Tragic news

[Bluebasser86]

We hear it all the time but often take it for granted "Be careful"! or "Wear you lifejacket"! 

 

I've been around water my entire life as an avid outdoorsman. Hunting, fishing, trapping, swimming, you name it, I love being outside and around the water. I rarely take the time to think of how the thing I enjoy being on and around so much can also be deadly. I heard a couple days ago that a long time acquaintance, avid hunter, trapper, fisherman, PWT competitor, and all around good guy was found drown on a local reservoir yesterday. He was the kind of guy that you'd never in a million years expect it to happen to, but we forget that it can happen to any of us. I didn't know him really well but we knew each other and shared a bond through our love of the outdoors and I enjoyed many conversations about hunting and fishing, as well as some good natured ribbing about walleye being better than bass and vice versa. He was a part time DJ at the club where my wife and I first met and spent many good times at, everybody liked him. Now I see how much hurt and pain is left behind where he is supposed to be, it's really sobering. So if you see me in my pictures of videos wearing an inflatable PFD more frequently, this will have a big portion to do with it. He had 2 boys, just like I do, and if nothing else I owe it to them to make sure I do everything I can to make sure the sport I love doesn't take me away from them.

 

So one more time guys, wear it, and be careful out there. Sorry for my long winded, emotional post, this one just hits really close to home. RIP Steve.

http://www.kake.com/story/40726396/boater-who-disappeared-at-marion-reservoir-found-dead?fbclid=IwAR2IT92I2lvMz5L9eYGmcPtXH2KHw3yNxjQUXuwOVcnE5S4F1JQuSIAIALI

[Sam]

Blue, you post hit home.

 

We don't think it could happen to us. Never do. But it does. And accidents happen so fast on the water that you may not have time to react.

 

We lost a boater last month on Virginia's Mattaponi River by the Walkerton ramp and authorities are now looking for two Richmond gentlemen who have disappeared on their fishing trip. No truck or boat found so far and authorities are asking for the public's help.

 

Two years ago on Lake Gaston a tournament guy went around a point coming out of a creek and the waves flipped his bass boat. He was an excellent boater and very good tournament fisherman. We lost him. His boater did survive and was pulled from the water by a state trooper who was fishing in the area and saw the boat flip. The boater and nonboater were wearing their PFD's but stories said that the impact when entering the water knocked him out and he did not have the chance to activate the gas canister.

 

The two guys mentioned above did not leave a "Float Plan" at home so the families are beside themselves as to where the two guys went fishing. So wearing your PFD with the kill switch attached is a must and leaving a "Float Plan" home is also necessary.

 

Glad to read you will be wearing your PFD. I go a step farther and ask guys who want me to take them fishing if they can swim. You would be surprised at the number of people who tell me that they can't swim. No swim - no fishing trip.

 

And get your PFD gas canisters checked and replaced. They have an expiration date and you can get a ticket from the Virginia DG&IF in Virginia if they are expired. Same for your flares. Check their expiration date.

 

Thoughts and prayers to Steve's family.  Tragic situation when we lose anyone, especially ones with families who have lost a father, son, brother, husband, cousin, or good friend. Makes you understand how important safety is on the water and how fast a tragic accident can occur at any time and and any place.

 

 

[Mike L]

It's such a simple thing to do that absolutely saves lives. 

 

May they both Rest In Peace. 

 

 

 

 

Mike

[A-Jay]

Sad to hear.

A young man lost his live recently on a local lake I frequent. 

Flipped his kayak and was Not wearing a Life Jacket.

(Hate the PFD acronym, desensitizes the value of them).

Life is fragile and precious.

Thoughts to his family.

A-Jay

 

 

[Choporoz]

So sorry for your loss, Blue. 

Saturday t-storms turned deadly here, too.  At least one kayaker dead, a number rescued...believe there still may be yakkers and/or boaters missing.  I was on a lake and watching storms passing just south.  One eye on my line and one eye on the clouds for over an hour as I slowly worked my way closer to the ramp.   By the time I decided enough,  I was fortunately only a couple hundred yards out.  I pulled the yak up the launch as the wind immediately went from about 10 to 60 in mere seconds.  I was wrong to push it, but came out ok.  Easy to see how someone could get caught by surprise when those summer cells pop almost out of nowhere. 

[senile1]

Thanks, Blue!  Very sad to hear when one of us dies out on the water.  After being unable to fish for the past few months due to injury and surgery, I have just returned to the water over the past week.  I have fished three times and each time I have forgotten to wear my life jacket.  Before my injuries I was getting in the habit of wearing it any time the boat was moving.  Your post has reminded me that I need to wear it. 

 

[Darren.]

Tough loss. Appreciate your comments, Blue. Hope for the

best for the family from such an awful, sudden loss.

[greentrout]

the water is deadly ... condolences ...

 

https://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/?m=rb

[Sam]

3 hours ago, greentrout said:

the water is deadly ... condolences ...

 

https://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/?m=rb

How true. We cannot control water, wind or electricity. Any one of these elements can prove deadly at any time.

[txchaser]

Maybe a hijack, maybe on point... What's the best auto-inflatable out there? The high risk scenario for me is fishing alone, knocked out cold, so a manual inflator isn't going to cut it.

[Sam]

8 hours ago, txchaser said:

Maybe a hijack, maybe on point... What's the best auto-inflatable out there? The high risk scenario for me is fishing alone, knocked out cold, so a manual inflator isn't going to cut it.

Good question.  Maybe we need a separate thread on this subject. I have no idea of which ones are better than others.

[nick76]

Sorry to hear of the loss of a friend.  These things are never easy to explain even when the solution seems to simple.  My kids always argue with me about not wanting to wear their PFD's when we are on the boat or out kayaking.  There are no options anymore, other than staying at home.  We just had this one here locally today.

 

https://www.battlecreekenquirer.com/story/news/2019/07/03/two-found-dead-apparent-accidental-drowning-near-battle-creek/1637795001/

[islandbass]

Sorry to hear this, blu. I know someone who bought a two person kayak and he invited me to join him.  I declined because I couldn’t find my life vest and was surprised to learn he doesn’t use one. It didn’t seem right to me. 

 

I almost convinced myself that it would be okay to go with him anyway and what a tempting opportunity for someone who is shorebound. My jimini cricket was relentless and sounded the red flag alarm and in the end, I managed to convince him that we should fish from the shore. I felt so relieved. He outfished me 8-4 but the potential for disaster with completely averted. I’ll gladly accept a loss like this every time.