Be very carefull.... You never know what could happen. My brother was fishing by himself yesterday on lake X and was bed fishing. He was in his boat but leaning on a pole. Somehow fell out and fractured his shoulder and dislocated it. Had to pull him self back in the boat. Then running back to the boat ramp ran out of gas. Had to use his trolling motor to get him back. Always wear your life jacket especially when by yourself and make sure to have plenty of gas. Never know what could happen. He had surgery last night and home in pain! But he will fish again!

sorry to hear it Rocky, hope he gets better!

Dang, hope your brother heals quickly. Good advice.

Man that's a bad, bad deal... I hope he heals up quick!

I never wear a life jacket unless I happen to be in a tournament. I hate having to wear a seat belt, but do it cause I hate paying $250 tickets. I know, I know, life jackets and kill switches!

Talk about a double whammie. Hope for a speedy recovery

I did the same thing in 2007. Fell out, dislocated my shoulder, torn rotator cuff and labrum. The worst pain ever. Did more damage getting back in the boat. To this day I try to always have a partner when fishing. Bad things can and will happen.

Good trip can turn into a suck fest quick! Don't care what other people do but I think drowning while fishing would be a pretty embarrasing way to go, right up there with heart attack on the toilet while duecing. Self inflator is a pretty simple preventative measure.

Hope he gets better quick. That's a terrible day of fishing. Just goes to show you that a bad day on the water isn't ALWAYS better than a good day at work.

I was on my trolling motor at high speed in the back of White Oak a couple years ago and slammed right into one of the stumps that some idiot had cut off flat. It was right under the surface and there were several scattered in the area. I splashed into the water right next to another one. After I got back in the boat, I realized that if I'd have come down right on the other one and it would've knocked me cold, I absolutely could've died. No life jacket on and it was mid-winter, so the water was cold and I had 3 or 4 layers on. I try to keep the life jacket on at all times now when I'm by myself.

Lake X is a pretty special place.

it's too bad all boat mfgr's don't have ladders on their boats....this happens more than you think......it should be a law for all new boats.....IMO

Accidents happen but running out of gas is a no brainer.

Sorry to hear that, Rocky. I'm glad he's okay, it could have been worse.

Is it your brother Rickie? Was he dancing on the deck to living la vida loca and lose his balance?

Had an elderly friend, who was not very well coordinated, that fell out of boat and the water was cold. Tried and tried to pull himself up on the side of the boat but could not. Finally worked his way around to the Big Motor and got on the back and used the Tilt/Trim to pick himself up enough to get back in the boat. I had always cautioned him to wear a self inflating life preserver. If he had hit his head he would have been a gonner!