My son and I went fishing on the Snohomish today for pinks. Great weather, awful fishing. Saw one roll all day, had no hits. Now for the incident.......

We arrived at the Cady Park launch to take out(by the way...the park is all tore up due to construction, parking is minimal), and a guy was launching a very nice, big, new sled. If you know the launch, it is narrow, steep, and ugly. Well, he dumps the trailer off the side of the ramp and it hooks on the concrete ledge. The tide is coming in....So, some old guy who just happened to be there, holds his boat while I try to help him. No luck, the trailer is wedged tight, so he unhooks it and now tries to get his very nice pickup out.....it has water over the back tires and creeping into the back crew cab seats. I try and pull him out with my jeep, but it won't budge. My son sees another guy standing next to a truck that has a winch. He tells me, so I ask the guy and his answer is "I'm Fish and Wildlife, I can't help you." As a guy's truck is sinking into the river, I ask, "what!!!". He answers, "it is the liability, if I tear off his bumper, we get sued." So, he left. Now a crowd has formed and I get my jeep down there again. With everyone's help and my jeep, we pull the truck out. Another guy went to his house and got a come'a long to help the guy pull his trailer out later at low tide.

This is what is wrong with our society......bureaucratic b.s. like today. I've got news for the fish and wildlife folks......I didn't hesitate to help with my jeep and believe me the wrath of my wife if I hurt her jeep is worse than any legal crap they may have faced. The bottom line.....when people need help, help them. Thanks to all the strangers that pitched in. Good luck to Steve, the truck/boat owner, I hope everything is ok.

Seems that the state then needs to carry waivers of liability in there vehicles that can be signed in order to render aid.

you gotta ask yourself snake, does this suprise you??

I saw the guy as my son and I drifted to the takeout someone in a suv helped pull the truck out but the trailer was off the edge to the right.In .four to five feet of water I told him to wait until I returned and we could winch him out.When I got back he was trying again with his truck to pull his trailer out but was unable to.We winched it out in a couple of minutes he thanked me but while loading my drifter he ran into me but there was no damage.He gave me another thanks and a sorry

I think there is a time to forget about being an "official" and be a human being instead.

I have helped people more than once by either winching them or pulling them out of a tight spot. I do draw the line at changing tires, diapers, or giving them a jump unless there are old or helpless. I give them the cables and let them jump the car themselves. That way they can't sue for saying my oversized alternater screwed up their car...

I remember a friend stopping by a stranded motorsist once. She happened to be a good looking girl all dressed to go to town. She waited expectently for him to change the tire. He asked her " ever changed a tire" and she said "no".

He made her change her own tire in the blazing sun while he instructed. She was dirty and a mess when she was done, but she learned something valuable. lol

Snake & Dan O'......Glad to know there's guys like you out there who'll lend a hand (or a back) and help out a fellow fisherman in a bad situation.

GOOD JOB and THANKS!

Snake......Hope you and your son find the fish your next time out.

Damn lawyers. 95% of them are good for nothing. Didn't you hear about Vegas that the casinos didn't send anyone to terrorism meetings because they were afraid of lawsuit. If they don't go to the meeting they can say we didn't know of any specific info in case something happens. People were making jokes the resorts are more afraid of the lawyers than the terrorists. They are bunch of sharks and you should do your best to stay away from them.

I am sure if the WDFW guy was in his car and not working, he would have helped.

Was it the boat ramp by the lions club. If it was there is signs all over the place saying use at own risk. I would never use that ramp it is so worn away. That is funny though sorry for that guy. I guess he will never use that ramp again.

Should be able to sue the State for the conditions of the unmaintained boat launches. I thought that lil sticker on our windows was to partly fund for repairs.

Come on now, don't you ever need crab bait?

As to whether or not the DFW guy was working, how could you tell?
G

Hey COHO it isnt a state thing it is a town ramp and the town has signs all over the ramp saying use at own risk so they are covering there @$$. Lawsuit wouldnt stand up in court because of that fact. The town refuses to fix it. I actually heard about them making it into a park because of the walkway up the snohomish behind the mexican restaurant so it may not be there much longer

It's the launch at Cady Park on Maple Street. Yes, there are signs about risk while launching at "low tide".

The WDFW guy was working....holding a clipboard.

Hey snake PM me I have caught quite a few but they are real small I can tell you where they are. That construction you see is for the snohomish river walkway. They are keeping there material there. I heard they are taking the boat ramp out and putting a riverside Park

I can uderstand your frustration and I would not hesitate to help personally, but the WDFW guy I am sure has policies that he must follow or risk losing his job. Many agencies and private companies as well have rules that prohibit using company resourses to help unless there is an immidiate risk to human life. It is a shame our society has come to this, but you can't hardly help a person with out running the risk of them suing you if it doesn't turn out better than when you showed up.

My guess is that that is not WDFW policy, but rather a lazy employee

Did you see his nameplate or license number?
I'm sure the bosses would love to hear from you about their quality employees.
Not that it would change anything. But file a formal complaint anyway!

I guess I should tell the fish and game guy that I can't let him on, or beside, my boat due to liability, when he wants to board to check my gear for barbs or WMD.

I liked the idea of a release form.
We bought that damn truck and winch and pay for the fuel, his salary and benefits!

Thanks for helping that guy. I wish we all helped each other like that (I guess I'm just an idealist.... )

OK now that's just funny I don't care who you are

I plan on using that line next time I am checked.

LOL. Some of you are off mark. Yes, I'm pretty much 99.9% sure they have policies on that. Especially for the reasons stated. This world sucks nowadays, but doubt that a "release" form would even work (since someone could say they were coerced into signing because of circumstances). I know we have strict policies at UPS about hooking up and using our vehicles for ONLY delivering. We can't even give a stranded/injured person a ride to nearest safe place without being fired. Now, before anyone wants to jump up and say "I don't care, I'll just do it", try being in the position of losing your livelihood. I've been there. I simply called for help, and waited with person until the authorities showed. But couldn't even let them hang out in my truck. 16 years of service isn't worth tossing out the door (and yes, people have been fired for it). And, though it may have been paid for by EVERYONE in this state (isn't only funded by sportsman), doesn't mean we get access to use and/or abuse it. Doesn't mean if we break down on the road, I can wave on a County vehicle and demand a ride, though my taxes paid for it. The winch in question is usually a package they buy with the vehicle (had similar package on an old dept. of forestry blazer I owned years ago). Came standard by the documents I had. But I'd assume the winch is for them if THEY have problems. Just because someone launched and got in trouble (by what I assume was a bad call and a bad launch) doesn't mean that the tax dollar funded people nearby have to drop and pull them out. What a wrecking service is for. Sorry to sound cold about this, but I've been on the "other side" of this equation. In my personal vehicle, I've went out of my way to pull people out of ditches and to tow them to gas stations (have tow strap and all sorts of gear in my blazer at all times). But when it comes to work, it's all business.