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We go fishing all the time and usually have a routine for just about everything we do. But what happens when the unexpected happens no matter how careful we are? Are we prepared for it? Especially during the winter, are we sure we are prepared?

It’s a beautiful January day. The air temperature is in the low 40s, but the water temperature is in the upper 30s. The fishing is slow, but still promising. The urge to go happens, so you do what you normally do when by yourself. You stand on the back of the boat and relieve yourself. You turn around like normal and go to step down into the bottom of the boat, and it happens. In the blink of an eye, you are falling out of the boat. In my case, I grab the boat as I fall, barely keeping my head out of the water, but I’m soaked and in the water. Now what? I managed to get myself back into the boat, after a struggle and a little laughter, but falling in is not something I had planned on. Was I prepared? No! Had I planned on it happening? Not in my lifetime. I paddled my boat back to shore and got out, shivering and cold. Things I normally have in the truck, I had left home. I was ill prepared for the what if that day.

Winter can be the most difficult time for a mishap. The cold weather combined with the cold water presents added dangers to a fishing trip. Hypothermia is the leading cause of death from boating mishaps this time of year. But with planning, we can survive.

The first thing we need to think about is a float plan. No matter if we are going to a lake or on the river, we need to make sure someone on shore knows where we will be and an estimated time of return. Cell phones have been a big plus, as it allows us to be in contact with loved ones. But what happens if the phone dies or worse, falls overboard? The float plan may be a lifesaver. It can give rescue workers an idea of where to start looking for you.

Secondly, the life jacket. We all have one in the boat, but how good is it and where is it? For tournaments, we have to wear it during launch, but afterwards, where is it. Every time we start the big motor it needs to be on. And during the cold weather, we really need to wear it all day. But I’m only gonna be on the trolling motor, why do I need it? You hit a stump under the water and you go flying over the bow. Did you plan on it? No, but it happened and you are now in the water. You relieve yourself off the back of the boat while your partner runs the trolling motor, and you slip into the water. Your life jacket will keep you afloat even if you get knocked out. Wear that life jacket.

Do you have a dry bag for emergencies? And what is in it? The dry bag for winter should have a few necessary items that may save your life. A change of clothes, and I mean a complete change, including shoes. They don’t have to be high dollar clothes, but they need to be dry. Also, a blanket to wrap up in. If you have someone with you, they may fall in and need the blanket. Hand warmers are also a good item to have in the dry bag. The larger ones will work great on the body to get your core temperature up.

Remember, dress for the water, not the air temperature. Dress in layers, not just a big warm jacket. Layers can be peeled off if it gets warm and then put back on as it cools. I’ve made the mistake of dressing for the air temperature and finding out that it was much cooler on the water. I survived, but it got rather chilly quickly.
Maintain situational awareness at all times. Whether it be knowing what is happening around the boat, knowing where the boat is on the water, or keeping an eye on changing weather, good situational awareness can help a bad situation from getting worse.

Always be responsible and never boat under the influence. It decreases our overall situational awareness and lessons our ability to recognize dangerous situations before they occur.

Know the 1-10-1 principle. Knowing some basic cold-water immersion principles can greatly increase your chance of surviving if something were to go wrong. The times are approximate, but are basic time frames to remember. One, you have one minute after being submerged in cold water to get your breathing under control and realize what has happened. If you don’t get your breathing under control immediately, the possibility of drowning drastically increases. This is often referred to as the body’s response to “cold water shock.” Ten, after gaining your awareness and breathing, you have about 10 minutes of meaningful movement to self-recover. After 10 minutes, the cold water temperatures will likely cause a loss of dexterity in your fingers and arms, lessening your ability to self-recover. One, as in one hour before the effects of hypothermia will set in and you could become unconscious.

We prepare our fishing equipment for the day. We plan for everything that we may face. And we need to also prepare for the what if. What if I fall in? What if my partner falls in? Having a plan will help us to act faster and not panic. Knowing where everything is in the boat will allow the fishing partner to act faster instead of having to dig for something.

Be sure that your boat is in good operating condition and has the necessary safety equipment on board before leaving the dock. Make sure there is a good, stocked first aid kit on the boat. A couple band-aids and some aspirin doesn’t make for a good first aid kit. Wear your emergency cut-off switch attached to your life jacket when the boat motor is started and running. While we all know the boater safety rules and how to operate a boat safely, it never hurts to take a refresher coarse. Just because we have done it for years doesn’t mean we were doing it right. I know CPR and can perform it, but learning it 40 years ago and getting refresher courses every 2 or 3 years ensures that I am better prepared for when I need it.

Are you prepared for cold water boating? Do you have everything you need? Or are you like me, thinking I need to recheck everything and make sure it is still there and ready? Be smart, be safe, and be prepared. Live to fish another day!