Just learn to swim its easy

I am 65, fished since I can remember... small. I can't swim.

I make it a point not to fall out of the boat.

I wear a life vest when I am running the big motor and when it is cold.

Just stay focused and don't be doing stupid stuff on the water. I have known guys who could swim, but drowned. It happens. Just be careful and think about where you are and what you are doing.

I can thrash like a maniac on my back and make perhaps 20 yards and then yep, it's over. I'd post a picture to show you what I'm talking about but the harassment would be never ending lol. At 6ft tall, when I am in my best shape I weigh around 220-225 and look like a 180-190lb guy at best. I've been told it's a body density issue by the supposed experts who tried to teach me .

They tried that in a pond, guess what, they had to rescue me lmao.

Just learn how to swim under water far enough until you can reach the shallows and just stand up.

Same lesson I got! Swim like a fish now.

Hey slodsm,

I'm right there with ya bud! 20 years in the Corps and I never really learned to swim! I can float, and can swim enough to get myself safe! I wear the PFD when on plane, by myself or in bad weather!

I have had some of the best swimmers in the world try to teach me and it just don't happen for me!

I hear you man, I never even passed CWSQ 4, they just passed me on paper because I had the cajones to keep jumping off that ^%@$ platform for 14 days trying. I almost drank that pool in San Diego dry.

I make it a point not to fall out as well but things happen. You should wear a life vest the whole time just saying.

I do wear my Life vest the whole entire time. Its just now my parents are considering not letting me fish tournaments until I can prove to them that I wont panic when I hit the water. We are going to try to hit the swim scenter by my house in the next week or two. I fished 5 tournaments out of a bass boat before this with ABA. The membership coordinator told my mom that he wouldnt even take his own children or friends out if they could not swim, that kind of made things worse for my mom. I am actually VERY careful on the boat and really dont do anything Stupid. I've taken swimming lessons over and over again, but havent taken any in the last 2 or 3 years. I started fishing tournaments out of a bass boat in September 2010, and now my parents are seeing things differently, like they are putting my life at risk

Gotta learn to swim, I'd be so nervous on the lake the whole time if I couldn't.

Honestly I cant remember how many times I've fell out of a boat either fishing, duck hunting or just being tupid. years ago you could stay out all night long bass fishing or crappie fishing and drink beer all night and never even see or hear from game wardens. But if for some reason you cant swim or cant learn how to swim you need to wear a PFD at all times cus as said above you can go over at any time. I you want to catch fish you dont need to be worrying about not being able to swim.

Try to learn how to swim if you can.

But in any case always wear a PFD. There are chances of banging your head and getting knocked unconscious fishing out of a boat so you'll need that PFD on even if you can swim.

But just because I can't fly doesn't mean I shouldn't get on an airplane.

I make sure all on my boat know how to swim and must wear a life jacket when I am underway. Too much chance of the unexpected happening and someone drowning. Once the big motor is shut off jackets can be removed for fishing. Both of my daughters have swimming pools so my granddaughters all know how to swim or at least float for extended periods.

It's your life, so it's your call. But if I couldn't swim, I wouldn't willingly be getting in a boat.

I fell out of the boat for the first time a couple months ago. It's not fun for anybody, but it sure wouldn't be fun if you didn't know how to swim. I could definitely see how someone could panic. Life jacket won't always hold you up if you have a lot of clothes on too.

My advice:

1. learn to swim
2. ALWAYS wear your PFD
3. NEVER use the trolling motor cruise control (if you have the foot pedal for the hand control trolling motor)
4. Go somewhere shallow with your boat and jump in and make sure you can get back in yourself. If you can't get back in your boat, you definitely don't need to be out there if you can't swim

Just my $.02: I've got a daughter and there's no way she'd be getting on a boat by herself or with a stranger if she couldn't swim. You spend enough time on the water and you will eventually fall in.