So fishing on electric only lakes and can launch without getting my feet wet but getting the boat back on the trailer there is no way to keep my feet dry. between the water levels being low and some ramps have very little incline I have to put the trailer in kind of deep to get the boat back on i. Are there any tips or tricks (by the way I'm using a bow mounted trolling motor).

Thanks

In the summer, wear sandals when loading.  In the colder months, wear boots.  I carry them in my boat, and swap them out only when loading the boat.

I have one electric only lake i fish and when i go there which is not very often i bring a set of waders with me. It’s a joy with a 21’ bass boat. But with the waders i stay dry when its cold.

welcome to my world.  Had to do it last night at a ramp where there isn't a 'ramp' per se.  It is more like an embankment.  And since the lake is pretty flat at the water line and in, there are all kinds of troubles- you can't see the waterline when you start to back up, you lose the back of the boat over the embankment and out of your mirrors, when the back of the truck finally falls off the cliff you can see, but you need to bring the front wheels of the truck over the edge also so there is no fine adjustment in pulling forward or back.  And this ramp also has a left right bias, so I have to back it out to where the rear guides are submerged and hope it floats centered when I start to pull out.  Last night it was fighting me due to 10 mph cross winds.

 

I've found it really comes down to the specific ramp.  I have one ramp that is nice concrete way out into the lake.  Unfortunately it is such a shallow angle with the low water we've had that the front bumper of the truck is 4' from the water line out INTO the water.  Another one has a good incline angle, but it gets washed out with any hard rain so there are ruts all through it and you never know when you'll put a tire in a hole.  For all of them, I've learned how much of my bunks need to be submerged to get the boat to glide up to about 3' from the bow roller.  On the shallow ramp that means fully submerged.  On the 'good' ramp that means about 1' of the front of the bunks.  YMMV.  I want the boat to stop gliding about 3' away as I've found at that point the bunks have enough 'bite' on the bottom of the boat to put it in the right spot as I winch it up.  Back in until they are fully submerged and then pull up to the level you want.

 

Also, I'm in a pickup and young/sprightly.  So before I back in I'll drop the tailgate and open the bed cover most of the way.  I also drop the driver and rear driver windows of the cab.  When I slide the boat up and it stops, I can step down onto the trailer and swing my butt around onto the tailgate.  Crank the boat up and hook it.  Then to get into the truck I swing a leg over the bed onto the top of the tire, next foot goes onto the running board as I'm grabbing the 'oh crap' bar in the rear of the cab.  Then just two shuffle steps along the running board to sit down in the truck and pull out.  In an SUV or in a boat where you can't step down onto the trailer I don't know if you could do this.

 

 

Thanks for all of the replies, I just picked up a pair of muck boots for the spring and fall. Initially I was trying to pick up speed with the trolling motor and then pull it at the last second but that wasn’t working out to well, I would usually end up going onto the trailer sideways or not far enough up and then have to grab the push pole. Now I just push it out with the rope on the bow and pull her in which isn’t to bad depending on cross wind and current of course.

Put a hook on the end of your push pole and use it to hook your winch. Pull self to winch. Clip and exit. Would that work? Would be able to do the reverse to launch.

1 hour ago, VolFan said:

Put a hook on the end of your push pole and use it to hook your winch. Pull self to winch. Clip and exit. Would that work? Would be able to do the reverse to launch.

The only problem how far I have to back the trailer in, I will give it a try and see if I can get far up enough on the trailer to reach the winch.

Yup, boots and a rope. Sandals in the summer.

I just noticed you’re in NJ.  Are you north or south?  Happy to help in person if you’re in the northern/western bit.  

Don’t back up to the point you vehicle exhaust is under water.

Get what you need prepared and ready before and after you launch.

My issue was getting and out of the boat without a dock next to the boat.

Keeping your wench strap out long enough to hook it up when retrieving the boat and a long enough rope to pull the boat onto the trailer to hook up the wench.

Getting  in the water is unavoidable with electric only boats. The trick pulling up the bow mount motor doesn’t work good.

Tom

27 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

I just noticed you’re in NJ.  Are you north or south?  Happy to help in person if you’re in the northern/western bit.  

Central, Middletown. I have it pretty much figured out just wanted to see if if anyone had a better method. 
Thanks for the offer 

I forgot to note one other thing.  You said that trying to run it up would get you on the trailer sideways.  If you’re not already, make sure your gas motor on the back is down and straight.  It works like a rudder.  If it is up and you’re turning the front of the boat and the motor is up, the back end will trail around and next thing you know you’re coming in sideways.  

1 hour ago, bigbearstroop122 said:

Central, Middletown. I have it pretty much figured out just wanted to see if if anyone had a better method. 
Thanks for the offer 

Here's my full-size rig going on the trailer solo.

Early season so no dock - I carry hip waders in the boat.

Also I always trim the motor all the way up going on the trailer. 

A-Jay

@A-Jay - I just did the same thing - I thought I was the only crazy that did things like this (hip waders are a good tool to have) - it was 48 degrees and 20 plus winds with drizzle today - docks have been taken out, and that complicates things/launching/landing - this video is a testament to keeping fit/strong/lean - I am in a few years younger than you yet also from New England (Now in MN) - I encourage everyone to keep fit/strong/lean, keep your agility - then you can get out when others cannot - speaking of that, not sure I can get out tomorrow as winds will be 20 plus with 30 mph gusts - 20 mph or less is ok - once it goes plus 20 mph with plus 30 mph gusts I feel it gets a bit dicey - I believe I am a strong navigator/boat operator yet there are limits where it becomes un-safe or just miserable to be on the water

Hip boots in winter, sandals in summer. Buy a larger size hip boot so you can get them on easily.

Definitely appreciate all of the advice hopefully I will get out Saturday and put it to use. I will definitely try if with the motor trimmed down as I have always had it in the raised position.

thank you all

How deep of water are we talking about?

 

If it's only a foot or so just get a cheap pair of rubber boots to slip on and off.

 

I kayak and that's what I do but I end up fishing in them.

 

Allows me to launch easier and stay dry.

 

 

 

 

On 10/15/2025 at 10:15 PM, casts_by_fly said:

I forgot to note one other thing.  You said that trying to run it up would get you on the trailer sideways.  If you’re not already, make sure your gas motor on the back is down and straight.  It works like a rudder.  If it is up and you’re turning the front of the boat and the motor is up, the back end will trail around and next thing you know you’re coming in sideways.  

Tried it yesterday and keeping the motor down definitely kept me going in a straight line, still had to hop off of the bow and onto the frame but was able to avoid having to use knee high boots. 

Thanks for the advice.

@bigbearstroop122 where did you end up going and how did you do?

 

glad the motor tip helped.  

@A-Jay is that even an access point of did you just load up on the beach?  Its looks like its all sand.

@A-Jay is all over this!

 

My old boat didn't have trailer guides, and was a pain to get centered and loaded. I kept chest waders in my truck...and used them often. It was kind of a pain, but worked. 

37 minutes ago, gim said:

@A-Jay

 is that even an access point of did you just load up on the beach?  Its looks like its all sand.

It is for me !

#madskills

A-Jay

6 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

@bigbearstroop122 where did you end up going and how did you do?

 

glad the motor tip helped.  

Went to Marlu lake and ended up with 4 in 2 1/2 hrs biggest one was about 3#.

I have an AP120 kayak and utilize a trailer. Launching is more difficult than the retrieve because I have to push the kayak off carpeted bunks. That usually means getting a little wet and climbing on the trailer frame.

 

If the ramp has a small slope and the bunks are high off the water I get just about to the back of the trailer to let it in the water gently. I have a bungee dock rope ties to the bow and I'll usually clip that to the dock walkway or a dock cleat.

 

When retrieving, I pull the kayak to the shallows, clip my winch cable. then push the kayak out beyond the trailer and then winch it it.

 

In warmer water I wear some Skecher's slip-ons, but in colder water I wear muck boots.

On 10/16/2025 at 3:42 AM, bigbearstroop122 said:

Definitely appreciate all of the advice hopefully I will get out Saturday and put it to use. I will definitely try if with the motor trimmed down as I have always had it in the raised position.

thank you all

Suggest looking at Overton small boat trailer 2’ bunk guides and 2 step ladder step.

Jumping onto the trailer tongue is a accident waiting to happen!

Tom