I fish alone probably 90% of the time. I always make sure I have my life vest on and make sure my wife knows what lake i'm fishin. I also make sure she has all my numbers... boat numbers, license number, registration, etc.

All great advice, especially the life jacket. I always have it on, even if fishing with someone else. I also have an inexpensive phone holder with a remote switch so I can take the photo of the big one--just in case!

and put it on before launching, many things happen at the dock.

Unless the rope around a cleat is long enough to reach the opposite side of the boat, it won't be much good for pulling yourself into the boat.

Actually a rope tied around the seat pedestal is a lot better than around a cleat. Lets you actually pull yourself onboard.

Watch out for the wave runners and jet ski's on Ray Hubbard, they pretty much own the lake on the weekends.

1. Detailed float/trip plan with someone who checks their phone regularly.
2. PFD - Inflatable or otherwise
3. Kill switch
4. Know the topography of the lake you are running.
5. Phone in a waterproof/floating case.
6. Water
7. Protein bars
8. Emergency blanket

A good routine for loading and unloading the boat.

Same here. Almost had a final fishing trip a few years ago when I fell overboard.
Get a good comfortable inflatable and wear it at all times.

A lot of good advice here but something that I haven't seen mentioned, whistle or air horn if the boat doesn't have one. Probably a good idea to keep one, even if the boat does have a horn.

Great advice already given, so here's some George Thorogood:

I fish alone, yeah
With nobody else
I fish alone, yeah
With nobody else
Yeah, you know when I fish alone
I prefer to be by myself

This^, I always text my wife and tell her when and where I launch, and once or twice through out the day.
Also when I run the boat, life jacket is on, kill switch is attached, and phone is in the console.
There are so many factors out of your control, so don't get too comfortable and don't get complacent.

Best thing to do it not to lose your cool or do something stupid. Drive a little slower, more defensively, and don't get into a hurry.

I would say the #1 difference between me fishing alone and with others is when I am alone I keep my inflatable pfd on 100% of the time. They are so small and comfortable these days you don't even remember it is on after a few casts but it can save your life if you get hit, knocked off by a wave, or any number of medical issues that might lead you to fall off the deck. It'll at least give you a chance.

Lots of good advice on this thread:

1) I ALWAYS let the redhead know where I plan to be. Granted, saying "between Lake Park and the old dam" is still alot of water, but it eliminates most of the lake arms.

2) Have a plan to get back into the boat. Here's a trick I learned in Alaska for cold water: if your outboard motor has a tilt/trim switch on it, you can stand on the plate above the prop (don't remember what that piece is called) and hold onto the back of the motor, then tilt the motor all the way to horizontal and climb into boat over the motor. Sure you might do some damage to the motor, but you won't die of hypothermia. My boat has a swim step with an extendable ladder. If you have a bass boat, you might want to look into installing an emergency boarding ladder.

3) Keep the lifejacket on. I always keep a few pop up flares in one pocket of my PFD so I can use them if I go into the water and my boat is too far away to reach.

Good advice so far. Of course the most important thing is to wear your life-jacket.

As far as the phone goes, keep it in your pocket inside a sandwich baggie. That way, if something crazy happens you can still call for help. The phone won't help you if its in the boat and you aren't. It certainly won't help you if it's at the bottom of the lake.