Maybe a PFD is a good idea...

[FLXTroutman]

I ripped this from GLAngler.com, posted Friday August 7, 2009 at 12:12 am

"Lesson Learned while fishing Solo"

Been telling myself I really should wear that life jacket, especially when trolling all alone. I learned my lesson of a lifetime tonite.

I'm fishing solo out of Holland (went out about 6:30). Sun was down for about 1/2 hour when I decide I've been skunked and start to tear down to head back in. I'm running a dipsey, a downrigger and a full core.

I start with reeling in the full core when the dipsey (with red/gold J-plug) goes off. It was a hawg, a great fighter. Put the full core rod back in the holder and work with that hawg for about 15 minutes when the full core (probably only about 5 colors was left out) goes off too (green/white ladderback spoon). I'm excited. In 65 fow and look back to see the fishfinder is lit up with fish. Real excited. I'm managing to keep the line tight on the lead core reel while still in the rod holder while working to tire out that hawg on the dipsey rod(had been back about 225').

So I get this huge shiny silver king up to the boat finally and grab the net. Wouldn't it figure that I got just a little too long a lead between the dipsey and the J-plug to get a good placement for the net. Doing my best with rod in one hand with fish at the boat, net in the other hand, and watching that other rod slamming up and down in the holder. Really excited now.

He's in the net and then jumps...I'm not gonna let him get away... so I act real quick to slide the net out under him again and SH*T, I'm in the water. And I'm all F*****G alone. And no life jacket on. And the boat is moving. And its dark with no other boats around. SH*T

Good thing I switched from a trolling plate to trolling bags last year. I have no idea how, but I grabbed ahold of the line on the back end of the trolling bag and hang there while being towed along the side of the boat. (cursing myself that I lost the fish, the rod, and the net)

So I try to pull myself into the boat. Its a 19' Sea Ray bowrider. Not too high out of the water. But no way can I get in. Maybe cuz I'm an out of shape 55 yo ... or maybe because it just can't be done. I try till I'm exhausted.

Then I see the ladder. But I'm on the wrong side of the boat and the outdrive is in between me and that ladder. And that prop is moving. I try to grab ahold of the downrigger cable. Too sharp and I'm too heavy. If I let go I know I die.

So I'm towing around for what must of been a 1/2 hour. I'm guessing I'll either beach with the boat sometime tomorrow or I'm going to Wisconsin.

I decided to suck it up and take my chances around the outdrive ... paddling my feet to stay high in the water and way away from that prop. I make it to the ladder and let it down without getting shredded. Totally exhausted but I'm back in the boat. (BTW - I looked to find the fish that was on the lead core when I got back in, but alas he was gone.)

Karma requires that I pass along my lesson. We should all wear a life jacket whenever we're out on the water. Especially when alone. I know I will. (maybe I'll put a rope on that net too)

Thanks for listening....had to tell someone and the wife is in bed.

[LongLine]

Glad the guy made it.

Too bad he didn't pay attention to the sections on safety & landing a fish in this article.

http://www.lakeontariounited.com/blog/a ... oloist.php

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[L&M]

Glad he made it ok.

We had a very good friend here that was in the same predicament . But unfortunately the outcome was much different.

Especially by yourself some sort of pfd is a must.

[motoman]

what a story , i never fish alone on the boat

[YodaMage]

Another idea would be to utilize that wonderful kill switch that I'm sure most of us ignore...

[stinger]

This is what I use when I fish solo or anytime during the winter. It's the only PFD that I'll wear because the other stuff just gets in the way and is hot & sticky in the summer and they usually end up staying in the locker.

The best PFD is the one that you are wearing.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/store ... 0_225-17-0

I also attached a whistle to the belt .

[FLXTroutman]

The whistle on the jacket is good idea, it tends to remind me of the scene in "Titanic" when the bodies are floating and the search craft is poking around and rowing away when all of the sudden Kate Winslet, too cold to speak loudly, starts to blow the whistle on a floater's jacket.

[Shade]

This is not a fish story but it also has to do with being alone.

Back in 2000 I was working in Wellsville, NY and I had a house on top of Niles Hill. The driveway was about 850' off the road so the house was totally secluded and surrounded by woods on three sides. It was a hunting paradise that had not been hunted in years. I built a ladder stand and my wife had come to Buffalo to visit the family and was on her way back. I took my 3 wheeler that I had at the time and I dragged this 25' foot ladder stand into the woods. I walk this ladderstand up against the tree but I forgot the center brace. I decided to climb up the stand anyway and at least get it tied off. While standing on the plateform I was attempting to wrap the strap aroung the tree. The stand turned and began to slide off the tree. There was a smaller tree right next to the one the stand was against so I jumped and grabbed hold. I looked down and the bike and a pile of branches where right below me. I new if I let go I was going to get seriously hurt. The only thing that went through my mind that my wife was on her way home but would not know where I was. I slowly slid down the tree but I was cutting my chest and arms as I came down. I was brush burned on my chest, belly, arms and legs. It was one scarry experience.

Never Hunt or Fish alone unless you where the right protection equipment and always let someone know exaclty where you are and when you will be back. After that experience any time I went into the woods I left one of my hand held radios on the table and showed my wife where I was and when I would be back.

Shade

[CBish]

I don't fish alone much, but when I do and I am trolling I wear a pfd. Often times I am in my boat with several clients who know as much about the boat as I do about women so part of my saftey speech is if I fall out turn off the key and then throw me the ring bouy. The captain should always instruct the rest of the boat what to do in the case of MOB!!!

CC