Dying for crappie......literally

[fishwalton]

I'm active on the Texas Fising Forum and picked this up today. It's an eye opener and may very well save some lives if taken to heart as a lesson learned. I know it sure got my attention.


Dying for Crappie...Literally - Texas Fishing Forum

[kycreek]

That will sure make you think. God was watching over him.

[fishwalton]

You are absolutely right. The follow-up postings also tell a story, some similar mistakes. Not long ago I almost fell out of my boat while fishing alone and was not wearing my PFD. It was warm and water maybe 3 ft. I didn't think much about it. After reading this post I now have the message.
Just a couple of weeks ago here in the FL panhandle a fisherman was found tangled up in a bunch of brush and nearby boat damaged. He was dead. I haven't read any details on what actually happened.

[mduncan62]

Sure glad he's OK. That's a game changer for sure. This got me thinking and checked Missouri's water patrol site to see if we've had anything. 10-5-2010 a man got ejected, his shirt ended up entangled in the prop and he couldn't resurface. Stories like these sure get a guy thinking.

[CrappieWhisperer]

Sure makes you think about what can happen. My buddy and I are gettin older and the last couple of weeks we've been talkin about gettin a couple of those inflatable life vests. Maybe its time to quit thinkin about it and do it. I actually sank a smaller boat in 40 degree water back when I was younger. My buddy and I held onto an ice chest about 200 yards from shore. My buddy wanted to swim for the bank, but I talked him out of it. It took 45 minutes for someone to hear us hollering. When the ranger came, he literally had to pull us into his boat by the hair on our head. We were so cold we weren't able to move, much less pull ourselves up into his boat. Ever since then its scared me a little bit to go out in cold weather.

[fishwalton]

Posting this Texas story has got a lot of us thinking. I'm headed out tomorrow morning. It will be in the 30's and water in the 40's. The pfd will be on from start to finish and the kill switch line will be hooked to me. I fish a lot by myself.

Since this story hit TFF I have searched around on the subject and found a couple of tips. One is to use the motor electric tilt to lift youself back into the boat. Another is to install a ladder on the stern. Both are good tips. I'm going to check out the ladder possibility even though I have a small boat. I'm 73 and loaded with heavy clothing I would not be able to swim very far or climb back into the boat without some sort of help.

[wannabe fisherman]

The first 2 tips is what I do every time I'm in my boat. 1 put on PDF, 2 attach kill swith to vest, then start motor.
The tip about using your T/T to lift you onto the boat isn't any good if the boat is running, but it is a GOD send if it isn't. Make sure you have your kill switch attached and that it works.

[fishwalton]

TEST the kill switch!!!...... Such a simple thing that can easily be overlooked. Old saying, when you assume you generally are wrong or get in trouble.

[fished-out]

The automatic inflatable life vests are a godsend. Wife got me one last year that has a hydrostatic pressure sensor so that it won't inflate in the rain, etc. I wouldn't wear a vest before--couldn't get one on over or under my parka (I fish COLD weather, as do many around Ohio). Now, I even wear it ice fishing, as it fits well under the parka. Cost a bunch of money--but given the alternative, well worth it.