Hi, my name is Ken Repine. I have been nominated for the annual “ Hammer Award “. I received my nomination following the 3rd tournament of the new fishing year 06-07 ( January ). The circumstances surrounding my nomination are as follows: While backing my trailer down the launch ramp at Cliff’s landing I failed to note how high the water was up on the ramp. Having launched out of Cliff’s several times I was used to the water level being at a certain level on the ramp. I had backed up and was preparing to exit my truck when I noticed that no one approached my truck to take over backing the my boat into the water after I got into the boat. I hadn’t heard anyone hollering since my window was up trying to conserve the warmth in the truck as long as possible before getting out. I saw a few members motioning to my boat. It was then I noticed that my boat was floating in the water. I looked down and noted that my truck was farther down in the water than I had intended and the trailer was completely submerged. I pulled forward to a point I could get out and while someone parked my truck I got on board another boat to be taken out to get on my boat. By this time I got to my boat it had drifted toward the dock and my brother-in-law , Wayne Thomley, had secured it to the dock. All this time I had tried to act nonchalant hoping few had noticed, but it hard for them not to notice with the light from the dock shining brightly upon the very spot my boat was drifting too and those who had noticed first laughing uncontrollably.
update on hammer nomination resume:
Having just acquired a new " big boy " boat I guess it is only fitting that couple of things would occur to enhance my resume nomination. While trying to attend to my GPS I managed to find a sand bar to the right of the channel going out to the main river. Billy and Brian graciously came to my assistance and got me back on the right track. All went well until the last hour of the tournament when for some unknown reason ( at the time ) I was unable to get up on plane. I managed to get back to the launch for weigh in, but didn't discover the source of the problem until I got home and was securing the boat. The culprit was an empty coke can. I then remembered how the same thing had caused the same problem for Frank Kelly at another tournament ( pre-fish day ) A lesson learned. I might also note that " Black cloud " Cliffy had seated himself at the same table as me the night of the June meeting.