Grimm Reminder!

[ND Bass]

Well, it was bound to happen. I've been fishing with my father-in-law for the 21 years I've been married. He's 65, pretty hefty and not very nible. Well, today he lost his balance and fell in. Lucky, we were only in about 7ft of water near some floating bogs. No, he wasn't (and won't) wear a PFD, even after this. I was able to quickly throw him a cushion and manuver the boat so he was between the boat and bog so he could roll onto the bog and get back into the boat. Not a fun experience.



Guys, please, please wear your PFD's! I'm gonna get him one for his b-day if he doesn't get a mustang for himself.



In the spirit of full disclosure, I don't wear one either but am planning to buy one for my wife and I as soon as possible.

 

[TritonGlenn]

After I fell in a while back, and having a log knock the wind out of me in the process of going head over heels into the water, and then gasping (water) into my lungs in a vain effort to get oxygen... I know the feeling of what could happen if things go wrong.



My wife bought me a top of the line Mustang life vest. I wear it every time I go out. My son won't set foot in my boat unless he is wearing his life preserver, and my wife is getting one identical to mine very soon. In the meantime, she's wearing a top of the line regular life vest.



Wear 'em folks. The life you save could be your own.



All the best,

Glenn

 

[fatrap]

I fell off the boat trailer tongue this past June while pulling out. Knocked myself out face down in the water on a rock. PFD wouldn't have saved my in this case. ONe of the few times one wouldn't. A guy that didn't know me turned me over. My buddies were betting on how long it'd take for the bubbles to stop.

fatrap

 

[Greg. Avery]

Good friends are hard to find LOL

 

[firedog978]

After almost 30 years of being a boater, I too took a tumble out of my boat this year. Was fishing alone (as most often I do), when I dropped a favorite rod/reel on a hook set. Instinctively, I grabbed for the rod and did a full summersault (sp?), right out of the boat. It was early AM and wearing jeans and a t-shirt. I got the rod, placed it in the boat and grabbed the handle on the port bow. All I was able to do was get a leg up on the beam and couldn't pull myself any further. I'm no youngster anymore!. I had to swim to the back and get the boarding ladder un-hooked to get back in. I was in 13' of water and fully dressed making even the boarding ladder difficult to negotiate.

I never imagined it would happen to me and now make sure I have my PFD on. That said, most of us take it off when on the trolling motor but, that's when my 'swim' occurred! So, finding one to comfortably fish in is very important as well.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Guiding it is a non-compromoising rule that when the big motor is on so are the PFD's. The suspender type have to be worn allthe time to count as a PFD if you are checked. I say this because if DNR does a check and you only have a suspender type and are not wearing it you will get cited. My PFD is the suspender type but I also have the vest type. And yes, I have done a gainer into the lake.



TOXIC

 

[Berry Lindley]

I went in this March while leaning over to catch a rod I kicked over. It happens fast. Had to use the motor foot to get back in. And in March it is cold, I just happened to have a dry jacket and called my wife to bring over some dry clothes (crappie were hittng so we couldn't leave). Oh yeah, phones don't like to get very wet, I've learned to put them in the glove box.