I took the boat out on Canyon Lake to make sure it's running and to see if the White's have started to run.
Saw some scattered small schools but no real run as of yet. 1 bite was it.
Did see some Crappie in deep brush.

Up the river a bit I come on two guys broke down and tow them back.
This killed the rest of the morning so I headed back to the ramp.

Headed back I see a Kayak without anyone in it floating in the lake.
When I get closer I see the yak had flipped over and there are two guys clinging to it.
OMG! Two Yaker's drowned here last week!

I motor over there to see an older than me guy and a young Hispanic man hanging on for life.
Odd, this is a 1-man Kayak.
Both were totally exhausted so getting them out ASAP had to happen.
Now, I just weeks out of triple Hernia surgery and my Kenner has tall gunnel sides.
It's hard for a young rested person to get into it.
With no choice I haul them in somehow and rush them to the dock.
The poor old guy's lips were Blue and he so tired he just lay in the bottom of the boat.

At the dock I meet the frantic Hispanic man's wife and she helps them to their truck to get dry cloth's and warm up.
I motor back and get the yak.
Back at the ramp she tells me that the old guy had flipped over about 100' from shore and the Kayak had floated away from him.
This heroic young man had jumped in, in his street cloth's and swam out and got the Yak to the old guy so he had something to hold onto. Doing so he became exhausted and the wind had pushed them into the lake.



Lord put me in the right place at the right time.
Let's be safe out there.

FI

You're a good man, Sir! I hope someone like you is nearby in my hour of need. God Bless!

You saved them for sure! It always amazed me that people do not respect the cold water out there. You can get hypothermia quick!

I saved a kid in the middle of the lake years ago. He was way out in the middle between turkey cove and the dam. It was windy and he swam out to chase his soccer ball. He had no vest on and was dead tired clinging to his ball. I hauled onboard and cruised the shoreline until I saw his parents pointing and jumping up and down - they thought he was gone/drowned. They were besides themselves - I will never forget it. About ten minutes after I dropped him off, a big thunderstorm blew in - I don't think he woulda made it.

You go out this time of year, bundle up - always keep your vest on - use kill switch - keep a blanket/handwarming packets on board.

Here's a tip to get someone or yourself in the boat who is all wet or exhausted. Turn motor off, swim to the rear of boat, use the trim button on the side of the cowling to trim all the way down, step on cave plate and trim motor back up.

Wow! What an amazing story. Way to save the day.

Good job.

Good job sir.

GOOD JOB, way to put someone's safety first, you won't be forgotten.

Nice job sir. God put you there for a reason.

Those two men were fortunate that you came along. Good job Sir, God bless you.

My hat is off to you for both actions you took that day and to the young man who saved the old guy long enough for you to get there. Using a kayak in small waters is still a risk that must have well-thought contingencies in inclement weather. Using one on big water is downright stupid. I'm guessing he wasn't in any physical condition that he should have been in a yak in the first place. No tether? stupid strikes again! Did he even have a flotation vest? (They conserve body heat as well as provide flotation.)

I urge you to report the incident to TPWD. They monitor the repercussions of changes in the boating industry. More idiots can afford kayaks than powerboats, so new regulations aimed at yaks may be in order to protect the idiots from themselves. Your info would add to their data on this.

Another idea I'll offer for helping warm someone up (yourself included) whether from getting wet or unexpected cold weather - put on a rain suit (or put yours on someone you rescue). It will hold in some escaping body heat and slow the wind chill effect.

Good job sir!

Thank you sir for your rescue.

I kayak but won't go out on open water if the wind is forecast to exceed 15 mph.
People underestimate their ability, and even with a 15 mph wind if it's sustained you won't be able to paddle and make headway into it. Even if you could paddle at 15 mph and who can? So you are done! People don't seem to be able to wrap their mind around that.

Falling into 50* water you won't last very long before your body starts to shut down and even with a life jacket on you are still going to be in trouble.

Kayaking is a water sport, and you are going to get wet so you have to dress for it.

If you flip you have to be able to self rescue and be able to get out of the water and back onto the kayak within minutes in cold weather, but then you aren't out of the woods yet if the outside temps are colder than the water.

Wow. God was with you and those guys that day. the last two kayakers that died recently were from my area (Hays County). I'm glad we didn't have to hear about two more drownings. God Bless you for your actions.

I am curious; are kayakers required by law to wear PFDs? Did these two unfortunate people have them on?

And the fishing reports is?