What percentage of pleasure boaters and swimmers and "2 trips to the lake a year" folks do you think know how to swim, judge distance over water, know CPR, know what to do in a storm etc? There have been so many drownings this year. There were 3 on Canyon just yesterday in 2 seperate incidents. All were swimming from shore.
Just be safe out there everyone. I know it sucks but you not only gotta be responsible for yourself but you ve gotta watch out for the folks who are less experienced around water. 2 of the drownings on the lake yesterday were from 2 guys trying to swim from shore to an island. It looks deceptively closer than it really is. Michael Phelps could probably do it but your average joe theres no way! The channel between shore and the island has some fairly significant current flow and the max water depth is over 100 ft deep! Life vest 100% of the time, know the weather, know the water body, and know your limitations!

Yawn...........

What a jerk....

Could it be reality? We can't fix stupid.

There was a drowning up at Lake Travis a few weeks ago when we were there. A guy with his family tried swimming across a cove. Wouldnt have happened if the guy was using his head.

I know from experience that my Ranger does not sink. I always brief everyone to NOT leave the boat, even if it's full of water and looks like it's going to sink. Of course, everyone on board wears a PFD, most of the time. Also, I believe that holding to a limit of one beer might be a live saver.

Redranger... Why even respond??? Cyper Orange is just spreading awareness.. There are Stupid people out there to put it nicely and we all have to be aware of who is on the water (boating or swimming). Just because some one has a boat doesn't make them a qualified boater. I have wake boarding boats literally drive 20 ft away from me when I am fishing close to the bank and they are just oblivious. Whose to say they wouldn't do that to a boat with a skiier or wake boarder...or even a swimmer on the bank. It takes all kinds of people and we have to be observant of them all. Gotta be safe out there!

Another drowning on Travis yesterday too...
I DO sorta get the yawn comment. This stuff is beat into peoples heads all the time. Just like not driving drunk or not smoking etc. People are STILL gonna do what they do. The difference I think is this...
If you smoke for 20 years I think you eventually accept that it will probably have a factor in your death. If you drive drunk you know its a bad idea and you know what the outcome could be. You may still do it but you are aware of the risks.
I don't think alot of "not so water experienced" people realize how dangerous the lakes can be. No one goes to the lake expecting to drown. Throw in copius amounts of alcohol which is often the case and its a disaster waiting to happen.

On lake Lewisville we have the normal twice a year boaters but in my opinion it's the rental people that rent jet skis and boats to people and give very little operation and safety training that causes slot of problems. At least they launch the boat etc for them though.

I have fished the Comal park a few times and the island does look closer than it is and it gets really deep 100 feet or so. There are several signs at the park that say don't swim to the island.

The island at Comal Park has been the demise of many over the years, yet they continually try to swim out to it.

+1

Some there were probably even wearing long pants. Apparel can make a huge difference. That is why speed swimmers wear minimal tight fitting stuff. My mom could not swim and made me take every lesson known to man. I took Survival Swimming and we had to swim in long pants and sleeves. It is not easy.

There has been several on The Highland Lakes and with the lake levels getting lower I suspect there will be more, especially on Buchanan.