Anyone else ever fell in, in the winter?

My son and I were muskie fishing Friday in Barren River from a canoe. He hooked and landed this 41 inch muskie:

[IMG]http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y101/bigbuck39/BKTMuskie2011b.jpg[/IMG]

And then he went up onto the bank to fish for a while. I stayed in the canoe, had a hook up with a nice muskie, made some dumb moves and flipped myself out of the canoe. I had a big carhart coat on and steel toed boots. Wasn't wearing a life jacket. That was probably one of the top 30 dumbest things that I have ever done. I couldn't touch the bottom and the water sure was cold. The first thing that ran through my mind was, I can't believe that I am in this river... and under water.

I lost the fish but managed to hold onto my rod and climb out of there. Was even able to cast into the canoe and hook it before it got away.

Anyone else ever took a spill into the water in the winter?

Yep. At Cumberland years back. Never happens when you expect it. Not gonna bore you with details. Realize we are talking diferent type boats. In cold months, I always carry a dry set of spare clothes. Boats always have a ladder I can reach and deploy from the water. And I carry a flask in my jacket pocket. If I'm going down, I'm going to enjoy the ride.

Glad you're okay. Be careful dude, world needs good folks.

Congradulations on living through it. Call it a learning experience and wear that PFD, because you might not be as fortunate the next time. We enjoy your posts here and look forward to more in the future.

I have never fell out of a boat, but stepped out of one back in my childhood. Dad and I were checking limblines and the water was up and muddy. I misjudged where the gravel bar started in the muddy water and the water was over my head where I stepped out. Fortunately he always insisted on his kids wearing a life jacket. I was a little embarassed nothing more, but I learned what a life jacket was for.

I have never done it and there is absolutely no way that I can get back in my boat by myself if it ever happened for my Deep V sits really high out of the water, combined with me being a Fat Man without the strength or mid section to help me pull up thanks to all of my past surgeries. I think about this all the time when I am fishing Dale Hollow in the winter by myself. I too don't wear a PFD, one of the dumbest things that I do as well, for they are too bulky and I am already wearing 6 layers of clothes or more plus boots and overalls. I don't think the PFD could keep me afloat anyways and it would make it harder for me to try and swim to the bank. One thing that I do, is make sure the boat floor is clear of trip hazards. I stand the net up against the steering wheel so I can grab it easy but more importantly it is not laying in the floor, plus all my Rods are behind me on the side of the boat that I don't fish out of and there is no reason for me to step on. If it ever did happen and I was lucky enough to get back in the boat, I would probably have to go to the back of the boat and step on the prop area and use the trim of the motor to help me up, not sure that will even work. I do have extra change of clothes, one of those aluminum space blankets, socks, towels, a sportcat space heater with extra cylinders, several pairs of gloves and hats, and even fire starting stuff. All of the above I would reccomend for you to have in your boat just in case you went in, not only the winter but even in the fall and early spring when the water temps are 70 or so, still could cause you some serious problems if you are in them for a long time

Fell in? Well, not exactly...

I was loading my small 2 man boat on a little trailer after fishing a cold November evening at my favorite creek several years ago. In a hurry I didn't secure it well enough to the trailer, so when I pulled the trailer out of the water the boat slid off and into the water. The creek was up and flowing good, water temperature was 52 degrees, and nobody else had been fishing there all day. By the time I stripped off and jumped in, my boat was 75 yards downstream and moving toward the dam. Ten minutes (seemed like a lifetime) of swimming like a convict escaping alcatraz later I reached my boat and BARELY climbed in. Thank god I still had my paddle in the boat, lol. I think that's the coldest I've ever been in my life...learned several lessons that day I'll never forget.
Glad you posted this, hope everyone takes precautions to stay safe on the water, especially in winter.
"you have a 50% chance of surviving 50 degree water for 50 minutes" -Bill Dance

Fell in about 6 years ago fishing with my son one of warmer days in Feb. Had motor issues, and a dead battery in unexpected 30mph winds. I fell in while paddeling and by the time I came back up the boat was 10 yards away, and getting further by the second. With layers of clothes on and coveralls on top of that I was having trouble keeping my head above water. All I remember is thinking "It was over for me" then I remember seeing my son in the boat and the look on his face, and somehow by the grace of God I made it to the side, and was able to hold on until I drifted close enough to touch bottom. If you have never been in water that cold, for an extended amount of time. When you get out, rather than being cold, it feels like your body is on fire. Don't think it can't happen to you, it happens in a matter of seconds. We had somebody watching over us that day.

Here is a very interesting video I saw from another site.

[URL]http://www.boatus.com/videos/default.asp?videoID=324[/URL]

If you fish in the winter try not to fish alone and always wear your pfd.

Serious stuff!! I lost two cousins years ago whn they were thrown out of a boat while duck hunting. Of course they were wearing coveralls and boots, etc. Once those coveralls got soaked it was too much weight, pulled them under before anyone could get to them. Of course they were not wearing PFD's!!!!!!!!!

Here is a tip they say works for those that have not heard It I thought I would pass it along. If you fall from a bass boat and have no ladder you can put your feet on the lower unit and use the trim switch to help you get back in the boat.

Great vid Waco...!!

[QUOTE=dac244;440629]Here is a tip they say works for those that have not heard It I thought I would pass it along. If you fall from a bass boat and have no ladder you can put your feet on the lower unit and use the trim switch to help you get back in the boat.[/QUOTE]
that is a good idea, thanks

[QUOTE=elnutsmalljaws;440599]I have never done it and there is absolutely no way that I can get back in my boat by myself if it ever happened for my Deep V sits really high out of the water, combined with me being a Fat Man without the strength or mid section to help me pull up thanks to all of my past surgeries. I think about this all the time when I am fishing Dale Hollow in the winter by myself. I too don't wear a PFD, one of the dumbest things that I do as well, for they are too bulky and I am already wearing 6 layers of clothes or more plus boots and overalls. I don't think the PFD could keep me afloat anyways and it would make it harder for me to try and swim to the bank. One thing that I do, is make sure the boat floor is clear of trip hazards. I stand the net up against the steering wheel so I can grab it easy but more importantly it is not laying in the floor, plus all my Rods are behind me on the side of the boat that I don't fish out of and there is no reason for me to step on. If it ever did happen and I was lucky enough to get back in the boat, I would probably have to go to the back of the boat and step on the prop area and use the trim of the motor to help me up, not sure that will even work. I do have extra change of clothes, one of those aluminum space blankets, socks, towels, a sportcat space heater with extra cylinders, several pairs of gloves and hats, and even fire starting stuff. All of the above I would reccomend for you to have in your boat just in case you went in, not only the winter but even in the fall and early spring when the water temps are 70 or so, still could cause you some serious problems if you are in them for a long time[/QUOTE]

Elunt, Got a couple of sugestions for you. You already know that cold weather fishin from a boat has its own dangers.

1) Get you one of the inflatable life jckets if the bulk is to much for you. Since the body is mostly water and fat it is more bouyant that you think but you will need floatation. You are not going to swim far with all those clothes on. A vest will keep you afloat.

2) If you go out in cold water (any water) have a plan to get back in the boat. Get you a rope ladder to hook on the gunnel, then a short rope with one end tied to the ladder in the boat and the other maybe to a cleat or eye hook on the back were you can grab that rope and ladder from the water. I know you may have trouble getting up the rope, but you are going to be doing a powerfull drug called adreneline at that time and you will have a better chance that no ladder.

You may come up with a better rentry but the point is to make a plan. I had a Cabin Cruiser with a transom that was over 4 foot high. I always had a rope ladder with a rope to pull it to me from the water whenever I was boating alone. Never had to use it so I cant tell you if it worked well or fair.