Glad you're ok Pope. I never attach my kill switch and I always have my life vest out but never on. I won't operate this way anymore. From now on, vest will be on and I'll attach the kill switch line.

Dang, Glad to hear you O.k. That's scary stuff man.

Pope, looking at your family....well you have a lot to live for. I am glad you survived. You are a lucky man.
I fish a lot more than most people and I usually fish alone. I got a new (to me) boat last year and last summer when it was hot, I jumped in to cool off. Then I found out that a high sided LUND is not a boat you can just climb back in too. The gunnels are way to high to pull yourself up on and I couldnt get my foot up to the cav plate on the motor as it was above my waist. Im pushing 60 an there was no way I was going to get back in. So I hung on to the boat for about an hour until someone came by and pulled me into their boat. That was an eye opener that I really needed. Having been a duck hunter and having filled my waders more than once, I am aware of what cold water can do the body. Knowing that I would not wear the cumbersome vests with large foam floats in them, I went and bought an inflatable that is a waist belt and two inflatable vests for guests. Now I wear a vest any time the main is running and allways attach the kill cord. Also I made a one step ladder out of rope with a short 2x2 step and the bottom. I put lead weight on it to make the wood step sink. It allows me to step up and get my foot on the cav plate. I keep it rolled up and stored in the splash well and attached to a cleat at all times.
But after reading this thread...I think I will wear the lifevest all the time in winter.

Glad you made it out alive! Scary story, thanks for sharing it.
I had a guy fall in the water last week. He dropped my rod/reel and went to grab it and lost his balance and went head first. Luckily for him he wasnt alone.

Your are a very lucky young man and I thank God you have a happy ending to the story.


The thing everyone needs to remember is the body loses temperature 30 times faster in the water than on dry land. When the core temp of the body reaches 86 degrees, the major organs begin to shut down. Kill switches and life jackets certainly are a must but the reality is that even if your kill switch was attached and your life jacket was on, had it not been for the good samaritan this story would not have ended happily.

I had the unfortunate experience a few years back on Lavon where I found a couple of young fishermen who had their small boat capsize. Both were wearing their lifejackets, water temp was 56 degrees and both lost their lives.

You used your head to make luck go your way once you got in your unfortunate circumstance. A good lesson for all of us on using PFD's and kill switches. I also keep a whistle on my PFD because it can be heard for a long distance. If boats are nearby and you're able, throw water up in the air. The splashing water droplets can be seen for a much greater distance than your bobbing head. I flew rescue in Navy helicopters for a couple of years and used to demo this when training swimmers for rescue. We would put swimmers in the water and fly off aways. You could not see them but when one would start throwing water in the air, they were easy to spot.

Good info I did not know. Thanks!

All I can say is WOW... and THANK GOD.

Praise God for saving another fisherman.

The Lord was definitely watching over you that day!!! Thank God someone else came by. Glad you made it out alive and we didn't have to read about you in the news!

too scary, glad it worked out for you

I was on a guide trip on lake belton and the guide told me a story of why we had to have our jacket on while under the big motor. his story shortened was, he was cruising along about 30MPH when his bow nose dove into a wave ejecting him out the front of his boat. he didnt have a jacket on and broke a bunch of bones, luckily it was summer and alot of boat traffic to help him out. the reason I tell this story is to give you one scenario to your question. his boat also kept doing circles after he was ejected. he said a boat with two young guys pulled their boat up against his while it was still doing circles, and one of the kids jumped from their boat onto the his boat. scary stuff for sure

Pope1
Glad you're okay. I sent you a pm.
Let me know. Thanks.

man, i dont even know what to say to that. coming from someone who has felt the sting of water in january...you sir are one lukcy man. i was in 3ft when i took the plunge with no chance of my feet hitting bottom till i was literally on the bottom. the boat going in circles, and you finding water you could touch in 200yards from shore....like josh hamilton always says "its just a god thing".

Pope, thanks for sharing you story with us, it certainly makes one stop and realize just how fragile life really is! Thank god, and that guy in the boat, that you are still with us. It sounds like there was only one person in the boat that rescued you. How in the world did he manage to get you aboard?