How to run rough water with Gerald Swindle

2016 Angler of the Year Gerald Swindle demonstrates multiple strategies for driving a bass boat in rough water safely.
Follow Gerald Swindle here:
Facebook - / geraldswindle.gman
Instagram - / geraldswindle
Twitter - / geraldswindle
KZbin - / geraldgmanswindle
Check out Bassmaster for more: www.bassmaster...
Follow Bassmaster here:
Facebook: / bass
Twitter: / bassmaster
Instagram: / bass_nation

[@offgridwhitetails8768]

I show all my guys this video before they ever get in one of our boats. Gerald explained this perfectly.

[@chuckcregger8527]

Gerald that really came across as a guy who has been there. No stammering looking for words it came off your tongue like its been rehearsed thousands of times in your mind. Thanks for the tips I think I'll be drier in the future.

[@scottlandb6579]

Videos like these should be done far more often. I’ve been a co-angler on a lot of boats where my boaters could afford very big boats that they had no business running.

[@cochrankoi]

I'll try to watch this again tomorrow when I am sober

[@BIG_FETUS]

Same

[@KemDog]

Swindle is the man. It seems like he really wants to help people here.

[@nashrussell2215]

You all probably dont give a damn but does someone know a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the password. I would appreciate any help you can offer me

[@jamietitus6220]

@Nash Russell Instablaster ;)

[@nashrussell2215]

@Jamie Titus I really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and I'm in the hacking process atm. Seems to take a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@boatingforbeginners7949]

Spot on ! you cant beat experience for advice, Thanks for sharing buddy and greeting from Greece

[@lvsickboy9155]

Try a 20.5' nitro z8 at Calville Bay Nevada. I just pulled out of a deep cove after spending the night with my wife, catfishing, wind came up a bit at night but was only due to get up to 17mph at night and Sunday morning heading out 12mph by 10:30. I figured we'd be into bass way earlier than that and would be gone by ten. After a couple coves of work and a couple bass, daddy had to hit up the floating potty. That cove was a deep one as well so water was pretty calm. Some little white caps before getting back in there but it was only 8am. After hopping back on the boat I told the wife it was time to go. She didn't understand why we had to leave so early but I had a feeling. Once we broke back out of the cove, those little white caps were 2ft swells and the wind was blowing the tops off. I knew that wasn't even the main channel we had to hit before heading back to Calville. When we got out into the big body of water heading all the way from the narrows to Boulder city, it was literally an OCEAN. We didn't have our life vests on, and I knew there was no way either one of us could get out of our seats. I told the wife to hold on and told myself to stay calm. I have been running all kinds of boats since I was a kid on that lake. Handled very close to the same water in a 13' Valco with a couple guys over 330# and my dad myself about 360# between the two of us at the time. Every two ft forwards was a foot back. It had a deeper V hull. Bass boat doesn't. If you make it back to tell the story as I am now, you/myself did exactly what was needed to survive. We caught air about 4 or 5 times and came down hard. Other times I was able to slow it up at the right moment to bring the motor down on the other side of the wave. Some sets of waves were closer than others. And there was no run long enough to cruise down the valley of it. Weather reports are key. Had it not been for it being my dad's five year death anniversary and wanting to be where him and I were the closest, I wouldn't have made it a point to go. I don't like water anything over ten mph. My rule of thumb. So even if they're wrong it is more doable. I looked this video up because I'm glad to be alive. Just get tired of everyone saying they've experienced the same thing or worse. If you told me your story I would just say, "I'm glad you made it." Thanks for the video!!!

[@williamtennill6744]

As many years as I have bass fished I’m glad to see a video on it ..I agree keeping my nose up..I tend to wanna run or forced to at Kentucky lake north south with the winds ..I always stay under mid 40s on big water I. General let a lot when bad down half that way. It’s smart and good advice on walking it ..I gotta get better at it myself , I don’t have a hot foot anymore , love some things about that and long trips but don’t like it rough water ..I’d rather have the hot foot all day in rough water . Ima look into one those switches where I can use both !! I know there expensive ..a leash is important and all the safety stuff! I fish a lot cold water in the winter and a spare change of clothes and a towel i hear more say they don’t have then do..I fell in u def 45 degree water on a frosty day and it may saved me being a good right from any dock ..be safe guys and listen to G-man

[@bronysonicproductions0739]

Mr. Swindle seems like an outstanding person. I love his honest assessments and his ability to communicate clearly. I don't own a bass boat, but a "multi species" boat. It's a nice V Hull aluminum 16 foot Crestliner Super Hawk from 2004 with a 60 Hp Honda. It's been great to me, even though I was new to boating four years ago when I purchased it used and have really run and dinged the heck out of it trying to learn the basics of loading/unloading, trolling, etc. My greatest fear as an inexperienced boater is wind, especially when I'm fishing up in Wyoming where gusts can commonly ambush you in the 60 to 70 mph range. So this video is really helpful. In my inexperience, though, I'm not sure of some of the vocabulary Mr. Swindle uses. What, for instance, is a "hot foot," and what is a "jack plate"? I can look them up, of course, but I'd rather hear from some of the experienced boaters, plus any other tips for not just how to navigate across the water, but how to fish it in high winds, especially trolling. Great video and thanks!

[@anthonydouglas749]

wish I had seen this before I speared three waves this past weekend. "Jesus take the wheel" isn't really the strategy I want to use anymore. Thanks, SIr

[@2WheelsdownN]

😂😂😂😂😂this made me crack up man because I have small boat and tend to like the sketchy situation really gets me going but wish I was told tips and not have to learn the hard way

[@LivingstonFishing]

Bada$$ explanation on how to ride in rough water 💪🏼👍🏼

[@robertramirez908]

Life jacket And KILL switch on every time the big motor is running folks, Please. Can't express that enough

[@BBBYpsi]

I was going 30 MPH in my 16.5 foot boat in 3-5 footers on lake Erie going back in. Handled it without a problem. Then again that is why I got a StabiCraft

[@2stage90]

I have a 14' F7 with a 9.5 Johnson. I know you got every bell and whistle but this was a really nice vid and showing what you mean.

[@HVASEA]

Well said...Spot on.

[@BassGeek]

Good info. Gman is the man.

[@jimharney1859]

Good job G Man

[@TBrownRecords]

You made a good video

[@knowsheet4506]

G man Rocks

[@markc3986]

It’s best to angle into the wind and waves and not go directly into it. Even cut back and forth if u have to like a sailboat would. Take ur time and do not go direct into or with the wind for dryness and control. This is the consensus around the Great Lakes for high wind/waves anyway

[@marvinmanson7923]

Thank you... Great advice....

[@tyrel7185]

Going to install 2 Hot Foots in my 30’ cabin cruiser now.

[@roballen3026]

great video

[@StrikeCityDMV]

great tips.. Gman..

[@xxxWyliExx]

Awesome information thanks!

[@garrisonwalker6946]

2:57 best sound

[@justinneill5003]

All sounds good but I was always taught to trim down in rough water to keep the bow down and let it cut through the waves with the length of the “deep V” hull. Otherwise if there is less of the hull sitting in the water it is going to get tossed around on the waves. That was regardless of upwind I’d downwind. But that being said, they also taught me to stay on low throttle, just enough to make headway over the face of the waves and power off as you slide down the back, always aiming for a 45 degree angle. I guess they were teaching me what to do in really rough water and big waves, maybe in a medium chop this method here is better. I was told to avoid getting broadsides by big wa bed at all costs, for obvious reasons, so I avoid running the troughs unless the waves are moderate.

[@ticklebrown1028]

I agree, but thats for deep Vs, this guy has a plane boat, which goes on top of waves instead of through. Makes for 2 different driving methods.

[@bobbyswain7049]

Good stuff G

[@mrwwh9174]

Thanks for the good advice.

[@2WheelsdownN]

So what i got was better to ram the waves with trim up more safe if you ride with the waves keep trim up? But if you ride the waves, try to ride in between them no yo fast but with them.

[@jimquantic]

Another thing, in the chop--fresh or salt, is, "what do you do WHEN, not IF, WHEN you lose the main?". Do you boaters know? You should--and it is seldom mentioned, which is why it is often panic city when it happens.

[@jaybeeyay]

Mr Swindle. Great tutorial. I like your presenting style. No hype. I have a 4.2 metre (14 foot) aluminium hull runabout with a 40hp. We often use a waterway that is narrow (about a mile across) and open to the sea at the northern end. It is a popular spot and so we get lots of wake from the boats, swell and waves from the winds. In a boat this size, is it safe to get the boat onto the plane and run over the top of the waves/chop or should we follow your advice here and back off the throttle and trim the bow up? Also, when running into a strong wind on a small boat like this, I often fear the wind will get under the front of the boat and try to flip it. Is this an unfounded fear? Thanks for your reply! Safe boating.

[@stevebenson3024]

Great advice going into the wind now show what your going to do when you got to go back to the dock with 4 ft. Waves and the wind to your back. Go to lake Erie for a week or two. You'll get a new meaning of riding the waves.

[@SCVM__]

???? 3:40

[@boogienow]

Totally agree with you on your comment. Bet he won't be saying "I could do dis ahll dahy long"

[@strikeforcek9149]

When that happens, you have to tack back and forth, left and right, to get in.. Ie- if you're out in the lake a couple miles and you need to go south to get to your dock, you would then start riding the trough following it east, then zig back and ride the trough going west. Keep doing that until you're where you need to be, because as you're riding the trough you're making headway south. Even though you're going more easterly or westerly, you're still moving in south too. The only hard part of this is turning to go back the opposite direction (when you have to turn into the wave and slide up it and then drift down the back of it to get back in the trough going the opposite way).

[@2WheelsdownN]

& i remeber being told to hit waves at an angle to lessen the impact when you land

[@BigWater59]

Sometimes with a big boat you can run on top of that chop and not feel a thing.

[@adventuresofwillandshelby6013]

Facts! My 43’ SeaVee will take that chop and spite it by cruising 65 mph smoothly, and my drunk uncle Larry would still be standing when we got to the sand bar😂

[@rebelroy11]

My issue in really rough water with a hot foot is not being able to control the throttle. Sometimes the power of the water causes me to move and unintentionally let off or feed throttle.

[@mrmidnight32]

James Keen that's probably cause you open ocean fish. This is lake "rough water". Their "rough water" is like a normal day for us

[@anthonylamarca4095]

That lake gets much rougher than that especially for a 20-21 ft bass boat. Different world in open water with a boat that is made to handle it.

[@andywilliamson7846]

I hear what you are saying. You might want to consider using the Hot Foot Pro. From some photos I have seen, it appears that the pull back bracket extends a little farther past center and is slightly wider and is not tapered like the original Hot Foot. I like mine. Contact T-H Marine for exact measurements. This might give you a little more control. Keep your foot in the "slot" fairly snug, and just really CONCENTRATE in those big waves and do not become distracted! Also, there are other brands of foot throttles you could investigate.

[@tonyperillo5259]

Well said ...g man

[@mrmidnight32]

I love lake "rough water"... Is like a perfect glass day in the open ocean.

[@darryllzwiers7257]

I'm watching these thinking my first day on the ocean was twice this size... this is just ski boat chop :D

[@NikeMikey101]

I usually just floor it and tell everyone to hold on.

[@alanaho4915]

Gman, I know it's been a few years but just watched this cause I had rough water experience. I like what you presented and explained. Do you take the waves, whether you with or away from the wind, at a particular angle for example 45 degrees? Or straight on? Thanks.

[@presleyfaircloth9536]

Gman going to rap one of them big stumps out there not in the boat road

[@BigDrawls79]

😳Where are you just casually driving around at in Toledo Bend? I don’t even have good luck in boat rows

[@glennaycock6090]

If you listen to anyone: listen to this guy

[@kmasmith0995]

How is the best way, if you do not have a Atlas Jack plate? Thank you as always for the great tip.Thank you G PMA

[@samboles8796]

Robert Smith trim all the way down if u have trim that is, and what he said still applies

[@lespaulguitarist92]

@@samboles8796 but gerald says to put jackplate all the way down and the trim at 25% up??

[@strikeforcek9149]

@@lespaulguitarist92 Gerald is saying trim the BOW up (not the tabs), and Sam Boles is saying TRIM TABS down. Ie- putting the trim tabs DOWN will make the BOW go up. Its two different ways of saying the same thing. If you don't have a jackplate, then you just trim the engine/outdrive all the way down and then use your trim tabs to raise the bow a little bit and run the same way you would with a jackplate. If you don't have ANY of that, then you more than likely only have TILT (where you can adjust the angle of your engine or outdrive up or down). In this case, slightly adjust your motor just a little bit up from its lowest angle, and run the same way you would otherwise. In case you didn't notice, with all three setups, keep that bow angled upward in the air a little bit. If you're on the great lakes and you're not raising your bow high in those steep waves that are close together, you can easily bury the front tip of your bow into the next wave when you're running with the waves following you (same direction you're driving). The danger of this, is that your bow can get gripped into the next wave and the wave behind you can literally flip your forwards end over end and capsize you (pitchpoling). Remember the rule of thumb, based on data from a massive set of testing, is that close set waves at a height of only 20% the length of the boat, is enough to capsize your boat if hit broadside and/or if pitchpoling and rolling you. Its not GUARANTEED to happen, but it absolutely will happen if you slip up even the slightest and take the wave broadside, or you slip forward down the wave and accidentally get caught pitchpoling, or by trying to turn on the wave too slow and it catches you on the face of the wave broadside to your boat. Wave heights that can capsize the listed boats below, based on their length: 18' boat: 3.6' wave 20' boat: 4' wave 21' boat: 4.25' wave 23' boat: 4.6' wave 25' boat: 5' wave 27' boat: 5.5' wave 32' boat: 6.5' wave

[@chrisduffy2737]

True dat.

[@michaelwilburn5258]

How do you position your bass boat motor without a jack plate.

[@rainysunday6186]

Michael Wilburn adjust your trim . . .

[@nc_mtbmedic1399]

common sense aint taught in high school...nor is it common

[@coltonn322]

That doesnt mean that every person but you doesn't have it either.

[@marshallbrooks8896]

👏🏼

[@redred3144]

I don't have an option for a hot foot I have a tiller tracker Grizzly 1760 Sportsman

[@Z71Ranger]

Around here the Bass-Turds just go faster when the water is rough... They say if you go 75 to 85 you just glide on the top of the waves almost not in the water... But my boat is to small only a 18ft Ranger it will only a little over 50... So I have to go slow... To stay Dry...

[@newstart49]

Must be different in a bass boat. My deep V rides better with the bow a bit lower to let the V cut the waves instead of pounding the flatter bottom when I'm doing head in waves, On following waves (With the wind) it depends on how short or long the peaks are apart, but speeding up can allow me to skim over the tops just fine or I can slow down and follow the backside of the wave (Never over take the wave) and NEVER let a wave catch up to your stern. I'm used to 3-6 footers (sometimes I get caught in 7-8 footers) though and maybe this is different as well. Sometimes riding the troughs is just plain fun.

[@cliveradvan3414]

Alas no audio😢

[@BassmasterOfficial]

There is audio.

[@Caminadawerft_Schweiz]

🤘

[@flippindocks8183]

If your nose is high, how do you see what's in front of you?

[@fishingwithphil2582]

Danny Bruce that can be tough but you just have to go slow and most of the time if it gets that rough it is a very large lake and you will have space. Also you can go left and right slightly to get a view in front of you.

[@rebelroy11]

Easier on Toledo where we have boat lanes. You can usually follow the markers and know what side youre on to avoid head on traffic but as long as you have a view every couple seconds youll be fine.

[@tnsteele95]

Danny Bruce Thats part of the reason you zig zag is to get a peek of whats out in front.

[@JonBecker81]

Off shore fishers are like “rough water? That’s like glass”

[@BassmasterOfficial]

In their 50+ foot sport fishers? Cool deal.

[@JonBecker81]

@@BassmasterOfficial it’s a joke Mr. Master. Calm down. I don’t fish off shore so I don’t even care.

[@BassmasterOfficial]

@@JonBecker81 haha then why comment and act like it wasn’t rough as heck when G shot this very informative video?

[@JonBecker81]

@@BassmasterOfficial I love Gerald he’s in my state and it was a very informative video. It was just a comment, I don’t know why I made it. I just did.

[@sunlee6984]

How do you see in front of you when your boat nose is up that high? More dangerous

[@WMWFishing]

HIT THE LIKE AND COMMENT TO HELP PUSH THIS CONTENT FURTHER... E-Z

[@B1GE2]

Never had this problem in a walleye boat. I just hammer down and send it in any condition.

[@strikeforcek9149]

Ethan Aschenbrenner - I just busted out laughing at that. It instantly brought back the memory last week when we were on Lake Erie. We stayed inside the bay in Lorain, because the waves were 4' outside the break walls. Then, out of nowhere, here comes this 20-22' center console, BLASTING through the waves, going airborne every couple waves, and just hauling asssss with not a care in the world. Lol This dude was just SENDING IT!!! LOL

[@B1GE2]

OSP K9 I might be slower than you on glass but wait till those waves kick up lol

[@strikeforcek9149]

Ethan Aschenbrenner - Hahaha, right!? Lol Watching that guy straigt SEND IT so carefree in those huge waves, really reminded me of this guy: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6KrlYOeoLiGhLM

[@jwill9877]

I'll stick to my walleye boat too

[@knowsheet4506]

get a 4 stroke low end torque and great control

[@Resistculturaldecline]

Four strokes are smoother, but two strokes have more torque. On a dyno, it's really not even close.

[@snicrep1484]

Pretty good for a billboard (im jeolous)

[@rodtuggle6432]

this works good on my rowboat always take a fat friend named Jack why the wife is rolling it's hard to keep her in the paddles

[@DavidMccallister65]

I thought you were suppose to stay out of the trough? 🤔

[@MoneyBass]

Rough water can get dangerous real quick if you don't know how to handle it. *Catching Bass for Cash*

[@kimmckeon5693]

buy a stabicraft 6mtr you will be able to do 50 miles an hour on that water no problem at all

[@robertlivingston1634]

That didn't look that ruff, looked like a good walleye chop.

[@NytronX]

Step 1: Don't buy a bass boat if you fish big water.

[@finmanpoozie4756]

Good tips...But are bass boats really that bad on "rough" water? This lake is N O T rough. I saw 1 white cap. Maybe 1 footers? I get it with the concepts being described though....thank you for them. Thumbs up. Not subscribed because of product name hawking near the end--- sponsor $$? meh- unimpressed with BASS constantly hawking product

[@NytronX]

Or let fisherman use the proper tool for the job: An actual deep V multispecies boat.

[@hunter40fishing54]

Nytron that’s no fun though

[@NytronX]

@@hunter40fishing54 Pounding rollers with a Ranger 620 or Triton 206 is no fun?! You've never been fishin up north then!

[@hunter40fishing54]

Nytron we fish out of a triton tr21 brand new mercury, one of the best hulls triton ever made, we were at guntersville on 4 to 6 feet rollers and it was amazing, wasn’t scared for a bit.

[@NytronX]

@@hunter40fishing54 in rollers is one thing, lots of boats can do that. 3-4ft Mille Lacs whitecapping waves with super short spacing is where a bass boat reaches its limits. I mean in the bigger bass boats, you'll get home okay, but unless you're competing for the bassmaster, you're not gonna wanna be on the water in those conditions.

[@hunter40fishing54]

Nytron yeah but if you get the right bass boat you’ll run it fine. Those Phoenix boats are amazing on the water

[@scottjacopian3191]

Keyword SAFE! Way too many boaters out there that don't know how to drive😮 I wouldn't be a co-angler for nothing with some of them numbskulls😊

[@dougwitherby3291]

Get rid of the stupid Toyota hat....

[@doughboy5840]

Doug Witherby I bet he did after this comment

[@theeabster1983]

There's no voice no vocals on this video how can anyone gives a thumbs-up I can't even hear what he saying

[@diegoscoffin7491]

“Trim at a 1/4 %of the gauge” lol freshwater guys have to have gauges to tell them what their motor is trimmed at?😂

[@jeromelee1627]

That boat sucks in rough 😂 water. You have to keep the bow up on that garbage scow to keep the waves from coming over. A large following sea would swap you instantly. You should not give advice on navigating rough water, on the odd chance that someone would listen to you. You should title the video “ How to stay dry on a no free board,flat bottom,garbage scow in rough water” 😂