Winter Fishing Safety Tips....

This topic has been posted here before but it can never be posted enough. For all the Dedicated Idiotic Fishermen, LIKE ME, who love to fish when the water temps are below 50 and the air temps are below freezing, here are some winter fishing tips for anyone who may put a boat in the water this winter.

Take extra change of clothes and towels in the boat

Keep De icer in the boat for frozen components and steering cables

Keep some rock salt or sand for frozen ramps

DO NOT UNHOOK THE FRONT OF THE BOAT BEFORE BACKING DOWN THE RAMP

Use a helmet or fish headz to protect your face and eyes while running

Keep several pairs of gloves in the boat

Dress in layers

After launching your boat, pull very SLOWLY to where the back of your trailer is just out of water and let all the water drain back into the lake. Hit your brakes a time or two to make sure then pull up the ramp. This will keep all that water in the lake and not on the ramp, which will freeze instantly in certain temps and the next guy will have a nice sheet of ice to back down.

Fish with a buddy, I say this and I fish by myself quite a bit but it is best to fish with a buddy

Take a cell phone, tell someone before where you are launching from and most likely what part of the lake are you fishing.

I use a Coleman Sportcat Heater that works great to keep my hands warm. This could be very useful if needed to dry out your hands, gloves or clothing if needed.

Make sure the back of the boat is far enough in the water as so it does not hit the ramp if it was to slide off the trailer after unhooking the front. It is better for one person to be in the boat and the other unhook the boat in case it slides off the trailer. What happens is the bunk boards will get wet, especially if you fished the day before and it droped below freezing that night, and it will be like the boat sitting on ice.

Make sure the boat is off the trailer before your buddy pulls up the ramp because the boat will freeze to your trailer and it could come sliding off just off the waters edge.

these are all I can think of now but others can chime in and possibly save a life or two. I have had my boat come sliding off the trailer, luckily it was far enough in the water and I was inside it. I have been backing down a ramp that a guy had just pulled up and dumped water on it, happens to be the one at horse creek in the back not the one next to the office, and if not for 4 wheel drive and even then my back tires were in the water when they got traction, I would have sunk a new Explorer and me with it. My boat has been frozen to my trailer, my steering cables have frozen up as well as all of my compartments. These things do happen and I consider myself a pretty experienced winter fishermen being my 5th year at it and all the days I spend at Dale Hollow. Good Luck and be safe

Thanks for the input.I would add that i aways wear my PFD even if fishing with a freind.Terry Adolph:cool:

[QUOTE=raincheck;385580]Thanks for the input.I would add that i aways wear my PFD even if fishing with a freind.Terry Adolph:cool:[/QUOTE]


That is another one that I SAY to do but NEVER do. I know I am wrong for this but I might as well be honest about it.

i like the DO NOT UNHOOK THE FRONT OF THE BOAT BEFORE BACKING DOWN THE RAMP being in bold have you done that before. i saw it done once while i was waiting to load back up the guys boat came off slidding down the ramp and out into the lake. i trolled over and got it for him. he and his partner acted like it wasnt no big deal. he hit the bilge and no water came out so he said its ok im going fishing and headed out lol.

Thanks for posting this Elwood ( I admit I'm an idiot too!) we fish all year long when we get the chance (wife and youngest son- 15 yr old) .

I would add that you need to keep an eye on the weather when you are out on the water. The weather changes much quicker in late fall and winter and the wind can come up in literally seconds. Know the forecast before going out and keep an eye to the sky and be aware!

Three teenage duckhunters died on Ky. Lake last January because they didn't realize the wind direction had changed. Don't be a statistic!!

Also If your boat does not have a ladder, have and practice an entry from the water. My previous boat (triton) was next to impossible to re-enter from the water - had to use the motor (which is not full proof). I was planning on installing a saftey ladder. I am going to put one on my current boat this winter. But I would definitely have a plan to get back in the boat - even if it is a loop of rope you can put over a cleat and use as step for leverage to help pull yourself back in. Even if you can get in with a little effort in warm water, you have to remember in cold water your muscles dont work near as well, and you are much weaker.

[QUOTE=Col Forbin;386549]Also If your boat does not have a ladder, have and practice an entry from the water. My previous boat (triton) was next to impossible to re-enter from the water - had to use the motor (which is not full proof). I was planning on installing a saftey ladder. I am going to put one on my current boat this winter. But I would definitely have a plan to get back in the boat - even if it is a loop of rope you can put over a cleat and use as step for leverage to help pull yourself back in. Even if you can get in with a little effort in warm water, you have to remember in cold water your muscles dont work near as well, and you are much weaker.[/QUOTE]
never crossed my mind as far as a part of boater/fishing safety. always thought of a ladder as a way for skiers to climb aboard. will look into a ladder or the rope idea for my boat. good tip

One thing we always do is keep the chemical foot/handwarmers on the boat, (even though we have propane heaters) they could save a life under extreme unpredicted situations, don't cost much and right now is the time to stock up as Wal-Mart etc. stocks them by the thousands :)

I prefer the foot warmers as they're bigger, hotter and hold heat much longer which could mean a great deal if you really NEED them

I was putting my boat away and getting it cleaned up and noticed that I had my throw cushion at the bottom on the storage box with a bunch of stuff piled on top, then a light came on, how quick could I get to it if I needed it. On top of every thing now just in case I need it.