Make sure to have a plan in place when out on these Texas waters now. Water temps are not your friend if you happen to have an accident and fall overboard. If I go by myself, for the first time ever, I will be wearing my PFD while fishing. Also, I will have a change of clothes in the boat and a loud whistle. I do not have a ladder, but I will do the hugging of the outboard and trim that thing up fast, and then climb in. Just hope I can get back there quick! I will not be so worried if I'm fishing with another person, but when you're by yourself, take "SAFETY FIRST" to a whole nutha level....just be smart!

Good winter fishin',

Okie

Great advice. Everyone be safe.

Solid post Okie!

Swim

Most dangerous time of the year to fish okie. Think about it, you have on a ton of clothes to try and keep warm, probably a couple pair of socks and heavy boots, there are all kinds of obstructions in your standing area, rods, foot control and graph and a butt seat behind you to trip over. The wind is up this weekend so you'll be on the foot control a lot and maybe dodging stumps. One miss cue and you're overboard. Life vest or not you're going to be heavy in the water and swimming is not an option. The wind could/probably move the boat away from you and swimming is not an option to get to the back where you could use the motor to help you back in the boat. I love to fish but I pick my spots, ain't going in this kind of weather. Don't have anything to prove to anybody. Please, everybody be safe. There's been too many lives lost lately fishing in inclement weather. Thanks for starting this thread okie.

Change of clothes in a small float bag. Doesn't take up much room and you or your partner will definitely be glad if one of you fell out.

It doesn't hurt in the summer to learn slip in the water and climb on the back of motor and ride it up. I doubt it as easy as it sounds in bad weather but wouldn't hurt to practice.

A pair of sweats doesn't take up much room, pants/shirt and socks would come in handy. I used to do that, I need to go to walmart.

Riding the Motor up is almost impossible for a fat boy, when the water warms up try it.... I keep rope or a strap in my side compartment so I can get to it while in the water, make a loop and tie the other end to a cleat so you can put a foot in the loop and push with your leg while pulling yourself up. It's still not easy but IMO better than trying to bear hug the motor.

However you do it, do it quickly. Ken Rawlinson (Krawlin47) knocked his 250 Merc off his BassCat a few years ago in Glade. It was hanging by the steering cables and hoses down below the transom.

He got towed into the ramp and he a couple other guys got in the water at the ramp to lift the motor onto the back deck of the boat. He told me within ten minutes his muscles were seizing up to the point he couldn't function with any dexterity. The water temp that day was 48....

I've fallen in...Lake Fork... alligator cove...mid January...35 degrees. This was before I got fat. With heavy coveralls and boots on. You can NOT get yourself up on the motor. Had my nephew not been with me that day it would not have been pretty. Stripped off all but my drawers, got in a rod locker and nephew drove me to Oak Ridge. They were kind enough to let me use their dryer and a room to get warm until my clothes dried. It's no joke. That could have been my last day.

If I fell out, I'd walk to the shore and stare at my boat. I only fish 3ft or less.

Agree with Okie that I do not take off my life vest at any time when fishing in this type weather. Also agree with Gig em that I have nothing prove to anyone by fishing in this type weather. Chances of having a good day are minimal at best, and its not worth the effort or the risk.
Also, I keep a fresh set of dry clothes and jacket in a waterproof bag in the boat at all times.

Good post.

Me, Lake Raven during a cub scout campout with a mom and her son. She asked " why did you jump in" told her, "it was not intentional". Had to dry my only pair of pants on hood of my truck. Quite embarassing. Crawled back in on hydrofoil.


Had a neighbors and his sons with me and we went waaaay up into a creek couple of years ago. I turn off motor and announced we were drifting back down from there, and before the first line gets cast, hes in the drink. Told him to call his wife and have her meet us, We got him dried and he put on my dry set of shorts and t shirt and we wrapped him in a towel, cut that trip REAL short that morning.

Buddy told me his brother fell in this last weekend early in the morning when it was 29 degrees at launch. He said he told him he did not want to get out of water, it was warmer submerged than on the deck!! I was told a wife brought him a change.


I wonder how many have been "bucked off" by the Ultrex, saw a video of an pro that was REAL close when fighting a fish!

I never even thought about hanging on to the prop/lower unit and trimming it up to climb in.

I tried it a couple of summers ago to shimmie up the motor. I made it but it wasn't simple, but not real hard. Although, I'm pretty athletic for a fat guy, haha. I made sure that nobody was videoing it.