Drinking the lake or stream water in the time of need. 2025
kenmitch reply :
Always wondered if people are brave enough to drink the water. I'm in CA and my closest lake is Lake Perris which I doubt I'd drink the water. I'm sure there are places that are safe but often wondered if people are brave enough to do it as it doesn't take much to taint the water.
I was looking at the prime day deals hoping to score a deal on a fishing pole or maybe some swim bait or two that I'd like to purchase....Nothing caught my eye.
They do have the LifeStraw on special for $9.99 for the next 12hrs or so. I figured for the price I'd pick one up and throw it in the Yak for the just in case scenario. Anybody use one before? Sounds like it would work in a pinch.
Tennessee Boy reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 2:33 AM, kenmitch said:They do have the LifeStraw on special for $9.99 for the next 12hrs or so. I figured for the price I'd pick one up and throw it in the Yak for the just in case scenario. Anybody use one before? Sounds like it would work in a pinch.
I saw the LifeStraws on sale and gave some thought to getting one for the boat. Then I realized I've made it 30 years without ever needing one so why waste $10.
Choporoz reply :
40 years ago on some lakes in Northern Wisconsin.....two weeks ago in NW Ontario.... never around here.
I do have a strong constitution and would not hesitate long most anywhere if it were truly a 'time of need', as you say
Russ E reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 2:33 AM, kenmitch said:Always wondered if people are brave enough to drink the water. I'm in CA and my closest lake is Lake Perris which I doubt I'd drink the water. I'm sure there are places that are safe but often wondered if people are brave enough to do it as it doesn't take much to taint the water.
I was looking at the prime day deals hoping to score a deal on a fishing pole or maybe some swim bait or two that I'd like to purchase....Nothing caught my eye.
They do have the LifeStraw on special for $9.99 for the next 12hrs or so. I figured for the price I'd pick one up and throw it in the Yak for the just in case scenario. Anybody use one before? Sounds like it would work in a pinch.
Not here in the Midwest. Mercury, Nitrates and phosphates are just a few of the reasons not to drink surface water .
Life straw will not remove them.
lifestraw and others like it, only remove bacteria and protozoa.
unless you are in the back country away from any human activity , I would carry your own water.
Yakalong reply :
Just pack more beer 
WRB reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 2:33 AM, kenmitch said:Always wondered if people are brave enough to drink the water. I'm in CA and my closest lake is Lake Perris which I doubt I'd drink the water. I'm sure there are places that are safe but often wondered if people are brave enough to do it as it doesn't take much to taint the water.
I was looking at the prime day deals hoping to score a deal on a fishing pole or maybe some swim bait or two that I'd like to purchase....Nothing caught my eye.
They do have the LifeStraw on special for $9.99 for the next 12hrs or so. I figured for the price I'd pick one up and throw it in the Yak for the just in case scenario. Anybody use one before? Sounds like it would work in a pinch.
You do realize if you live near Perris CA you are drinking the lake water.
Tom
Way north bass guy reply :
I’ve been using a life straw for the last several years in deer season (November). I stillhunt, walking lots of miles in huge public land areas in central Ontario that see absolutely no humans other than myself in hunting season. It works great there, as I’m only concerned about parasites/bacteria. The creeks and ponds are clear and clean, other than what the beavers do to them. The life straw is so much easier to carry in the day pack than a full bottle or thermos all day as it weighs almost nothing. That time of year, the water is at or just above freezing so it’s nice to drink, not sure if I’d use it in the summer, cause I’m not a fan of drinking warm water, but it’s work in a pinch if you don’t have anything else.
Quarry Man reply :
NEVER drink water straight from the source. If you are concerned with being in "a time of need" but "don't want to add too much weight" consider purchasing a titanium backpacking pot and something to start a fire with or a backpacking stove. These are designed to be light. Titanium is very useful because it is light, strong, and will heat water first. Boiling the water ensures that all living organisms are killed. I have a lifestrpaw in my backpacking gear, but have always opted to use my MSR Ultralight Backpacking Stove instead. I have never needed to find drinking water while I was out fishing, but I am knowledgeable enough to start a fire with my bare hands and boil water if I have too. In a true emergency, drink water that is not directly on the surface, as this is where the contaminants will be most abundant, and avoid drinking from places that animals frequent. Fecal matter ALWAYS carries bacteria and parasites that you don't want to risk getting. Try to find water that is fast flowing, preferably over rocks not mud/sediment and drink from the bottom of the waterfall/rapids. You can also dig a gypsy well near the shore, the carbon in the segment will purify the water but it will taste awful. Another alternative is iodine tablets, but water will taste funny.
kenmitch reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 8:39 AM, WRB said:You do realize if you live near Perris CA you are drinking the lake water.
Tom
Guess that explains why the tap water taste better now that the lake level is up 20ft or so.
I'm about 2.6 miles as the crow flies away from the lake. I'd imagine they at least do some form of treatment before it gets to my house.
kenmitch reply :
On 7/18/2018 at 8:32 AM, Yakalong said:Just pack more beer
I'm not a drinker. I'm not sure how your areas are but around here it's best to stay alert when in the kayak. The lake can get crowded this time of the year so one needs to be alert and keep aware of his surroundings at all times. I have to keep an eye out for boat traffic, wakes, and wind blown swells at times while trying to fish. When there's more boat traffic or the spot jockeys are out it pays to be alert and aware of your surroundings.
B-Dozer reply :
just pack, a small bottle of Jack
Brew City Bass reply :
Have I done it? Yes. Was it smart? Probably not.
Most lakes I fish are spring lakes and I can see the bottom clear as day in 20fow. I don't think it'd kill you in a pinch, but I'd be worried about run off from local farms or home owners lawn treatment.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
Never! That's wanting it bad there son.
NYWayfarer reply :
No. I have never felt the need to drink directly from the source.
I bring water with me in one of those vacuum sealed water bottles. Keeps ice forever.
TOXIC reply :
I did 60 years ago in the deepwoods of Canada on a large lake but today with all of the contaminants in the atmosphere, no body of water anywhere is totally safe IMHO.
I totally misjudged my water needs in a tournament once and got thirsty enough to drink cooler water. That was nasty.
In another tournament, I did the same thing and one of the sponsors was Monster Energy Drinks and they had a huge tub of them at the launch for everyone to sample. I grabbed 4 and threw them in my boat cooler. Ran out of water and figured I might as well drink 1. 1 led to 2 led to 3 and finally all 4. I almost stroked out before I got back to the weigh in. I was shaking like a leaf and talking extreeeemly fast. 
bagofdonuts reply :
I got giardia once from a beautiful mountain stream. It was not fun.
Log Catcher reply :
Never would I do that. The last place I fished the water was so dirty the line on my reels was dirty and discolored when I quit. No telling what is in the water you can't see.
N Florida Mike reply :
I was high up In the Georgia mountains camping and drunk water coming out of a hole in the rocks. Best tasting water I've ever had. No Ill effect.
I also went camping with the family in the Florida backwoods and we all had some of the melted ice cooler water.
Before long, we were all hunting our own private palmetto bush ! Glad we had plenty of toilet paper !
WRB reply :
Today we have choices to take along a water purification kit available from most back packing outfits.
When I back packed or hike into wilderness areas in the early 60's we thought it was safe to drink mountain stream water and did several times without any ill affects. One day I drank some cold pure running stream water then proceeded further up the stream and a dead decaying deer was laying in the stream. That was the end of my drinking stream water.
Tom
Turkey sandwich reply :
There are too many cheap purification systems now to risk it. I do have Lifestraws and a Sawyer that luckily I've never had to use. Still, thy cost very little, weigh almost nothing, and are super packable. They just make sense to have. It amazes me how so many guys will carry a firearm on the water, but don't have a functional first aid kit or water purification.
nosdog2 reply :
I don't drink it, I heard the fish pee in it......
FishDewd reply :
Haven't you ever seen the movie Cabin Fever? :O
Nope. Maybe in a life or death situation where there is certain quick moving clear streams where salmon and rainbow trout frequent... otherwise not a chance. Some things can't even be killed from boiling.
riverbasser reply :
Just do what bear grylls does and "drink your pee"
Slade House reply :
Ive done it on more than one occasion. You can drink any water safely with a $3 bottle of iodine tincture bought at your local drug store.
Bankbeater reply :
No way. Period. Not in the waters around where I live.
Shane Y reply :
Unless it was life or death.....nope. but I live in Georgia and like someone posted above I know where some natural springs are and I have been drinking water from them since I could walk. I'm 30 years old and haven't had any issues from it. Through the woods from the house where I was raised is a spring my grandpa showed me years and years ago. Sometimes I'll get up off the couch and just go to that spring, sit down and drink water from it. No phone signal, no traffic noises, just me, the sound of nothing, and a bunch of memories.
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