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The boat ramp is where legends are made—and where reputations are destroyed. If you don’t want to be “that guy” holding up the line while everyone silently judges you, follow these simple rules.

The ramp is not the place to load your gear, unhook your straps, or debate which snacks to bring. Do all of this in the staging area so when it’s your turn, you’re in and out like a pro.

If it takes you 17 attempts to straighten out, expect some head shakes from seasoned anglers. Practice in an empty parking lot before you hit the real deal.

Once your boat is floating, move it to the dock or beach area so the next person can launch. Boat ramps are not social hour—get in, get out, and chat later.

Nothing screams rookie like launching your boat, only to have it drift away while you’re still fumbling with your truck. Have a rope ready or a buddy holding the line.

When loading your boat back onto the trailer, positioning is everything. If your trailer is too shallow, you'll struggle to get the boat on, and you’ll have to winch it up like you're in a strongman competition. If it’s too deep, the boat will float around like a lost puppy, making it harder to center on the bunks.

The trick? Back the trailer in just enough so the tops of the fenders are slightly above or just at the waterline (this varies depending on trailer design). This gives the boat enough support to guide itself onto the bunks while still allowing you to drive it up smoothly.

Once you're lined up, ease the throttle forward until the boat settles onto the trailer. If you're solo, use the winch to pull it up snug—don’t gun the throttle like you’re launching into orbit. Then, secure the bow, pull up the ramp, and finish strapping everything down in the parking lot.

Do this right, and you’ll avoid ramp rage, weird looks, and unnecessary frustration. Plus, you’ll look like a seasoned angler who knows their way around a boat ramp.

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Because you never catch just one perch at a time, here’s a quick tutorial on how to get through all those fillets (eta 30 seconds per fillet):