Float Plan

[Sam]

A number of us "more mature guys" (slang for old goats) use the term "Float Plan" to describe the information we write down and leave at home when we go fishing.

 

We have many new Forum members and guys and gals just starting bass fishing and I am going to suggest everyone create their individal "float plan" when going fishing.

 

My wife knows the following when I take the boat out or go to a pond far, far away:

 

Place going fishing

Location of ramp

Time to launch

Time expected to be back

Cell phone numbers of others fishing with me or in the tournament

 

By doing this my wife knows where I will be and what time I am expected to be home.

 

I also call her when I trailer the boat so she can put the life insurance policies back in the desk drawer.

 

A "float plan" is an excellent way to let family and friends know what you are doing just in case there is an emergency.

 

Give it a try.

 

 

[senile1]

You make some very good points, Sam.  I'm guilty of not providing a "float plan" to my family at times.  Thanks for the reminder.  I think this is very important. 

[VtGr0wn]

this is definitely a good idea better than my gone fishin sign i usually hang on the door

[Hanover_Yakker]

If you own an iPhone (not me), you can download an app entitled Float Plan that will automatically email the information to a designated individual as well.

 

I always just send a text to my wife when I arrive, where I am at, what time I plan to leave and when I actually leave with an ETA of when I will be home.

[A-Jay]

This is very sage advice regarding a Float Plan.   

This site offers a lot of very entertaining information - but this stuff right here can save your live.

As an Ex-USCG Search & Rescue human - I spent almost 30 years either on the water conducting the search for lost / overdue boaters or back in the Operations center collecting information and planning the actual search for the units (boats cutters and aircraft). 

 

 Every trip you make, someone should know the who, what, where, when and how about your trip.  This includes the following ; 

  Where you're going - so we know where to look if you don't get home.

  Who is one the boat -  names, ages and physical description - so we know who we are looking for and when to stop searching if victims are located unconscious / unresponsive.

  When you're coming back.

What boat ramp you use and a description of your vehicle and trailer.

What marina you use and where you get gas.

  A description of your vessel including length, color, make, model and type and gas tank capacity.  Some supplements info such as if you have food / water on board, if you usually fish at night, if you're familiar with the water you're fishing, if you have warm clothing on board, and if anyone on board has any medical or health issues ( such as running out if medicine) helps too.

 

If you routinely fish the same water, the same way and with the same person or people, you can collect all this info and put it in a folder and leave it with whoever, your wife, husband, brother sister, parent - it doesn't matter, just whoever it is that will be calling me to report you missing.  Then, if the case arises, they just grab the info (with the emergency numbers written on the front of the folder) and make the call.  Your loved one may not know what info they will need, but the people looking for you will be very happy that you did this in advance.

 

 Late boaters, called overdues, are one of the most challenging cases we prosecuted.  Often times boaters are located and they ore OK, as the bite was on and they chose to stay out.  That's OK at least they're safe.  Other times, if no float plan is left, by the time we find out they are missing, several hours even days have past and that really makes matters worse.   Cell phones although convenient are often not reliable.  I would not bet my life on them. In places where a marine radio is used, that's really the way to go.

 

 Insuring that you have the required safety gear (before you actually need it) is a no brainer.

PFD's, flares (check the expiration date), fire extinguisher, and a sound producing device (if required) can mean the difference being able to tell the story later and not. 

 

This is a good time of year to review all this stuff and to have a plan before you need it, so that when you do, you have a reasonable expectation that those who might be looking for you are provided the absolutely best chance to find you, because we really want to.

 

Stay Safe

 

A-Jay

[A-Jay]

To the OP - Props to you for posting this up, it's a fantastic topic and one not often written about here.

 

 Unfortunately this thread has generated very little interest which is not surprising.

 

It does explain why often times search efforts are complicated unnecessarily.

 

Perhaps a different thread name like Shimano is bogus, might bring more members to check it out. 

 

A-Jay

[K_Mac]

Sam as a "well seasoned" angler I am more aware of my mortality than I used to be. I lost a very good friend almost two years ago because he did not take the proper precautions while fishing/boating. I still go fishing and primitive camping alone occasionally but whether I'm alone or not, going for a few hours or several days, I make sure my wife and daughter know all the information you suggested. I also wear an inflatable flotation device, make sure all safety devices are working and up to date, and take along rain gear and extra clothes. As A-Jay saw many times during the course of his career, things can go bad in an instant and survival often depends on being prepared. Thanks for the reminder.  

[Goose52]

My farthest lake that I fish is a whopping 6 miles from my house...but I still make sure my wife knows which lake, where I'm going to lauch, and my ETA home. I wear my PFD 100% of the time when on the water. I have a whistle in the boat and another in a pouch on my PFD. I pay attention to the 120 combined air/water temp rule and avoid the bigger lakes or being too far offshore if that number is very much below 120. I fish alone and tend to perhaps be more cautious than others might be that have a fishing partner in the boat.

 

Another thing on safety, especially for us old guys, is have you planned for how you're going to get back in your boat if you fall overboard? As one ages, upper body strengh starts to go and you might not be able to pull yourself back into the boat. Give it some thought before you get wet...

 

Thanks to Sam and A-Jay for some valuable advice.

 

To the OP - Props to you for posting this up, it's a fantastic topic and one not often written about here.

 

Unfortunately this thread has generated very little interest which is not surprising.

 

It does explain why often times search efforts are complicated unnecessarily.

 

Perhaps a different thread name like Shimano is bogus, might bring more members to check it out.

 

A-Jay

 

I don't think safety is a very popular topic. A-Jay was the only one that responded to a thread I started about assuring that inflatable PFDs are periodically serviced per manufacturers recommendations.

 

Good idea about the "Shimano is bogus" thread title...

[papajoe222]

I got thrown overboard last year and luckily just missed banging my head on a submerged boulder. I was the only one on the lake. there wasn't anyone even shore fishing.  luckily I was able to catch up to my boat and climb back aboard. On the drive back home I realized my wife had no idea what the name of the lake was, or where it was located for that matter. I don't normally give her an ETA, but since that mishap, she gets the whole enchilada and if I decide to stay out longer, she gets a call.  That is, of course, if I don't go for another swim with my I-phone in my pocket.

BTW, I now wear an automatic inflatable PFD whenever I'm out by myself. 

[HookSetDon]

It seems like a lot of work, if you were stranded and S.O.L I bet you wished you would have taken the time to prepare something like this.

 

I always fish with someone else, and most of the time someone knows where we're fishing

[BassinLou]

Great Thread. We get so caught up in our sport that we sometimes forget the basics as far as safety, and we think nothing can happen. Thanks for the info.

[slonezp]

There was an accident on a local cooling lake this past weekend. Report said 12ft boat got swamped. Woman wearing life vest man was not. Man was unconcious and needed to be recessitated. A boater heard screaming and went to investigate. 

 

Use common sense when you're on the water. Life jackets on and kill switch connected. Little green fish aren't worth dying over. Neither are the brown ones A-Jay

[.ghoti.]

Good topic Sam. As one of the resident old farts, I endorse this idea. My wife always knows where I'm fishing, who I'm with, and when I'm coming home. However, I have never provided the level of details suggested by A-Jay.

To tell you the truth, I've never even considered including such details. But then I've never been involved in a rescue of any kind. I assume such experiences would alter one's perspective. And, this is one perspective I appreciate hearing, now at the beginning of a new fishing season.

I bought a yak last year, and plan to use it a lot more this year, so this is timely advice. I think I'll be giving my sweetie a little more info this year.

[.ghoti.]

By the way, Sam; you should change the topic title to get more attention.

May I suggest the following: "Space is a vacuum because Shimanos suck".

[Dwight Hottle]

A-Jay gave me a first hand lesson on this topic with my wife present last year. The point of the matter is tell someone when you will be back. If your going to be late call and let them know. After the coast guard gets the call my husband hasn't returned from fishing they will check your launch site for vehicle & trailer. If they are still there they will launch a search by boat or copter. The more info your family can provide gets you found quicker & makes the search & rescue more efficient.  A detailed float plan could save your life. Great topic guys.

[flyfisher]

Being a kayak angler and fish alone more often than not I always tell my fiancée where I am fishing. I also tell my buddies who actually know the water where I will be too in case something does happen they actually know the water.

The coming home thing is always a crap,shoot because I never know but I always give the courtesy of a text saying I am still out so I won't be cooking dinner so go ahead and order a pizza

[hookset on 3]

Good idea for a post topic, Sam.  I've had a few close calls over the years, the most recent was last week wading. Took on water when I got stuck in some muck. I thought to my self after, that they'd have to grappling hook the pond bottom to find me.

 

Thanks  Sam and A-Jay. It's time for me to wise-up. I'll be 53 next week and have 2 sons.

[don53]

great topic Sam.i am guilty of going off alone and no one knows where i am,so thanks to your reminder im gonna change that this season,fwif though i do wear my pfd

[slonezp]

There was an accident on a local cooling lake this past weekend. Report said 12ft boat got swamped. Woman wearing life vest man was not. Man was unconcious and needed to be recessitated. A boater heard screaming and went to investigate. 

 

Use common sense when you're on the water. Life jackets on and kill switch connected. Little green fish aren't worth dying over. Neither are the brown ones A-Jay

Guy didn't make it   to the family