I almost died Saturday morning. Was a beautiful morning and first time out since Harvey. Went to a local lake. Found a spot where I caught 4 cats in about 15 minutes. The last one about 3 pounds. Well he swallowed the hook and as I was trying to hold him he flipped around and finned me in the fatty part below the thumb and came out at the thumb about 1 1/2 inches away. Blood squirted and pain ran up my arm, burning and painful. Last thing I remember was I am going to black out. Well sure thing, I woke up under water, flipped the kayak. Faught my way to the surface, and yelled for help. Lucky there was a boater near by I couldnt hold on to the kayak. He pulled me out and towed the boat back to the ramp. Dumped out the water for me and loaded up my truck. Now for the very stupid part, I was sitting on my life vest. When you are passed out and sinking to the bottom it does you no good what so ever. 3 days in the hosptial, bag after bag of antibiotic day and night. LIFE VEST IS MADE TO BE WORN!!!!! CALM WATER OR NOT!!!

Glad you are ok! ....wow lesson learned

Great lesson. Sucks you learned it the hard way but now you know. Thanks for sharing and glad you made it out.

Glad you're ok now. This is a good example of why PFDs should always be worn.

Great to hear your ok. Thanks for sharing you experience so other can see how important having a PFD on is.

i bought an expensive PFD for comfort. i didn't want an excuse NOT to wear it especially when i fish solo. glad you're OK and thanks for sharing

Holy cow what a tale! Man I am glad you are ok.

Hate to think what might have happened had a boater not been nearby and quick to help.

I will admit when the water is warm and I am fishing protected areas and am with a partner I dont wear mine all the time.

But stories like man... make me want to stop doing that.

good advice; I learned the hard way also-p-

WOW! I'm so glad that you're OK and glad that there was a boat nearby! You were very lucky!

Always wear my PFD. At least it will make it easy to find the body.

Wow , glad your ok now ! I been finned by cats myself and that's one of the most painful things to happen while fishing cause it doesn't just go away . It last for days ! Once before I was in a boat and a load of baby cats come swimming by and I stuck my hand in there and caught one of those babies and WOWO DID IT HURT !! Took a month before I didn't have any hurt feeling !

Thanks for sharing DataHawk. Hearing stories like yours reminds all of us, experienced and new, how important it is to ALWAYS wear your pfd. I was one of the worst about not wearing one for many years. I've had a close calls myself several times before it registered in my pea brain.

I hate catfish. Burping, gulping, finning, staring you back in your eyes...I just don't have time for that on the water.

Whenever I'm unlucky enough to find one on the end of my line, I boga the little nasty and then pop the hook out from there. I don't even want to handle them if I can help it.

Anyway...good thing everything worked out ultimately. That's a scary experience you had.