Great advice and words to live by! One off the other dangers of fishing alone too! It only takes a few minutes for hypothermia to take over in this colder water and what if you hit your head or break a limb on the way into the drink? I always have clothes of some sort in my car, to put together a quick outfit like you did, but you can never be too ready or prepared!
On a lighter and not so much important note (because he is alive and well..... Shawn!), you saved the rod! Did you catch any fish?
I was in the lunker tourney at Whitmans pond today. High winds and 45 degree water. I wore my vest. I don't always wear it but when the conditions are bad I do. Towards the end of the day there were whitecaps and about 25 mph winds. I was turning to change baits when I stumbled. I made a grab for the trolling motor but it pulled up almost off the boat (so glad that didn't come in with me) and splash. I felt the cold instantly on my hands and feet. I swam to the boat, threw my rod in and pulled myself up. One of the guys in a bass boat (I'm not sure who as I never met him before) came over and asked if I wanted a tow. I figured that would be faster so I said yes. Fortunately I had a pair of shoes, a hoodie and my old rain gear in my car so I could change out of my wet clothes right away. From now on I will keep a duffle bag with a change of clothes in my car. And I will always wear my vest in crappy conditions
Dude I thought you fell in right at the ramp I didn't realize you were fishing when it happened, that was Dave Wojic (he runs Cran Bog Hawgs) that helped you out
Thanks guys. Ya Rog I caught one of the 3 and I wasn't droppin the KVD rod for nothing lol. Thanks again Dave!!!! Neil I was at the opposite side of the pond from where I last saw you. It was about 12.20-12:30 when it happened. All my clothes were completely soaked except for my upper torso. I was pretty grateful that the air temp was 45 and not 25. I'm not even sure my head went under. My hat was completely dry. I can't fall in on a 90 degree day right?
Of course not what fun would that be! I'm glad you are ok, today was the first time on my boat I actually was a little nervous about going in, I've been in some 2 foot rollers with it no problem, but that wind today was swirling and just turned on and off out of no where, caught me off gaurds a few times
As they said in Hill Stree Blues " Let's be careful out there"
SO glad to hear that the PFD helped and you got yourself back in to your boat. Super cool there was a crew near bye to get you in to warmth quickly.
Not sure where you were but and may it never happen a again but most of the home owners give one or two are good people that if you could get to shore would have helped you out.
I wear PFD belt but it is not auto inflate. If I get out again I think I will wear my reg PFD and look into an auto for next season.
