Another kayaker killed

[Zcoker]

This time by a fishing boat, 24 year old girl, no life jacket, shame. Prayers to the family. 

 

https://www.wsmv.com/2023/05/01/womans-body-recovered-following-deadly-kayak-incident-percy-priest-lake/

[Tennessee Boy]

It’s very sad.  I fish that lake.   I never go there on the weekends because I’m afraid someone will hit me and I’m in a silver bass boat.  I don’t think most kayaker realize how small they are on a big lake and so many of them almost seem like they’re trying to camouflage themselves.   What color are most kayaks?  The color of lake water.  Add a matching life vest and cap and you’re practically invisible when you’re on top of a wake and completely invisible when you’re between wakes.

[Bird]

Very sad.

Seems like more and more incidents with boating, water sports and kayaking being such popular activities.

Thinking flags and bright colors should be enforced for smaller craft, would certainly help.

[Darth-Baiter]

oh no!!!  i wonder if a PFD would have even saved her?  maybe aided in the recovery?

 

my thoughts go way out for the friends and family.

 

 

[airshot]

We recently had a canoe flip over in cold water and heavy current, one did not make it to shore !!  No life jackets !!  Cant understand why people don't look at their surroundings and prepare !!!  

[Zcoker]

Sometimes folks just feel all safe and secure and comfy in their nice little family fun filled local lake....they figure that it cannot happen to them, the unthinkable. So they loose the life jacket. All smiles and happy go lucky and then BOOM. Dead and gone and no more. Hopefully more and more will see post like this and remember to hold dear to them that life jacket, as if a good friend. All we can do is get the word out and hope for the very best! 

[Bankc]

19 hours ago, Bird said:

Very sad.

Seems like more and more incidents with boating, water sports and kayaking being such popular activities.

Thinking flags and bright colors should be enforced for smaller craft, would certainly help.

Sadly, I don't think they would.  At least not much.  I know I've had several incidents where a power boat was heading right for me and not paying attention.  Either their watching their graphs, or watching the skier/wake boarder they're pulling, talking to a friend, or in one case, didn't know how to set the trim and was running around with the nose pointed almost straight up in the air!  You'd think they'd see a 6'2" man standing up with a bright orange PFD, but they sometimes don't, and I have to take action.  I think there's just too many power boaters who don't understand how dangerous their craft can be.  I've even had a few buzz me on purpose to swamp my kayak because they thought it was funny or something.  I'd like to see more patrols on these lakes, or at least make people pass a test and get a separate license for boating.  Even if it's just an online, written test.  But regular patrols would be ideal.  I'd say less than half of all boaters around here seem to respect the No Wake buoys and many will drink openly, as if it were legal.  And it might as well be, because there's no enforcement on the water, and everyone knows it.  

 

And on the opposite end, there are too many small vessel operators who don't understand just how vulnerable they are.  You've got to keep your head on a swivel and always assume no one else sees you.  If you hear a motor, find it and keep an eye on it.  It doesn't matter how far away it is.  In my experience, nine times out of ten, a close call can be predicted a full minute or more before it happens, which is enough time to make it not a close call.  And keep a signaling device like a horn or whistle on you and at the ready.  

[DaubsNU1]

Man, that's sad news : (

 

Thankfully most of the lakes I fish are 5 MPH / no wake. I do fish a lake that has water skiers and such, but I'm usually off the water before they start.

 

My PFD is always on when the big motor is fired up. It's only a 20hp, but my little boat can make 20 MPH, and even that scares the crap out of me at times.

 

This story is a reminder that it just takes one situation, one instance, one mistake, one slip, one miss....and it's time to meet the good Lord.

[flyfisher]

I have been told by many boaters that what i wear and the kayak color doesn't matter for the exact reasons you stated but they did say having bright colored paddle blades draws attention much more.  Unfortunately so many fishing kayaks are now motorized or pedal power you don't see the paddles in the air as often.  I am lucky that I have a lot of lakes are HP restricted or electric only.  On the few places I fish that I have a concern of motorized boats I use my flag and flashing strobe.  

[Tennessee Boy]

A few years ago I was heading into a creek that had a narrow channel marked by buoys leading to a large marina.  I was watching three boats,  one in front of me and two coming towards me.  That’s when I first noticed a kayak to my right.  His kayak,  life vest,  and cap were all olive brown which matched the color of the water.  I had not seen him until it was too late but fortunately I missed him by 30 feet.  All of the boats were creating wakes and I could only see his kayak when he was on top of a wake.  That experience still haunts me.

[Chris Catignani]

I fish on Priest...Some of these bass boats a flying up lake...driver looking at the T.V.
Its not real safe...even if you in a boat.

[Darth-Baiter]

in the CA Delta, i have to really be aware of my kayak position.  i cant fish openings in channels, no matter how juicy they look.  boats come ripping out of there blind.  i would die.  i wear a PFD 100%, but a bass boat running up my spine would make it a moot point.  

 

that article above doesnt indicate if she drowned or was bludgeoned to death with a lower unit.  i wont speculate.    my kayak is not water colored.  (water is clear, no?  )  lake surfaces are often the color of rainbows.  my bone colored boat stands out fine.  my next paddle with have red blades i can wave around if i get desperate. 

[TnRiver46]

3 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

in the CA Delta, i have to really be aware of my kayak position.  i cant fish openings in channels, no matter how juicy they look.  boats come ripping out of there blind.  i would die.  i wear a PFD 100%, but a bass boat running up my spine would make it a moot point.  

 

that article above doesnt indicate if she drowned or was bludgeoned to death with a lower unit.  i wont speculate.    my kayak is not water colored.  (water is clear, no?  )  lake surfaces are often the color of rainbows.  my bone colored boat stands out fine.  my next paddle with have red blades i can wave around if i get desperate. 

You can just paint the blades of your current paddle 

[Darth-Baiter]

Just now, TnRiver46 said:

You can just paint the blades of your current paddle 

please dont tell my wife that.  i told her my new Bending Branches paddle is for SAFETY.  

 

shhhhhhh.

[Zcoker]

I'm waiting on something like this to happen on Headwaters Lake here in Fellsmere, Florida. Well, not literally waiting or wanting it to happen, heck no! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. But for all those who know this lake, it's one of the premiere destinations in the country right now for big bass. The lake or impoundment is only about 10k acres large and it's jammed packed with high powered bass boats most all days with the weekends seeing over 200 boats. Right now the water levels are low, like only 1-2 feet lol So the deeper areas make the lake much smaller in accessible size yet the boats are just as thick. I've seen them doing over 60mph down the canals! There's been guns drawn on this lake, fights in the parking lot, numerous arrest.....it's chaos in the making! Hopefully the FWC can get a grip on things before a terrible thing happens like this thread. My vote is to close the place down as it was before, for kayakers only! 

[Darth-Baiter]

31 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

I'm waiting on something like this to happen on Headwaters Lake here in Fellsmere, Florida. Well, not literally waiting or wanting it to happen, heck no! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. But for all those who know this lake, it's one of the premiere destinations in the country right now for big bass. The lake or impoundment is only about 10k acres large and it's jammed packed with high powered bass boats most all days with the weekends seeing over 200 boats. Right now the water levels are low, like only 1-2 feet lol So the deeper areas make the lake much smaller in accessible size yet the boats are just as thick. I've seen them doing over 60mph down the canals! There's been guns drawn on this lake, fights in the parking lot, numerous arrest.....it's chaos in the making! Hopefully the FWC can get a grip on things before a terrible thing happens like this thread. My vote is to close the place down as it was before, for kayakers only! 

this sounds like a recipe for disaster!!    

 

i was once fishing in a channel.  it was shallow.  a boater asked me to move so he could rip down the deepest section. he said the only way he could make it was to be on plane.  i backed way off.  he had stones, i give him that.  i was nice of him to wave me down..i was stoked.  

[Zcoker]

24 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

this sounds like a recipe for disaster!!    

 

i was once fishing in a channel.  it was shallow.  a boater asked me to move so he could rip down the deepest section. he said the only way he could make it was to be on plane.  i backed way off.  he had stones, i give him that.  i was nice of him to wave me down..i was stoked.  

Yep, recipe for disaster! Just never know when a 250hp boat is gonna fly around a corner or down a canal at highway speeds. We see accidents like this thread on open water. Now imagine this happening on canals with tall sawgrass banks, sawgrass islands, clumps of cover all over the place! I rarely yak on Headwaters Lake anymore because of the intense boat traffic during daylight hours. It's closed at night else I would be there more often. 

[Darth-Baiter]

Just now, Zcoker said:

Yep, recipe for disaster! Just never know when a 250hp boat is gonna fly around a corner or down a canal at highway speeds. We see accidents like this thread on open water. Now imagine this happening on canals with tall sawgrass banks, sawgrass islands, clumps of cover all over the place! I rarely yak on Headwaters Lake anymore because of the intense boat traffic during daylight hours. It's closed at night else I would be there more often. 

i know its florida and you all have giant bass everywhere.  but is Headwaters a great fishery?  or just convienent to the boaters?

[Zcoker]

1 hour ago, Darth-Baiter said:

i know its florida and you all have giant bass everywhere.  but is Headwaters a great fishery?  or just convienent to the boaters?

 

Headwaters Lake is most likely one of the best bass fisheries in the country.....and it's only been accessible by boat for a few years. Before the boat ramp opened, it was only accessible by kayak. A whole bunch of biologist got together and designed the perfect bass fishery. They literally sculpted the earth and put in ledges, rock piles, vegetation, all to create a perfect environment for the bass to flourish. Then they stocked it with over 1 million bass. Today, there's double digit fish caught there just about every day with many teeners included. 

 

But maybe they went too far, just like Frankenstein did with his monster. The sheer magnitude of all that went into this lake to create big bass has drawn people from all over the world to catch them. In that way, it just may be a recipe for disaster!

 

 

 

 

 

[TnRiver46]

36 minutes ago, Zcoker said:

 

Headwaters Lake is most likely one of the best bass fisheries in the country.....and it's only been accessible by boat for a few years. Before the boat ramp opened, it was only accessible by kayak. A whole bunch of biologist got together and designed the perfect bass fishery. They literally sculpted the earth and put in ledges, rock piles, vegetation, all to create a perfect environment for the bass to flourish. Then they stocked it with over 1 million bass. Today, there's double digit fish caught there just about every day with many teeners included. 

 

But maybe they went too far, just like Frankenstein did with his monster. The sheer magnitude of all that went into this lake to create big bass has drawn people from all over the world to catch them. In that way, it just may be a recipe for disaster!

 

 

 

 

 

What’s all this kayak only talk?? You discriminate against canoes????? 

[TOXIC]

4 hours ago, Zcoker said:

I'm waiting on something like this to happen on Headwaters Lake here in Fellsmere, Florida. Well, not literally waiting or wanting it to happen, heck no! I wouldn't wish this on anyone. But for all those who know this lake, it's one of the premiere destinations in the country right now for big bass. The lake or impoundment is only about 10k acres large and it's jammed packed with high powered bass boats most all days with the weekends seeing over 200 boats. Right now the water levels are low, like only 1-2 feet lol So the deeper areas make the lake much smaller in accessible size yet the boats are just as thick. I've seen them doing over 60mph down the canals! There's been guns drawn on this lake, fights in the parking lot, numerous arrest.....it's chaos in the making! Hopefully the FWC can get a grip on things before a terrible thing happens like this thread. My vote is to close the place down as it was before, for kayakers only! 

There’s a 25mph speed limit on that entire lake.  Start enforcing the existing rules before you advocate shutting it down.  Most of the offenders are locals who feel the rules don’t apply to them.  We obeyed all the rules when we were there and also slowed to no wake speeds every time we met someone in the canals. 

[Darth-Baiter]

1 hour ago, Zcoker said:

 

Headwaters Lake is most likely one of the best bass fisheries in the country.....and it's only been accessible by boat for a few years. Before the boat ramp opened, it was only accessible by kayak. A whole bunch of biologist got together and designed the perfect bass fishery. They literally sculpted the earth and put in ledges, rock piles, vegetation, all to create a perfect environment for the bass to flourish. Then they stocked it with over 1 million bass. Today, there's double digit fish caught there just about every day with many teeners included. 

 

But maybe they went too far, just like Frankenstein did with his monster. The sheer magnitude of all that went into this lake to create big bass has drawn people from all over the world to catch them. In that way, it just may be a recipe for disaster!

 

 

 

 

 

WOW!!!  one word:  roadtrip!!

[TOXIC]

5 minutes ago, Darth-Baiter said:

WOW!!!  one word:  roadtrip!!

It’s well worth it.  We went from Virginia last year.  Lots of guides and a lot of drama but we caught at least 1 over 6lbs every day between 3 boats.  We only fished artificials.  Most of the guides are shiner fishermen.  There were a lot of kayaks but we never had a problem with them and most waved us past when we went by.  To my knowledge there have not been any incidents between bass boats and kayaks there yet. 

[Woody B]

Be careful everyone.  It only takes a split second mistake to change your life, or someone else's forever.   

[gim]

I was out on a popular Twin Cities area lake today.  The water is still in the upper 40's on the main lake, yet just about every single boat I saw, the individuals in there were not wearing a PFD.  When I was leaving, I counted 7 boats heading out of the no-wake channel and not a single person in them had a PFD on.

 

I don't think these people realize how cold 48.5 degree water is.  Even on a sunny 70 degree day, you aren't going to last very long without a PFD.