Safe boating and fishing tips...

[bigfish1965]

Cliff started a great post so I thought we should make a sticky thread with everyone's safety tips for fishing and boating. Add your tips.

 

Here's a few..

• When wearing chest waders consider wearing a belt done up snugly on the outside of the waders around your waist. IF you happen to go in, this will slow down the amount of water getting in allowing you more time to try and get to shallow water.
  
• Always let someone know when you are heading out on the water and where you are thinking of going. If you fail to return home, at least the rescue searchers have a starting point.
  
• Inflatable PFD's are extremely comfortable and very effective. Much more so than the regular PFD you leave in the bottom of the boat rather than on your back.
  
• Wear your lanyard!
  
• Glueing felt pads to the bottom of your booted waders can help you with traction on algae covered rocks.
  

[tinbanger]

Some more

 

- plan to have at least 1/3 more fuel than you think you will need.

- ensure all required safety gear is on board AND WORKS (ie flashlight , fire ext) add some basic tools

- trailer lights work ,see 2 or 3 every week on the highway with no working lights

- Our rule is big motor on , PFDs on .Rough water PFDs on .Fishing alone PFDs on

-invest in a floater suit for early and late season fishing

- cell or Marine radio for the bigger lakes

 

Good post

 

TB

[POLLIWOGG]

Take the Canadian Power Squadron boating coarse, sigh up for the fall coarse now.

[Greencoachdog]

1.Never try to help me land a fish by grabbing my Sabiki Rig!!!

 

2. Wearing a Lindy glove will save wear and tear on your hands when handling toothy fish.

 

3. Always have the throwable PFD within plain view and easy reach.

[tonyb]

Always wear some form of eye protection when fishing. Sunglasses, clear safety glasses at night, etc.

 

It will save you from a trip to the hospital and this! Oh nevermind the picture is too gross to put up, but I think you folks have seen it before...

 

Protect your eyes!

 

Tony

[ccmtcanada]

When fishing in the winter from shore (Tribs or piers) or on hardwater, pick up a set of these to put on your boots to help with traction on icy surfaces....

 

Edited August 21, 2007 by ccmtcanada

[POLLIWOGG]

Drop your anchor.

 

When you loose control of the boat due to break down or as the young fellas the other day couldn't row against the wind.

[Cast-Away]

When trolling through unfamiliar water, lower your bow mounted electric motor if you have a fish finder mounted on it in order to see underwater obstructions before you run aground with your boat.

[irishfield]

When you are in loaded Canoes....don't try paddling to your pick up point in 4 foot swells...the odd 6 footer...so you can be at the agreed pick up point for your father on time. Sit put..or two go in an empty canoe to the agreed pick up to direct to where the gear is stashed. Almost lost our 19 year old daughter and her 4 friends on Sunday afternoon. Thank God we had just rounded Devil Point in our 22 foot Lund as we watched in horror as one canoe get rolled and the other swamped. Thankfully I had left early for the pick up... as we could only push thru the entire 12 miles of the North East Arm of Lake Temagami at 16 MPH into these waves and we arrived at the exact agreed time....otherwise the outcome could have been very different. Needless to say all 7 of us ended up very wet...but everyone alive and I have two canoes to fetch from the bush in the next couple days. A few items lost to the depths of Lake T...but amazingly all electronic items still work.

[Vanselena]

Forget the Canadian Tire get past the OPP safety kit. Buy Flares, have an air horn, install a bilge pump, keep a charged spare battery if your motor is electric start. Keep your eyes on the sky, on the big lakes if the wind picks up and remains strong after 5 minutes then leave.

Edited September 15, 2007 by Vanselena

[HTHM]

Dont rely on just your cell phone as signal strength drops quickly out from shore.

[fishnsled]

Carry a set of booster cables long enough to get from the trolling motor batteries to the starter battery. You may just have enough juice at the end of the day to start the main motor to get you home if the starter battery fails. Or get a boost from another boat. Test your batteries regularly to make sure they are holding a charge. If not holding a charge then replace them.

[Greencoachdog]

ALWAYS CHECK THE WEATHER BEFORE YOU LEAVE!!!!!

[holdfast]

When canoeing in rough water, into the waves and lower yourself by kneeling.

 

Have a decent first aid kit that can handle a deep gash. IE pressure bandage, not just band aids

 

When line is twisted troll, with nothing on the end to untwist

 

That loop on your spinning reel. Pull line out with drag or take the spool off and pull your line off backwards to avoid coils

 

With compass "off shoot" for example instead of going directly to a cross roads. Purposely go right so when you do end up on the road you definitely know to go left to the cross roads instead of guessing right or left if you are off the mark

 

Netted laundry bag makes an excellent anchor (with a rock after you portage) your canoe