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Thread: Be safe out there.

  1. #1
    Join Date
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    Default Be safe out there.


    Last weekend I was fishing one of my favorite lakes, that's just under 400 acres in size. They allow outboard powered boats & paddle craft, but no jet skis, swimming, or water skiing on that body of water, which suits me fine. I fish from a kayak most of the time because I enjoy the exercise, getting close to the water, and the satisfaction of pulling crankbaits under my own power. Normally, I wear a light tan floppy hat to keep the sun off my head, a neck gaiter, and fingerless gloves, to go with a long sleeved white shirt under a green PFD. My kayak is woodland camo because I also use it to access hard to get to places to turkey hunt & a bright boat isn't the best idea for that situation.

    Last Saturday was foggy and not an extremely bright day early on. I was paddling my kayak parallel to the bank, pulling crankbaits over some 30+ foot deep water about 20 feet off the bank, when I heard a bass boat running down the lake towards me, fast. The fact that I'm constantly moving, I put out a wake, and my arms and paddle are almost always in constant motion, I'm not terribly worried about not being seen. Well, the guy in that bass boat kept getting closer, wasn't backing off the throttle, and his course was straight at me. All I can figure is that he was looking down at the depthfinder and not where he was going. I swept the paddle straight up in the air and started waving it back & forth as he approached me up on plane. He swerved out towards the channel about 60 yards from me and got out of the throttle. I had a pretty high pucker factor going on up until then, but was extremely relieved that he saw me in time. I wasn't to the point of seeing my life flash before my eyes yet, but I dang sure considered it. He circled out over the channel and pulled up beside me, then told me I was lucky he saw me & that I needed to be wearing brighter clothes. I told him that it is usually not a problem for others to see me, since I'm in constant motion. Plus, the others don't tend run wide open up close to the bank through fog, like he was. We both agreed to change our ways and went back to what each was doing. It took me a while to quit shaking.

    The first thing I did when I got home was order a blaze orange boonie hat with a reflective band around it that can be seen from all angles. I'm also going to the kayak shop tomorrow to find a safety flag/light for the boat. I never feared for my life before when I was crappie fishing, but I guess there's a first for everything. Be safe out there Y'all.

    Jim
    Likes Mintaka, Jamesdean, redfin00, cknowles673 LIKED above post

  2. #2
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    That’s a bit too close for comfort. Glad the end result was good.

  3. #3
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    I keep a Fox40 whistle (very loud) attached to the shoulder of my pfd. More so for blowing if I am hurt, but also works in other situations too. I've been meaning to get a YakAttack VisaCarbon light and flag too. I have seen others use them and they work well.

  4. #4
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    bfish, that Yak Attack VisiCarbon Pro flag/light combo is exactly what I planned to get. My local kayak store is out of stock at the moment. The store in Raleigh has them, so next time I go that way I'll pick one up.

    I keep a whistle on a lanyard clipped in my PFD pocket, but that guy was moving so fast and his motor was loud enough that I doubt he would have heard any whistle. I was paddling closer to the bank as he was coming on, but he was hauling @-- and I didn't have a lot of time to do much except wave the paddle.

    Jim
    Likes bfish LIKED above post

  5. #5
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    most bicycle shops will have a flag..wife has one on her bike

  6. #6
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    Check out different colored flags for different times of the year and what will be in your back drop. Yellow or orange won't do very good when a hickory or oak is behind you right now. During hunting seasons some states are checking out a blaze green or blaze purple instead of blaze orange. Looking at all on ebay I see an amercian flag 12X18" is about the same price as others. Kinda hard to miss that.

  7. #7
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    Some people just can't see .I couldn't see 100 yards until I had my cataract surgery. maybe a fog horn would help.
    Likes canebreaker, RetiredRR LIKED above post

  8. #8
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    If you want to get technical. Your required to have a whistle and something like the visicarbon pro on your yak here in TX. I am certain its the same elsewhere. It will benefit you more than anyone. People get all wrapped up in what they are doing and don't pay attention. Be safe out there!!!

  9. #9
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    Glad your okay. Sometimes it can get a bit tricky out there no matter how many precautions we take.
    Wishing you Blue Skies and Tight Lines

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bayoubob View Post
    If you want to get technical. Your required to have a whistle and something like the visicarbon pro on your yak here in TX. I am certain its the same elsewhere. It will benefit you more than anyone. People get all wrapped up in what they are doing and don't pay attention. Be safe out there!!!
    Wonder if I bring my yak to TX if they honor my state's rules or I have to go by TX rules?

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