This is the 10th boating-related fatality on Tennessee waters this year. Just wear it!

[Ski]

Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) announces they have located the body of a missing angler. According to an official press release, an unoccupied bass boat was discovered on popular Kentucky Lake on Sunday, May 22. The boat was owned by 60-year-old Daniel E. Keeling from Humboldt, Tenn. and was found in the West Sandy area of the lake. After a several hours of a long search in the vicinity, the body was found by authorities. The man was not wearing a life jacket.

[CrashVector]

Two were killed here last week after two bass boats hit head-on.

 

They just found one of the bodies two days ago.

 

[GRiver]

I hate hearing about things like this. It’s sad for everyone involved. 

[Sam]

I have trouble comprehending why some of us bass guys and gals do not wear our PFD while fishing or going from one location to another.

 

Even in my bass club the guys take off their PFD as soon as they get up from the drivers seat and head for the trolling motor.

 

Since this accident happened in Louisiana I would have expected the two unfortunate boaters to know that wearing their PFD in Louisiana waters is necessary at all times.

[Basser2021]

It is still beyond me why people still don't wear their life jacket on the water. I understand not wearing it while working the trolling motor and fishing, but everyone needs to wear it when they are running from spot to spot. I'm so paranoid on the water, I wear my life jacket when I'm fishing just to be extra safe. I'll be praying for all the families involved.

[Darth-Baiter]

I once called a buddy while I was fishing to tell him how I was doing on my lake.  he was at another lake.  he said he was doing great until he simply fell out for whatever reason.  he said it must have been a misstep.  he was shocked how difficult it was to climb back in.  but he managed.  we laughed about it.  my friend is slender and fit.  an older person or someone less fit could get into real trouble if they cannot touch bottom or can't climb back in.  what a scary death.  

[TnRiver46]

41 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I once called a buddy while I was fishing to tell him how I was doing on my lake.  he was at another lake.  he said he was doing great until he simply fell out for whatever reason.  he said it must have been a misstep.  he was shocked how difficult it was to climb back in.  but he managed.  we laughed about it.  my friend is slender and fit.  an older person or someone less fit could get into real trouble if they cannot touch bottom or can't climb back in.  what a scary death.  

I always stay fairly close to dry land if I’m in a paddle craft . We have an island about 200 yards from our dock, it’s incredible how hard it is to swim that far 

[jbmaine]

We have a boarding ladder on the back of our Lund. I wonder how many people might have been saved if they had an easier way to get back in the boat.

[Dwight Hottle]

3 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

I once called a buddy while I was fishing to tell him how I was doing on my lake.  he was at another lake.  he said he was doing great until he simply fell out for whatever reason.  he said it must have been a misstep.  he was shocked how difficult it was to climb back in.  but he managed.  we laughed about it.  my friend is slender and fit.  an older person or someone less fit could get into real trouble if they cannot touch bottom or can't climb back in.  what a scary death.  

 

You can always get back in by stepping on the motor just above the prop & raising the motor with the trim switch on the side of the motor. 

[soflabasser]

More people than before are speeding both on the water and on the roads these days. Sadly many do not care about others. Would be great if more speed limits are placed on all bodies of water to prevent boaters from speeding. Even then, it might not be enough since these laws need to be enforced. In Florida there are people that speed in manatee zones, you really have to be a jerk to speed in these areas knowing well manatees are an endangered species in Florida.

[Darth-Baiter]

13 minutes ago, Dwight Hottle said:

 

You can always get back in by stepping on the motor just above the prop & raising the motor with the trim switch on the side of the motor. 

this guy just runs a tiny electric motor.  it was in a lake that doesn't allow gas engines.  

[Bird]

Sad and highly likely his death was avoidable.

 

I use to be that guy, no PFD, no seatbelt until I woke up one day and realized other people depend on me and would be devastated had I left the world carelessly.

PFD goes on before the boat hits the water and doesn't come off until feet hit the ground.

Prayers for his family.

 

[soflabasser]

6 hours ago, Basser2021 said:

It is still beyond me why people still don't wear their life jacket on the water. I understand not wearing it while working the trolling motor and fishing, but everyone needs to wear it when they are running from spot to spot. I'm so paranoid on the water, I wear my life jacket when I'm fishing just to be extra safe. I'll be praying for all the families involved.

Some people think they are invincible so they do not wear life jackets while speeding on the water. They do not think of how their actions will affect others, they only care about themselves. Even the best of the best swimmers can easily drown if the boat flips over from speeding, most bass fishermen I know are not good swimmers so it is quite dumb of them to not wear a life jacket while boating. 

[Trox]

2 hours ago, soflabasser said:

Would be great if more speed limits are placed on all bodies of water to prevent boaters from speeding.

For all we know, this dude just had a heart attack or a stroke and "fishing alone" is what killed him... what does any of this have to do with speed? 

[soflabasser]

6 minutes ago, TroxBox said:

For all we know, this dude just had a heart attack or a stroke and "fishing alone" is what killed him... what does any of this have to do with speed? 

Speed is an undeniable factor in a lot of boat crashes, you can look up the statistics if you want. I will never waste my time fishing with someone that speeds on the water.

15 hours ago, CrashVector said:

Two were killed here last week after two bass boats hit head-on.

 

They just found one of the bodies two days ago.

 

This seems to becoming more common as time passes. These people need to hit up a track and work on their 40 yard sprint time instead of driving fast on the water, at least sprinting is a Sport, anyone can drive a boat fast. If the 40 yard sprint is too short of a distance they can always complete a full marathon if they are up to the challenge.

[Trox]

1 minute ago, soflabasser said:

Speed is an undeniable factor in a lot of boat crashes, you can look up the statistics if you want. I will never waste my time fishing with someone that speeds on the water.

I mean, I can understand that, no doubt... But if I was the one who had died of, lets say, a heart attack while operating my trolling motor, fell in the water without a lifejacket, and didn't have the strength at the time to pull myself out, I would hope that people advocated for and spread awareness about the importance of a lifejacket and always fishing with a buddy if you are a high risk individual... 

 

That being said, none of us really know the root cause here. Maybe a lifejacket would have saved his life, maybe it wouldn't have, but it would have likely helped in a big way... I feel like that is more relevant in this case than shouting from the rooftops for people to slow down.

 

[schplurg]

Seems that both speed and lack of PFD are the killers far too often. In fact I can't think of many scenarios that don't involve at least one o those. Even when alcohol is a factor it usually boils down to either too fast or no PFD.

[A-Jay]

13 minutes ago, schplurg said:

Seems that both speed and lack of PFD are the killers far too often. In fact I can't think of many scenarios that don't involve at least one o those. Even when alcohol is a factor it usually boils down to either too fast or no PFD.

COLD WATER.

A-Jay

[schplurg]

Then stop falling out of the boat! Hmmm heated PFDs.....any investors?

[gim]

Most people only do what is required by law. Here in MN that means the PFD has to be accessible, not worn. If they were serious about saving more lives by virtue of having more people wear a PFD, they would change the law. As it is now, I see more people not wearing them than wearing them, even in the early spring time when the water is cold. It’s going to require an actual state law change to save lives, sort of like mandating that passengers in a vehicle wear a seat belt.

 

Just to be transparent on the subject, I wear mine when the main outboard is being used, and my kill switch is attached. I take it off while I fish using the bow mount. I also wear a seat belt in the truck.

[papajoe222]

On 5/25/2022 at 3:23 PM, Dwight Hottle said:

 

You can always get back in by stepping on the motor just above the prop & raising the motor with the trim switch on the side of the motor. 

I did exactly this after swimming to catch up to my boat after falling overboard. I didn't have the energy to pull myself into the boat, even after hanging on the side for a few minutes to rest.  Since then, I wear my inflateable whenever I'm alone.

[detroit1]

Maybe it's time for the pro-organizations require to wear whenever in the boat, not just under main power. Trickle-down effect?

[A kid from Canada]

Not wearing a life jacket doest put others at risk. People should have the freedom to make their own decisions and deal with the risks. 

[A-Jay]

Chosing non survival weakens the stupid gene pool.

Your choice.

#forthegreatergood.

A-Jay

 

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, A kid from Canada said:

Not wearing a life jacket doest put others at risk.

Maybe not - but you have to admit that it can seriously affect others in sometimes very detrimental ways. If you don't do it for yourself - do it for your loved ones to save them the pain.