of us bein here today. I'm SURE I'm not the only one on here that feels that way. Only reason I'm here today is because God has said it wasn't my time to go yet. Thank You Lord. Amen.

Jeremy Loc: America

Scary stuff. I had a boat ride once that was similar but it ended well and yes I shook like a Harley Davidson for awhile once I was on land.