Before You Get On The Water 2.1
Safety
Safety
When we go on our fishing adventure either for a couple hours or a couple days we want to have a good time. But there are many factors that are out of our control. So lets do the best we can to have a fun and safe trip. Especially when introducing new anglers to the sport we enjoy so much!
Personal Flotation Devices are required to at least be on your watercraft at all times. But that is not always enough. Some questions I always make a point to ask a new or even an experienced angler are "How comfortable are you on a boat in open water?", "Do you know how to swim?" and "Would you be comfortable if its windy and he boat is rocking?" If the answer to these or any similar questions is no then it is a good idea to make sure they have a comfortable PFD to wear.
Some times especially if the angler is older they may feel "uncool" or even awkward. I have a couple inflatable PFD's around for really choppy/windy days, that work well for anglers that are old enough to operate one safely. For younger anglers you need to make sure they are in a PFD that fits them properly and will float them at all times. I also make a point to wear my PFD at all times if my angling partner is wearing one so that they do not feel awkward.
An item that is rarely used and often not even thought about is a whistle or horn. But they will save your life as much as a PFD. You may be on a large body of water with considerable distance from another boat or angler, and yelling may not be enough to get their attention. Or if for some reason there is a medical emergency this is a great way to help emergency services after they have been dispatched find out which boat or group on a busy pond/lake is in need of their services. I sincerely hope that no one ever needs this device but I keep multiple whistles throughout the boat and on myself for this reason, and I go over where they are located and how to use them with my guest angler.
I have used a paddle more times than I would like to admit when I have had boat problems. I have even needed one but didn't have one when I needed it. Trust me it is not fun paddling a boat to shore from the middle with your hands. Especially when the water is cold in early spring and late fall. I usually take my pond boat out with two marine batteries just in case one fails or it didn't get charged. I still bring a paddle. It might be what you need to get away from drifting into a bunch of rocks and ruining your boat. Also when/if I bank the boat to get out for a bit or when first launching, a paddle is a great way to push the boat off the shore.
To my knowledge for most freshwater lakes a way to communicate on the water with other boats and emergency services is not required. But it is foolish to go out on the water without a way to communicate with civilization. Everyone has a cellphone. They are a fantastic way to communicate distress, but I know many places I fish that have spotty to no cell service. Don't worry though there are a couple other ways to communicate that may save your life someday.
I always let someone I trust know where I will be fishing and the times I plan to be there. That way if I don't show up, someone can let the emergency services know my last known area and the amount of time since I have last been in contact. There is also a device called Spot that tracks your GPS position and sends emergency services your location during a emergency. The device does require a subscription of about $150 a year. But would be well worth the investment if you are the type of angler that like to go "Off Grid." Check it out here.
Every outdoorsman should have a basic first aid kit in their gear. Everyone in the group should know how to use it and where it is located. If you are outdoors it is likely that at some point someone will need it. This is highly overlooked but it's common sense. Please have at least one well stocked first aid kit with you at all times.
Check Out Part 1 Here