Thread: Head first into truman

I guess another safe alternative would be getting a SPOT tracker and mount it somewhere you can reach from the water to press the "Panic" buttom to get help.

well John glad all worked out, darn scary for sure, I think I am in the catagory of I better get me on of them ladders for the back of the boat. never have fallen in to the lake... fell off the dock a couple times, that was bad enough.... glad your safe.

Well at least the water was warm. Early this year, we were fishing in 56 degree water and I was up front running trolling motor going from tree to tree. Reached out to stop the boat at one of the tree's and the limb broke off.

Head first into some very cold water with a heavy coat, sweater, long johns, jeans and boots made it a little tough to swim! Luckily I grabbed the tree, and also my dad was there to drag me in the front of the boat.

Needless to say it ended our day quickly. And if I didn't have someone else in the boat, it would have floated down the creek and I'd of been stranded.

Glad you had some helpful folks around!

Glad the only thing hurt was your pride. That'll grow back. Kudos on fessing up here to raise awareness of the importance of safety and helping those in need.

And congrats on the limit. A successful night stalk!

I am sure you guys that fish in the winter have a spare set of coveralls or socks or something right ????? it's a standing rule if you fall in the lake and you are in my boat if i can get you out you will get naked, always carry extra even if i see some one else go in the water they can have anything in my boat to keep warm.. that cold water is some bad stuff.... I fell in below truman dam while walleye fishing water temp was 45 and it felt like a knife was stuck in me. only got my head wet but that was enough....

I always keep a set of dry clothes in one of those vacuum shrink bags in the boat, doesn't take up much room and they will still be dry if the boat gets swamped.
N2

Dry clothes even in the form of Dollar General sweat pants and shirt are wonderful things when you or someone else goes splash. As for ladders the only ones worth spending a dime on are fixed ladders. I help teach a boating class and if you have ever tried to climb one of the hang over the side ladders the first thing it will do is turn under the boat and is nearly impossible to climb back into a boat on, the rope ones are just as bad or worse. At work all of our boats are required to have a fixed ladder. We teach to either use a fixed ladder or ride the tilt trim from the back. Can happen easily, standing on the deck running a trolling motor, leaning forward to flip a jig to a promising spot and "thunk" a solid stump and in a split second you are in the water. Always funny as long as no one gets hurt. Glad you came out just a little damp was all.

Even scarier story, came in Cananda.

We were at camp taking a lunchtime nap and my uncle went out by himself in a little john boat with 20 hp on it. Him being the only one in the boat, he was on the other side of the lake and took off and the nose came up so high and he jerked the motor to one side and flipped the boat (water temp was too bad). Good thing is he ALWAYS where's his life vest. So he's in the water floating with no one knowing and he's too far to yell. It was Corn Lake I think, some of you maybe aware of it.

So we have some walkie talkies at the camp and we keep hearing someone calling for our camp, and finally someone responds asking what's going on and they say theres an over turned boat.

So we sprint down to the docks, get in our boat and fly out and pick him up. He was out there for over half an hour just hanging on to the overturned boat.

Scary situation to say the least but at least it turned out OK, and we have a pretty damn funny picture of him on the boat ride back to the docks!

Either way, this threads a good reminder of the dangers inherent in a fun hobby that we all enjoy.