Trust Your Instincts

[RoLo]

Several years ago, my wife & I fished Lake Livingston, Florida. This small lake piqued my curiosity 

because one of our favorite lakes spills into Lake Livingston via Livingston Creek. 

The launch for Lake Livingston was off Rt-98, at the end of a mile-long dirt road that ambles thru 

uninhabited xeric scrub. When we retrieved the boat that evening, I said to my wife

that this would be the last time we fished here. A little surprised, my wife asked why.

I told her that our tow car and trailer were sitting all day at the end of a dead-end road in stark wilderness;

they were sitting ducks.

 

Fast forward: July, 2020

Just days ago, 3 anglers were shot to death on Lake Streety Rd. I don't expect anyone to know 

the whereabouts of Lake Streety, so I will tell you. Lake Streety is on the other side of Rt-98,

in fact, Lake Streety & Lake Livingston are separated by 5 miles. I might add that Lake Streety Rd 

(scene of the crime) is a thru road, whereas the unnamed road to Lake Livingston is a dead-end road.

Moral of the story: 'Trust Your Instincts'.  

 

Roger

[papajoe222]

Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up for sure.

I was following that story, but haven't heard a thing since that first day's report. They have no clue to motive or possible suspects from those reports.  Anything new that you've heard?

[geo g]

Rolo your so right.  If it doesn't feel right don't do it.  I have had times when a car would pull in early in the morning, and not leave the ramp area.  I would fish that ramp area until they were long gone. 

I remember when your wife would always be with you and posted on your trips.  I hope all is well with you and yours buddy!

 

[12poundbass]

49 minutes ago, papajoe222 said:

Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up for sure.

I was following that story, but haven't heard a thing since that first day's report. They have no clue to motive or possible suspects from those reports.  Anything new that you've heard?

Three suspects have been arrested. One had said one of the victims stole a care or a motor for a vehicle I believe was the motive. 

[RoLo]

2 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

Makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up for sure.

I was following that story, but haven't heard a thing since that first day's report. They have no clue to motive or possible suspects from those reports.  Anything new that you've heard?

 

As ‘12poundbass’ stated, the 3 suspects are all behind bars.

I believe they were apprehended just 4 days after the event. Word has it that the 3 victims had clean rap sheets

and no drugs were found in their vehicles. I’m not aware of a plausible motive, just some banter

about a truck engine. Our sheriff described the henchman as “pure evil in the flesh”.

 

 

2 hours ago, geo g said:

Rolo your so right.  If it doesn't feel right don't do it.  I have had times when a car would pull in early in the morning, and not leave the ramp area.  I would fish that ramp area until they were long gone. 

I remember when your wife would always be with you and posted on your trips.  I hope all is well with you and yours buddy!

 

 

All is well, thanks Geo

 

I had a similar situation with a suspicious looking car. It was parked awkwardly, and appeared to be 

casing the marina. Intentionally, I stared directly at the car with my hands on my hips.

After a prolonged staring contest, I decided to walk over to the car, but when I closed the gap about halfway,

he took off out of the parking lot. That sort of confirmed my suspicions.

 

Roger

 

[WRB]

I trust my .357 whenever venturing into unknown areas.

Tom

Warning Warning Will Roberson....Lost in Space

[Sam]

Spooky.

 

I only carry my gun on the boat as we are sitting ducks for wackos and criminals while fishing.

 

Maybe I need to start carrying it when I go to my local ponds?

[Todd2]

I always carry when night fishing. It's rare, but I've seen some suspicious people not fishing around some of the parking lots. You just never know.

[scaleface]

When I was 20 I learned this lesson the hard way .Every person I encounter , I make a general impression immediately . 

 

[r83srock]

I carry as well. Glad the suspects have been caught. Stay safe, there are some desperate and heartless folks out there.

[RoLo]

 

Tragic events like this one, make us all think more about self-preservation, and rightly so.

Carrying a handgun is fine, as long as it doesn’t create a false sense of security (Wyatt Earp Syndrome).

The most powerful defense we have against life-threatening situations, are the eyes and brain in our head,

not the gun under our belt. Life-threatening situations rarely play-out like a high-school play,

but more often like a spaghetti western. You may not be taken out in cold blood,

but no assailant is going to standstill while you're fetching your popgun.

 

It’s vital to be vigilant of your surroundings at all times, to interpret the behavior and attitude

of all strangers, and to act accordingly. It could be as simple as behaving like a mugger

rather than of a victim, slipping out the backdoor or just avoiding a venue completely.

The foremost goal is always to ‘avoid’ a deadly confrontation, because once you actually need a weapon,

you’re in trouble deep, and there’s no escape!

 

Roger

[A-Jay]

32 minutes ago, RoLo said:

 

Tragic events like this one, make us all think more about self-preservation, and rightly so.

Carrying a handgun is fine, as long as it doesn’t create a false sense of security (Wyatt Earp Syndrome).

The most powerful defense we have against life-threatening situations, are the eyes and brain in our head,

not the gun under our belt. Life-threatening situations rarely play-out like a high-school play,

but more often like a spaghetti western. We may not be taken out in cold blood,

but no assailant is going to standstill while we're fetching our popgun.

 

It’s vital to be vigilant of your surroundings at all times, to interpret the behavior and attitude

of all strangers, and to act accordingly. It could be as simple as behaving like a mugger

rather than of a victim, slipping out the backdoor or just avoiding the area completely.

The foremost goal is always to ‘AVOID’ a deadly confrontation, because once you actually need a weapon,

you’re in trouble deep, and there’s no escape!

 

Roger

Situational Awareness ~

Don't leave home without it.

(helps out a bunch at home too)

A-Jay

 

[Herbert Lorenzo]

Years ago I was fishing  in an area that was secluded  . I had an alarm installed in my truck so I figured I could hear the alarm if it was triggered . I figured wrong . When I got back to my truck the window was busted out and all my work tools were stolen . I never heard the alarm and maybe that was a good thing being alone , and unarmed no telling how many thieves may have jumped me . I never go fishing alone any more . I always go with my friends Smith and Wesson .

[NHBull]

I think instincts come from life experience and sadly the young often pay for the lack there of.

Sad times for sure

[cheezyridr]

16 hours ago, Sam said:

Spooky.

 

I only carry my gun on the boat as we are sitting ducks for wackos and criminals while fishing.

 

Maybe I need to start carrying it when I go to my local ponds?

i don't understand the point of having it, and not carrying it.

[TriStateBassin106]

This guy had the right idea, protect yourself on the water! 

[A-Jay]

23 minutes ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

This guy had the right idea, protect yourself on the water! 

All except the part where he was reeling in and pointing the weapon at his own face !

#muzzlediscipline 

Wow

A-Jay

[scaleface]

16 hours ago, Herbert Lorenzo said:

Years ago I was fishing  in an area that was secluded  . I had an alarm installed in my truck so I figured I could hear the alarm if it was triggered . I figured wrong . When I got back to my truck the window was busted out and all my work tools were stolen . I never heard the alarm and maybe that was a good thing being alone , and unarmed no telling how many thieves may have jumped me . I never go fishing alone any more . I always go with my friends Smith and Wesson .

Just a few years ago I was parked on my brothers land and wading the river . I didnt lock my vehicle up , even had the windows rolled down . Thieves got in there and stole a bunch of stuff .They left my work tools though .

[Armtx77]

16 hours ago, Herbert Lorenzo said:

Years ago I was fishing  in an area that was secluded  . I had an alarm installed in my truck so I figured I could hear the alarm if it was triggered . I figured wrong . When I got back to my truck the window was busted out and all my work tools were stolen . I never heard the alarm and maybe that was a good thing being alone , and unarmed no telling how many thieves may have jumped me . I never go fishing alone any more . I always go with my friends Smith and Wesson .

Mine are Heckler and Koch...couple of angry looking Germans.

[Dwight Hottle]

58 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Just a few years ago I was parked on my brothers land and wading the river . I didnt lock my vehicle up , even had the windows rolled down . Thieves got in there and stole a bunch of stuff .They left my work tools though .

Obviously they didn't work for a living. ? 

[Sam]

8 hours ago, cheezyridr said:

i don't understand the point of having it, and not carrying it.

So far I have not ventured into areas where I believe I need a weapon for self protection.

With what is going on in Richmond now, the probability of me carrying in the very near future is very strong.

Also have it for protection while at home.

A few weeks ago a mob stormed the Richmond City Prosecutor's home about 1/2 mile from me.

My neighbors and I thought we were immune to them coming out this far, but were proven wrong.

Dangerous times.

[garroyo130]

3 hours ago, TriStateBassin106 said:

This guy had the right idea, protect yourself on the water! 

This guy did the right thing ... he clickbaited a bunch of people into thinking this was real.

 

Rest assured if you try to draw like that odds are youll wind up dead.

[wis bang]

I carry at the lake, early or late.

 

I'm always surprised how few people seem to notice is when I come in and dock among the yak and paddle board board gang clustered around, especially with the amount of NJ plates I see in the parking lot.....

[Bankc]

On 7/26/2020 at 2:44 PM, RoLo said:

 

Tragic events like this one, make us all think more about self-preservation, and rightly so.

Carrying a handgun is fine, as long as it doesn’t create a false sense of security (Wyatt Earp Syndrome).

The most powerful defense we have against life-threatening situations, are the eyes and brain in our head,

not the gun under our belt. Life-threatening situations rarely play-out like a high-school play,

but more often like a spaghetti western. You may not be taken in cold blood,

but no assailant is going to standstill while you're fetching your popgun.

 

It’s vital to be vigilant of your surroundings at all times, to interpret the behavior and attitude

of all strangers, and to act accordingly. It could be as simple as behaving like a mugger

rather than of a victim, slipping out the backdoor or just avoiding the area completely.

The foremost goal is always to ‘avoid’ a deadly confrontation, because once you actually need a weapon,

you’re in trouble deep, and there’s no escape!

 

Roger

That's the truth right there.  The last thing you want to do is escalate the situation.  It's best to defuse and escape if possible.  I've been in too many bad situations before, and have even had a few guns pulled on me.  What's gotten me home safe every time is being situationally aware, calm, and collected.  Never show fear.  Never show anger.  Never lose control.  Just smile, keep your tone light and friendly, talk slow and do your best to be helpful.  Try to be the guy's friend and help him with his problem.  Try to stand to the side of them instead of in front of them.  Don't let anyone stand behind you, but don't make it seem obvious that you're trying to position yourself.  Mirror what they say so that they understand that you understand.  Don't freak out that they have a gun.  Ignore it and concentrate on their problem and how you can help resolve it.  Fear and anger have a way of spreading, just like calmness and laughter.  These people are usually mentally unstable or high on drugs.  In either situation, it's just as easy to make things worse as it is to make things better.  They can turn on a dime.  And it can go either direction.  Guide them so that it goes in the right direction. 

 

I make it home safe because I don't panic and don't escalate.  It's a bad move to try to draw a gun on someone who already has their gun trained on you.  Once you've lost the draw, the last thing you want to do is make it a "fair fight" for them.  

 

And I'm not anti-gun.  If someone breaks into your house, they're probably not going to give you the opportunity to talk your way out of it.  They're not there to listen.  And a pump from a shotgun says all you need to tell them.  But on neutral ground, your best weapons are your feet and your tongue.  Good insurance also helps.  Get the best you can afford.  That way instead of getting angry that they're stealing from you, you get a little excited about all of that cool new stuff you get to buy!  

[soflabasser]

Good subject. I trusted my instincts this past weekend and caught some nice fish in a place I have never fished before. It feels great when you can catch fish in a new place.