Loss of life

It's very unfortunate when anyone loses there life on the water. I am only 31 years old and been fishing big lakes for about 8 years. Never owned a boat only tagged along with friends and now have a partner that a tourney fish with every week. My biggest problem on the lakes is just the respect factor. I see more and more people on the water everyday who basically just think it's fun to just to give fisherman or anyone else on the water a hard time just because they get a kick out of it. I have even seen a canoe someone was in at laurel paddling across the lake not bothering anyone when a boat right across from the guy fired his engine up and made a pass as close as he could to the canoe and then turn around and make another pass just to amuse himself I guess. It really burns my behind because of what I call the ingnorance factor. Small boats, midsized boats, big boats, it doesn't matter everyone has a right to the water just have a little respect for you never know what damage may do. Personally I,m tired of reading about folks who lose their life due to ignorance on the water. That's the main concern in my opinion.

I was on Kentucky Lake over the weekend. I saw no barge traffic, I reckon they either limited it to early morning or kept barges off river all together as a curtosey.
But all in all, I have a larger boat than what most people have on the water. I have a 21 ft Fishin' Deck with a pretty deep V. The reason why we bought it was for one-convience, and two-being able to cut larger wakes more easily, since big wakes are getting to be a big problem on Barren. But even with this larger boat, there has been one occasion on Barren when I was on plane and we hit a HUGE wake out of nowhere and I was afraid we were going to take on some serious water and possibly swamp somewhat, or even lose enough balance to lose a person. Luckily, I caught the throttle just in time and we all got very, very wet from the splash, and a little shaken up, but no swamp or injury. But over the weekend at Kentuky, we were fishing a bank near a cove where a large lot of boats were partying, and one of those ocean cutters left. They swung about 50 ft from us at about half throttle. Even though we were stationary, the wake was enough to tip the bow of the boat enough to let some water in, I lost my balance, and had some stuff spill in the boat. But just because you have a large boat does not mean you are not a victim too.
I wish all boaters would be licenesed. It would help a LOT!!!!

Right on Bonefish. I think everybody should have a drivers license for a boat know matter what size it is. The people who can't drive on the water are the same ones on the roads. They cut you off and drift over into your lane or pull out in front of you. These people, more than likely are rude and inconsiderate people for the most part and don't worry about anyone but themselves. Ryan

This event was very tragic.
Speaking along the lines of big boat versus little boat: I was in the canal on Ky and Barkley this weekend. Don't care WHO OR WHAT ANYONE says the Canal should be an idle zone. (except for barges I understand). Man alive around 7-8 pm it is every man for himself. We where fishing and it was nonstop speed boats and Giant cruisers running flat out and thick as fleas. There were several small boats in there fishing , We where in a 20 foot bass boat and it got a little hairy at times. It reallt got interesting when a barge started thru and no less than 6 speed boats were racing from barkley trying to beat it thru . Only to meet it in the canal . Did they slow down NOPE throw the throttle to it and sink the little old man sitting next the the bridge. One idiot passed within 20 feet of us running around 60 mph. Would have loved to have seen him at KDV when we came in

If a person is in a small boat and someone does something reckless with their wake, what can you do? Can you write their boat number down and call someone? My brother and sister-in-law were fishing on the Ohio yesterday at Cannelton Lock and Dam. They were in their boat and I in mine. They fish out of a 16 foot flatbottom that's good and wide and I fish out of a 14 foot fiberglass tri-hull. Now, my boat is old and probably one of the ugliest on the river but I like it and it's perfect for the fishing I do. Well they're anchored at the end of the lock wall and I'm fishing next to them using the trolling motor when here comes a yellow ski type boat with the big ski bar across the top. They go by us into the lock area pretty slow and I'm thinking how uncourteous they are by passing so close, when they turn around and come by me about 20 foot with a wake that was bigger than any barge that came by that day. I was shaking my head as they passed and I swung the bow around to meet the wave, my brother was anchored so all they could do was hold on. The bow went all the way under and water went everywhere and brother said that if it had been any bigger they would have flipped. He also said that as the boat passed they were laughing about it. Now, all they would of had to of done was slow down or passed a little further from us, but no, they seen two people that had boats less expensive than theirs and didn't care. I fish Cannelton just about every weekend and if the four guys that did this are happening to read this, I invite you to please stop by and see me. I'm the one in the little green boat, I usually have an umbrella up when the sun is shining hot. Stop by and we will go to the bank and "talk about it".