Recently I’ve seen things on the water that concern me, and they’ve reminded me of things I’ve seen in the past. Catching fish is important. That’s how I earn my living. At the same time, though, there are places and situations where you have to draw the line.
The first thing I want to talk about is a life jacket. It’s an absolute necessity. The rules say that you must wear one — attached to your kill switch — when the big motor is running. That’s all well and good, but I go farther. I wear mine whenever I’m in the boat regardless of whether or not the big motor is running.
Falling out of the boat and hitting your head on the gunnel is a problem, and what’s happening in the back of your boat doesn’t much matter. You can’t swim with a serious head injury or some other physical problem. Besides, even without an injury, swimming back to your boat in the wind and current can be impossible for most of us.
I wear a Mustang Survival vest. It’s comfortable and reliable. I put it on before I step into my boat, and I don’t take it off until I’m out of the boat. There are no exceptions, and the rule applies to anyone and everyone who gets in my boat.
Another thing I’m serious about is where I’m going to be on the lake. I tell my wife where I’ll fish, and I stay in that area. Most of the lakes, reservoirs and rivers we fish are big. It can take forever to find someone if you don’t know where to start looking.
The life vest thing is universal and so is letting someone know where you’ll be fishing. It has little to do with the weather or the conditions you’re facing. Accidents and injuries happen all the time. Be prepared to survive them.
Now, let’s turn our attention to the weather. I’m a professional. I’ve fished in high wind, muddy debris-laden water and when it was raining cats and dogs or snowing like crazy. But I think that recently the tournaments have tightened things up. They don’t let us launch when it’s too dangerous.
When that happens I’m as frustrated as anyone else, but I understand it.
I’ve seen guys run full throttle in snowstorms when you couldn’t see the front of your boat. And I’ve seen them do it in heavy fog. That is crazy — pure and simple. Apparently, they think that their GPS unit comes with radar. (It doesn’t.)
When it’s cold I always carry a spare set of clothes. Wet clothes after you’ve gone overboard is a life-threatening situation. If that happens to me, I’m ready to strip the wet clothes off and replace them with dry ones.
Let me tell you something: If you think 65- or even 70-degree water isn’t cold fill your bathtub with it and take the plunge. I guarantee you that after a few minutes you’ll understand why hypothermia kills.
I do something else that might sound a little extreme: I carry a flare gun with plenty of flares. If you’re drifting around, you can help rescuers find you easily. It can also be used to start a fire if necessary, and a fire might be depending upon the air and water temperature.
One last thought is that it’s always better to fish with someone, especially when the weather is tough. A second pair of hands are worth their weight in gold.
And, one more last thought is that it’s better to stay at the fish camp than it is to fish in extreme conditions. There’s no hero status for an angler who makes an irresponsible decision. All that’s left is a visitation, a funeral and a coffin along with a lot of crying family members and friends.
These are the things that I consider basic. I’ve fished for many years without a serious accident, but that doesn’t mean it won’t happen tomorrow. I’m going to be prepared. What about you?
