Have You Fallen In The Water By Mistake=Boat Or Shore 2024
Catch 22 reply :
Umm Make that three times.Twice from a canoe,once off an ocean jetty. I never felt imminent danger or panic.
WT about 47 deg,I was drifting thru a rocky area in the canoe,paying more attention to fishing than where I was going.Next thing ,I`m about to broach a semi hidden rock.I had a decision to make, hit the rock ,turn over lose everything,or what I did===stood up and jumped out. I managed to maintain contact with the canoe,that was now half full of water.I pulled it to a rock island,dewatered it and myself and continued to fish another 2 hours.2 guys about 70 yds away watched the event,but could not help due to the rock island between us.I would like to know what they said about "the crazy in the canoe"
The other canoe dumping was in a pond, again in cold water.Totally my fault for not having the craft loaded properly.I hit the water and went looking for 2 boxes loaded with LC`s.I swam to shore with 1 in each hand.I did lose a lot of tackle and had the local dive team recover 5 rods and some tackle.That cost me a $200 donation to the fire company.
The jetty-= anyone that has been on them knows how dangerous they can be.I`ve been on them a lot.This day as always,I had my corkers on[steel studded boots]. They improve your odds of staying upright,but one false step and your down.As I was sliding into the water,I laid my rod on top of the rocks.I climbed out ,dewatered the best I could,looked at the sky and said"OK,I got it" Without even making one cast, I went home.
Anyone else get wet or do you want to admit it 
C22
OntarioFishingGuy reply :
Not really falling off, but I have flipped a few canoes and kayaks. Its actually quite fun when there isn't 1000$ worth of fishing stuff not tethered down on board.
Suspendingjerk reply :
I have almost fell in from my John boat numerous times. Always manage to regain balance. It's especially sketchy when I have another guy with me and we are both standing up.
I did however manage to hook my veritas rod with my new lews mg last year on a cast. It went in and I almost dove after it. Got my hand on it right before it sank beyond sight.
yugrac reply :
Not yet.
Bluebasser86 reply :
My wife and I had to flip a canoe on a float trip because some drunk was swimming in a narrow, fast water area. We were going to slam into him if we didn't. Glad I didn't have any of my expensive gear with me or I'd have really been ticked. I've been really close to falling out of the boat more times than I can count, but I've been lucky enough to not fall out, yet.
ABW reply :
Flipped when trying to launch a kayak before... didn't lose anything and I was surprised my iPhone didn't have any water damage because it had no case on.
blongfishing reply :
Yes! The coldest day recorded that year and I have no idea what I was doing fishing but... anyways I was getting into a little jon boat and I hopped off the dock onto the little 8 ft boat and their was another guy on the boat and I got on and fell in and lost my crappie rod. I froze all the way back to the house! Always carry a change of clothes with you in case you are not near home.
fisher42 reply :
I have not fallen into the water, but I have been very close.
hatrix reply :
I slipped of a wet dock when I was younger and went in over my head. I have flipped over in a canoe plenty of times. We go midnight canoing and it's super fun but is pretty much a gurantee someone is going in the drink.
Turtle135 reply :
A few times in 25 years of kayak fishing.
First time was in 18 inches of water, stepping out of a sit-inside kayak to answer the call of nature, tripped and hit the bottom of the lake so hard I saw stars.
Last time, was on the Tidal Potomac River and the wind started to howl making for some serious rollers, thought to myself "hey, I bet I can surf one of those waves back to the ramp", I was wrong.
moguy1973 reply :
I've slipped on slick ricks while wade fishing for trout. First time I dint have a belt on and filled up my waders. That wasn't fun in 50 degree water.
Darren. reply :
Yep. Eldest son and I were in our old Grumman
canoe (aluminum, 16') that I had outfitted with
a 50lb thrust Motorguide.
We were heading up the reservoir into downed
trees (beavers, thanks very much). I lifted the
motor, and we glided over a tree about 6" under
the surface. Got stuck, so we "scooched" the
canoe to get over it.
But a slight shift in body weight by me and a
split-second later, splash. Broke the trolling
motor, ruined our $300 digicam, my cell phone,
etc. Water wasn't deep, but there was about
a foot of muck which sucked my new $39
Crocs off my feet, never to bee seen again.
Expensive accident. Built pontoons after that.
Never happened again. Miss that ol' canoe, LOL.
Not really.
Penguino reply :
I was fishing from the bank in a small pond on a rainy day. I cast out my worm and felt a huge hit and then I lost my footing and fell into the pond. Needless to say, I was mad but I still managed to catch my personal best bass on that hit.
yugrac reply :
OK, someone mentioned falling when wading, if that counts the yes, twice. Both times stupid me hurrying and not paying attention.
ColdSVT reply :
Yep...most memorable was on a duck hunt in nebraska in january
It was in the single digits and i slipped and fell down the bank of the missouri river...went in the drink up to my chest. The only thing dry was my remingtin 1100.
After the 1/2 mile walk back to he truck my clothes were completly frozen solid. By time i got home i was experincing mild/moderate hypothermia.
Good times lol
BassinLou reply :
I have almost fallen out a couple of times from my boat. My BIL fell out a couple of yrs ago. We laugh about it now, but it was pretty scary when you fall out of boat that is surrounded by curious gators. Fortunately, nothing happened.
Sam reply :
Long, long time ago.
In a pirogue with my cousin and we flipped.
Fly fishing and landed in the water trying to cast from the bank I was standing to the bank across the water.
Catch 22 reply :
On 2/16/2015 at 12:52 AM, yugrac said:OK, someone mentioned falling when wading, if that counts the yes, twice. Both times stupid me hurrying and not paying attention.
Awe geeze,if wet wading falls count, change my number to 25+ 
C22
everythingthatswims reply :
I was standing in my kayak, and made a very stupid flip behind me over my right shoulder to a piece of cover I missed. Got bit, and made the most awkward hookset ever, didn't hook the fish, and decided to jump out instead of rolling my kayak over. Water wasn't over my head so it turned out alright, continued to have an excellent day afterwords.
My friend slipped on some ice in February last year while goose hunting, and swamped his waders. We were a quarter mile from the tractor we used to get there, and a mile from the house with 15-20" of heavy wet snow on the ground. I was very worried about him but luckily we made it back to the house and he warmed up.
Senko lover reply :
I've done it creek fishing before but never from a pond or lake. I do know someone who fell in and it was so steep (and really slippery/muddy) at the bank that it took him 15 minutes of clambering onto the bank to get out.
Bankbeater reply :
Haven't gone in yet.
Felix77 reply :
Yes. Fishing a ledge in the fall from the bank. One step and I fell on my butt and slid down into the water.
Thank goodness that my cell phone broke the fall. Cracked screen, bent and all.
Helluva_Engineer reply :
Never from a boat bass fishing. I've had a few slipped on the bank up to my ankles incidents, but nothing noteworthy.
Once kayak fishing off the beach for tarpon. Forgot my drag was on and made the choice to go in instead of flip the kayak. Managed to grab the kayak as the tarpon pulled me for a good while in the water.
Sailing, I've sank a boat which kind of counts and capsized hundreds of times (mostly for fun/training). When I'm docking my sailboat, I have to dump the right amount of speed as I come into the dock scurry past the mast and forestay then time my jump onto the dock with bowline in hand... In a small boat pretty much any of those steps can and have put me in the water at some point or another.
RSM789 reply :
Never from a boat or shore, but from a dock.
Was fishing for catfish about a decade ago, had 4 lines out all with their spools open. Hooked a very active catfish who quickly crossed & tangled up in 2 of the other outfits. After I reel him in & release him, I started to reel in one of the other tangled rigs. When I realized I had to untangle the second rig first, I set down the first rig, forgetting to open the spool again. As I am focused on how to untangle rig 2 from the original, I hear a sliding sound on the dock. I look over and that first rod is being pulled toward the water by a fish. I take two steps & dive for the back of the rod, making a grab that would have made Mike Trout (pun intended) proud. Unfortunately, my momentum carried me off the dock into the water. I crash in head first, eventually standing up in 3 feet of water as my flip flops come floating to the surface. The fish that was pulling the rod was now gone, so I put the rod & my shoes back on the dock. I then hear a nearby fisherman in a boat yell out "Nice Save!!" as he laughed uncontrollably.
BassnChris reply :
Way back when.....my friend and I hauled an inflatable raft to the beach everyday.
We had a third friend join us on one occassion when the wids were fierce and kicked up the surf quite a bit.
We hopped in and started paddling out........what do 8 and 9 year olds know?
The breakers picked us up and flipped us over.....dumping us out in about 4' of water.....that third friend landed on top of me.....me on my back on the bottom and he sitting on my chest....pushing the air out of my lungs. He was trying to get up hut was in no big hurry.....dang near drowned me!
Other than that only things like jumping from boat onto a muddy bank and slipping in the mud causing me to fall back into the water or down in the mud.
Fishinthefish reply :
Definitely did once. We were loading the boat at the launch. It was time for me to step out, some ******* next to us decided it was time to power load his boat. I figured I could jump to the dock before the wake hit. I was wrong, very wrong.
Fishing Cowgirl reply :
Twice. From a bass boat. At a tournament. (Small club but it made the rounds anyway)
First time, I was wearing my comfy crocs and it was at launch. We had to get on the trolling motor right away, because the water was too low to use the motor to back off. I had backed out of the way a good distance and being dark, I felt rather than saw the lily pads wrapping around the trolling motor. So I had to press on the back plate to raise it up with the cord. Well it was nice and wet from dew and my croc just slipped on the dew and I just remember feet flying up and hitting the water back first, still hanging on to the trolling motor cord. I pulled my way back up and hanging off the side, walked the boat back to shore, hand over hand around to the back and crawled on like a seal. Not very graceful at all. My husband comes back from parking the truck and see's the other couples trying to get it on video (too dark..whew) and says" Why is my wife in the water??" I just said I can honestly say there are NO fish by the ramp! ( I never wore Crocs fishing again!)
Second time, most recently, and cold.. brr water, but almost at weigh in time anyway. Same little couples club. Having a good day, I caught my limit of three decent keepers and hubby was trying to finish his limit. I was wearing gloves which were a bit damp, and made a cast, watching my rod come right out of my hands, bounce off the deck into the water. I got down, grabbed missed, then grabbed again ..Got it! Put my left hand down on the side rail, (which hubby likes to keep polished up) Felt my hand start to slip.Then felt my momentum and rear end slide me over the side like a giant slinky. I still had my left arm hanging onto the side rail, had my vest on, but with the cold and extra clothes, It was tough staying up. Plus I wear a face buff and with it being soaked, I was sucking in water. In all that struggle to stay at the boat, I lost the rod and hubby pulled me on board. Its in 10' of water, but next time we are on the lake, I'm dragging a big treble retriever there. I know the reel will be trashed, but I want my Halo rod back!
I am also buying those floating rod, cushions!
5 Dollar Fishing Game reply :
On 2/15/2015 at 10:38 PM, Bluebasser86 said:My wife and I had to flip a canoe on a float trip because some drunk was swimming in a narrow, fast water area. We were going to slam into him if we didn't. Glad I didn't have any of my expensive gear with me or I'd have really been ticked. I've been really close to falling out of the boat more times than I can count, but I've been lucky enough to not fall out, yet.
You're a better man than me lol
bighed reply :
Once on Dardanelle, fishing open water alone in November. Water temp about 60 so not too bad. No lifejacket on and back in the boat before the Iphone died. Once on Falcon in 2' of water, Croc on wet gelcoat gunnel and I went over. Mustang inflated after I stood up, Iphone died, son laughed. Once on Texoma after having a new prop worked. I forgot to put the big arse washer on before the prop nut. Tried to back off the trailer but felt like there was no prop. Looked hard and could see a glimmer at the end of the ramp in about 8' of water. Stripped down and bailed off the back into 54 degree water. Got my prop and a few cheers from the gallery. Always take a change of cloths!
WRB reply :
Our lakes don't freeze over during the winter, we get frost and sometimes thin ice early mornings on boat docks and the bow can get slippery. I was fishing with freind who has a BassCat with Evinrude trolling motor that I was not familiar with several years ago. The deck was frosty, I was stiff and hooked into a good bass. The trolling motor would return to a sideways position when you take your foot off the peddle, plus the on-off switch was near one side of the peddle. While fighting this bass I moved to the side of the bow front to keep the line away from the trolling motor. When the fish ran back the opposite direction I stepped back hitting the peddle on switch, the motor spun the bow and I stepped forward and out of the boat into deep cold water.
It is very difficult to get back into a bass boat with heavy cloths and shoes on. Luckily I was fishing with my freind and he helped me get back into the boat, wet cold and angry at myself.
I now keep a heavy rope tied to the stern cleat to aide me getting back in my boat when fishing alone.
Tom
macmichael reply :
I fall out of my boat at least twice a year. Actually just last week I was getting it ready for a Table Rock trip and fell out of it while it sat on my drive way. Broke a couple of ribs. 
I fell out last year at Guntersville reaching for a lure. WT was 48 degrees. Once I even fell out while trying to connect the boat to the trailer at the end of the day. No balance what so ever.
A-Jay reply :
On 2/18/2015 at 10:24 AM, macmichael said:I fall out of my boat at least twice a year. Actually just last week I was getting it ready for a Table Rock trip and fell out of it while it sat on my drive way. Broke a couple of ribs.
I fell out last year at Guntersville reaching for a lure. WT was 48 degrees. Once I even fell out while trying to connect the boat to the trailer at the end of the day. No balance what so ever.
Wow ~ Hope you're OK
A couple of pieces of advice for you.
1) while on the water definitely wear a life jacket.
2) while in your drive way, wear a flak jacket & a football helmet.
A-Jay
ww2farmer reply :
Yes, twice. Once a few years ago while I was out by myself, I tripped over all the rods I had on the deck, lost my balance, and rather than risk falling on my rods/graph/etc...I basically jumped feet first off the boat into about 4' of water. Just grabbed the boat and walked it and myself to shore and got back on. Water was a little nippy....48 degrees, and that ended the day right there.
Second time was just this past fall. My partner was causing a scene on the back deck yelling at some guy on the shore. Evidently the guy was running from cottage to cottage peeking in the windows and was buck naked. I didn't see it, but the banter from Rick (the guy in the back) was so comical I literally passed out from laughing so hard. I came to UNDER WATER. I shot back to the surface in a total freaking panic gagging and hacking up water, with Rick running circles around me with the TM on high not knowing what to do, or what happened. I calmed down right quick and swam over to the boat, and held on to the side while he took me to where I could touch (we were in 30-40' of water when I went over). Then I walked to shore, got on a dock, and got back on the boat. We even fished for a little while longer laughing about it.
RSM789 reply :
I think Rick's version of your story would be even better - "So I was yelling at this Peeping Tom who was completely naked when all of a sudden, my fishing partner fell in the lake..."
notevenanibble reply :
I slipped on some rocks fly fishing in Cherokee, nc a few weeks ago. The air temp was 25 degrees. It was not fun at all. Had to leave early.
Catch and Grease reply :
Not yet....
Hyrule Bass reply :
never fell in the water while fishing but i did throw myself off a wave runner one evening at smith mountain lake. it happened so fast all i remember is the life jacket shooting me back up to the surface, i have no idea how deep the water was or how deep i went down. i do remember putting my hands above my head so i wouldnt float up and hit my head on the bottom of the wave runner. climbed back on and took off riding again. luckily i was in a quiet cove that doesnt get a lot of boat action. smith mountain lake gets a ton of traffic that really stirs the water up at times. honestly after that, i would drive the wave runner out to that cove, shut it off, and jump in for a swim at times....
matuka reply :
Ok, I wasn't involved in this one, but I have to share it with you anyway. Our bass club,(all guys)had a very nice woman join a few years back, lets call her Jan. She presented herself well, and knew how to fish. Of course the chatter amongst the guys was if you were partnered with her, what do either of you do when nature calls. Game day comes along, and she is the co angler with a guy, let's call him Steve. By mid-morning Jan needs to relieve herself and asks Steve to back into an overhanging willow. Gentlemanly Steve complies as apparently she's had experience with this maneuver before. Steve is casting off the front and hears a bit of a splash behind him. Not knowing what it is, he resists the urge to turn around and find out. Five or so seconds later he decides to risk sounding stupid and asks "how ya doing"? No answer. Forget it. Steve turns around and sees a pair of tennies wiggling above the water, and the owner submerged somewhere below it. Steve to the rescue! The details of this part were never revealed, so I guess you can fill in the blanks. Jan slipped while squatting, got tripped up on the rigging and had daintily slid into the drink. Now imagine trying to get back in with your jeans wrapped around your ankles, and not make a sound and preserve your dignity. After the "rescue" I guess they had to laugh real hard. Steve issued her a rainsuit and they fished the rest of the day. Jan took all the ribbing like "little mermaid" and "Bubbles" in stride as well, later being elected as a board member.
Ski213 reply :
Ha! This brought back some kind of buried memory I have. I don't remember all the specifics, maybe I've subconsciously blocked it out. I attempted to make a jump from a boat to a courtesy dock. I don't remember why I had to jump but I evidently felt the need. I remember it being a good distance. My forward foot made the dock and it would have been successful leap except that that same foot slipped across the dock while the other leg went down in the water. I don't remember why or exactly how it all went but I sure do remember the impact.
scaleface reply :
I have fallen off the front deck of a bass boat at least 4 times. The last time I was throwing a cast net and in I went .
RSM789 reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 11:51 AM, scaleface said:...The last time I was throwing a cast net and in I went .
I am imagining this from the perspective of the baitfish you were trying to catch. There these baitfish are, swimming around, minding their own business, when all of a sudden this giant predator from above crashes into the water...
buckeye12 reply :
Fishing a tournament with my son on Ohio River two years ago. Pouring the rain down. Set the hook and rod flies out of hands. Son had just got me Brand new Orra sx on Cabelas XML rod for xmas. Dove in head first, full rain gear, and grabbed rod. Surfaced and son had the corniest look on face and couldn't say anything!! I told him to grab rod and see if fish was still on. No such luck but still had combo!!
Catch 22 reply :
On 2/19/2015 at 9:53 AM, matuka said:Ok, I wasn't involved in this one, but I have to share it with you anyway. Our bass club,(all guys)had a very nice woman join a few years back, lets call her Jan. She presented herself well, and knew how to fish. Of course the chatter amongst the guys was if you were partnered with her, what do either of you do when nature calls. Game day comes along, and she is the co angler with a guy, let's call him Steve. By mid-morning Jan needs to relieve herself and asks Steve to back into an overhanging willow. Gentlemanly Steve complies as apparently she's had experience with this maneuver before. Steve is casting off the front and hears a bit of a splash behind him. Not knowing what it is, he resists the urge to turn around and find out. Five or so seconds later he decides to risk sounding stupid and asks "how ya doing"? No answer. Forget it. Steve turns around and sees a pair of tennies wiggling above the water, and the owner submerged somewhere below it. Steve to the rescue! The details of this part were never revealed, so I guess you can fill in the blanks. Jan slipped while squatting, got tripped up on the rigging and had daintily slid into the drink. Now imagine trying to get back in with your jeans wrapped around your ankles, and not make a sound and preserve your dignity. After the "rescue" I guess they had to laugh real hard. Steve issued her a rainsuit and they fished the rest of the day. Jan took all the ribbing like "little mermaid" and "Bubbles" in stride as well, later being elected as a board member.
Smilin and grinin.That is a great story.
C22
skeeter1980 reply :
I haven't slipped into the water while fishing,but I did drive my friend's car off of a bridge,into a creek.And I was sober.Lol
buzzed bait reply :
once i fell in while trying to get the kayak launched, water was chilly, but i kept with it and fished all day.
one time my dad and i were fishing and he was talking a bunch of sh**, leaned over to wash his hands off and bam in the water he goes. one of those memory moments you will remember for the rest of your life. after pulling him in by his overall straps, my brother and i laughed until we were sick....
thankfully mine were all in fun and games, but it does make you realize with all of these replies how so many can drown each year from simple accidents!!!
*Hootie reply :
Two different occasions, about 40 years ago. Once in November, once in April. Ice water both times. Brrrrr!
Hootie
Ratherbfishing reply :
Fishfightingillini, where are you? I'm waiting.....
Maxximus Redneckus reply :
I have fell plenty but nothing to write about.Here is one though funny as s::t.My buddy jimmy who is about 5' tall and 400lbs came to my pond one day as usual.i was fishing the swamp end he was goin to the other side ,,,,fast forward about 2 hours i see a fishing rod tip just barely moving over the weeds at the stream end of the pond.Im thinking wth jimmy u cant get to anything that way.I see him finally goin up the hill to my house.He is waiting for me.when i get up there.Low and behold it looks like he was rollin with the hogs mud head to toe,,im lmao at this point no clue why yet just lol loud as hell.He cussed me out ,said wayne why didnt u tell me that stream had muskrat holes around it .he had tried to jump acrosss the stream (Midget legs and 400lbs) you aint a.jumper,said he was stuck in there for 45 mins ,i died laughing at this point histrlike a Mad man
scaleface reply :
When I was a kid I was planning on fishing the mississippi river . There was a small water flow heading to a creek that came out of the sewage plant. I wanted to get to the other side and I could easily jump over it. I backed off a few steps then took off.My last step that was going to propel me over this black, stinky , gooey creek sank deeply in black , sticky , gooey mud. I landed face first in it. I did the walk of shame home , covered in black mud and stinking like a pig.
fish-fighting-illini reply :
Let's just say that I have categories & subcategories! Lol
From land, from a boat
Just damp, Partially submerged, fully submerged,
Almost involved a Boyscout attempt of lifesaving me- I told him to stay on shore I'd sooner drown 1st! long story, maybe expound later? (Eyeroll).
RoLo reply :
I did go overboard once, it was on Lake Kissimmee in February, 2010 (67 at the time).
I was standing in the bow, holding my fishing rod in one hand and a sandwich in the other hand.
I tossed a piece of bread to a passing gull, who promptly scooped up the offering, then swooped upward
above my head. I made the mistake of trying to keep the bird in sight, which was directly above my head.
I bent my head backward as far as my neck would allow, then suddenly realized that my balance was irretrievably lost.
Instead of trying to regain my balance, I choose to break the fall, then rolled over the gunwale
in a nice tight ball, smack into the drink.
It was a bitter day, the water was over my head and we were far from shore.
The water temperature was 59 deg (cold for Florida), the air temperature was colder
and I was not wearing a flotation device (You've made your bed, now lie in it). I was underwater about 4 seconds,
but it felt more like an hour. When I grabbed the bow gunwale, I seen my wife's hands reaching over the side.
I shook my head 'no', and told her to meet me at the transom. There's really nothing a woman can do
for a 220-lb clown floundering in the water. Hand-over-hand, I walked about 15 feet of gunwale to reach the stern.
I had difficulty boarding thru the motor cutaway until I remembered the anti-cavitation plate,
which possibly saved my life. I was wearing a brushed cotton jacket that wicked up the lake,
and as I finally stepped over the transom, it felt like I was wearing a lead X-ray jacket.
After spending about 10 min in 59-deg water, my energy level was noticeably lower (a very humbling experience).
My sunglasses had disappeared, and despite the snug chinstrap, my Stetson somehow wound up in the drink!?
I started the engine, retrieved my hat, and then proceeded to my next waypoint.
"Where are you going?", my wife asked. I said I'm going to my next waypoint.
She replied: "You're soaking wet, we've got to go in!". Realizing that hypothermia was still a latent threat,
I knew she was right and begrudgingly called it a day.
Roger
AQUA VELVA reply :
After reading some of these posts I'm reminded of a saying I heard a long time ago.'' The stupidity of your actions will always be in direct proportion to the number of people watching you.'' Personal experience seems to bear that out.
Mass Bassin' reply :
Ive fallen off jetties releasing fish from slippery rocks.
MemphisFF reply :
Yep one time with a buddy who threw me in or maybe it was my fault, didn't have the seats on his bass tracker and a cooler I was sitting on..
Pickwick in bear creek fishing buddy and I was there fishing as I was sitting on the cooler in the back of the boat.. Buddy got ticked at other guys who came all the way across the creek to cut us off from fishing a spot, buddy pulled trolling motor up fast didn't realize what was going on, he started the motor gunned it and out I go...
Did a backwards tumble out the back it was really quick lost my sunglasses and hat...buddy was like I don't understand all he heard was ice he thought it was gravel from him gunning the motor in the creek anyways he was embarrassed and lucky the prop didn't get me and we had something to laugh about and so did the other guys as they told my buddy he done thrown me out the boat.. If this was on video it would have been award winning...
mrmacwvu1 reply :
Of course
Anyone that fly fishes that says they have not is not doing it right
Khan of the Res reply :
Watch your step. What ended my fishing season last year was a drunken misstep. In the last week of august I was bank fishing off of a place my friends and I call Pride Rock. Its a rock that juts out over the water and theres around a 4-5 drop with jagged rocks and tree roots on the bottom. I remember having an awesome day, having caught 6 largemouths, and I had downed about a pint of Evan Williams finest discount sippin whiskey in short time. I remember standing near the edge and fixing something the end of my rod when I stepped back too far and fell into the water. I scrambled back up the rock face and back onto the bank. I looked down and noticed there was a golf ball sized hole in my leg along with a glob of fat dripping out. I shoved a liquor bag in the hole and tied down with fishing line and limped about a half mile or so out of the woods. I was lucky to run into my friend's brother who called him to take me to the hospital. Got me 14 stitches and missed out on September bass fishing. I was lucky I didn't go through the muscle and couldn't walk for about a month.
BassmanDan reply :
I had a perfect fall record going for 16 years until last summer. I was fishing a new lake that is mostly "regulars" and had heard they try and keep the place quiet and you almost have to have an invitation even though it is a public jon-boat only rental situation. Anyway it was closing time so everyone was in the loading area and I had noticed a few looks like "who's this guy fishing our lake?" I stepped out of the boat onto the bank with the battery and the boat shifted and into the water I went. Nobody laughed out loud but there were plenty of smiles and grins to go around.
geo g reply :
About 20 years ago I went to the glades with my principal, who was my best friend of 20 years. It was a late May morning with fog, high humidity and an unusual number of big gators in the L67 canal. This canal is the largest everglades canal, surrounded by miles of shallow flats full of everything imaginable. We ran about 6 miles from the closest road and shut down with no one in sight. I mentioned to Tom the incredible size and number of huge gators that morning, and it was still a half hour from first light.
Tom had a brand new Shimano Reel that was top of the line. He made his first cast, and the zara spook went twice as far as any cast he had ever made. The spook was hanging in a tree at the edge of the canal. He asked me troll over to where the lure was hanging so he could get it out of the tree. I positioned the boat with the stern close to the overhanging branches. Tom needed about another foot to reach the lure so he decided to steep on a large bolder next to the tree. With one foot on the boat, and one foot on the rock, Tom found himself going into a split as the boat moved away from the rock from his pressure.
All of a sudden I heard a big splash, turned around and saw Tom swimming in 8 feet of water with 10 foot gators within 40 yards of the boat. In the darkness and sudden panic, I had hit the off switch button on the foot control. Tom was yelling, treading water, and I finally figured out what happened to the trolling motor. It flashed through my mind at this moment, how I was going to tell everyone at school, how I took the principal fishing, and he was eaten by gators.
I never saw anyone climb up that big rock so fast with a rod and reel in one hand, hat in the other, all while screaming for me to come get him off this dam rock. Once back in the boat and I knew everything was in one piece, we both laughed at the stupidity of the whole thing. Why he would ever step off the boat for a $6 lure in the dark, with monster gators everywhere. We laughed about this for years, and I have told the story many times at Tom's expense.
Sorry for the long story, but My good buddy Tom is no longer with us, but I still smile and laugh with him every time I tell this story. A minute of shear terror, but years of gut busting laughter!
Jtrout reply :
Happened to me friday One day before my trip to south florida. I went trout fishing in a nearby river and and it was icy and the river was part frozen and I'm carrying 3 rods and a tackle bag I go to step around this little tree and slip on ice and my right leg slips of the rocks and breaks ice and goes into the water while my left leg stayed up on the rock I happened to grab the branch which saved me from going all the way in. So I pull my self out and my right knee gives out I guess I twisted it really bad I hobbled back to my car and went home and put a knee brace on and left for florida. It's not keeping me from catching fish on my vacation! Il probably have it looked at when I come back.
bucky reply :
I have never fallen out, but did get thrown out while running on Dale Hollow a few years back. It was early April, water temp was at 50 dg, and my partner and I were traveling about 55mph and we must have stuck an underwater log or something. The boat turned sharply and over the side I went, and my partner went out the back. We were wearing auto inflatable life jackets and the did their job of firing. I would have drowned if I had been knocked unconscious or had broken an arm because when I surfaced, my inflatable straps were still under my arms, but the inflated part had been pulled over my head when I hit the water. I was floating with my head under the water and had to slip my head through the opening. My partner had no problem with his because he was wearing his under a large 100mph BPS parka. There was about a 15 mph wind on the lake and we were thrown far enough away from the boat that the wind carried it out of our reach before we could catch on to it.
I discovered another problem with inflatable PFD's on that day. You can't swim well at all, in fact all you can do is the back stroke because you can't turn prone, it is impossible, or was for me. The jacket keeps you from being able to turn your head well from side to side so it is difficult to see anything. Once we lost sight of the boat, we never found it. We floated in the frigid water for 20 minutes until another boater came by and found us. I could not get into the boat but had to be dragged into it. No use of my legs at all and very little arm usage. My pants were ripped off and I lost wallet, keys and everything in my pockets. Went to hospital and was released but my partner had to spend the night because of minor cuts and bumps. Still don't know what we hit, not a scratch could be found on the boat or motor. Everything check out ok with the steering.
I have a regular life jacket for running down the lake and only use the inflatable when fishing or moving slowly. I am 70 so when I get into the boat, I put my pfd on, and take it off when I get into the truck to go home. I feel fortunate to be here to day. Wear those pfd's, they will save your lives. Thank the good Lord, I made it.
MemphisFF reply :
On 3/10/2015 at 3:12 AM, bucky said:I have never fallen out, but did get thrown out while running on Dale Hollow a few years back. It was early April, water temp was at 50 dg, and my partner and I were traveling about 55mph and we must have stuck an underwater log or something. The boat turned sharply and over the side I went, and my partner went out the back. We were wearing auto inflatable life jackets and the did their job of firing. I would have drowned if I had been knocked unconscious or had broken an arm because when I surfaced, my inflatable straps were still under my arms, but the inflated part had been pulled over my head when I hit the water. I was floating with my head under the water and had to slip my head through the opening. My partner had no problem with his because he was wearing his under a large 100mph BPS parka. There was about a 15 mph wind on the lake and we were thrown far enough away from the boat that the wind carried it out of our reach before we could catch on to it.
I discovered another problem with inflatable PFD's on that day. You can't swim well at all, in fact all you can do is the back stroke because you can't turn prone, it is impossible, or was for me. The jacket keeps you from being able to turn your head well from side to side so it is difficult to see anything. Once we lost sight of the boat, we never found it. We floated in the frigid water for 20 minutes until another boater came by and found us. I could not get into the boat but had to be dragged into it. No use of my legs at all and very little arm usage. My pants were ripped off and I lost wallet, keys and everything in my pockets. Went to hospital and was released but my partner had to spend the night because of minor cuts and bumps. Still don't know what we hit, not a scratch could be found on the boat or motor. Everything check out ok with the steering.
I have a regular life jacket for running down the lake and only use the inflatable when fishing or moving slowly. I am 70 so when I get into the boat, I put my pfd on, and take it off when I get into the truck to go home. I feel fortunate to be here to day. Wear those pfd's, they will save your lives. Thank the good Lord, I made it.
Great story about using those PFD's and I'm glad you're still here because you and your partner were wearing them. Thanks for sharing
calibassin reply :
Yes, I was in a boat for 2 hours straight. Got dizzy from the swaying, went to a beach area, lost ny balance and just fell WITH my rod into the water. good times.
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