I normally go out late afternoon and return after dark, since we moved and now have a use of a private dock and landing, I just leave the boat at the dock and trailer the next morning. I need to buy solar lights and mount on the dock post, help in finding way back at night. The bay off the main lake is shallow and you need to follow the creek channel (normal is 8 to 12 feet). I have seen dummies ground all kinds of boats and pontoons in the middle of the bay. I have anchored at the shallow parts and wadded the stumps and drift logs. Great fun with a fly rod.
cq