Please People! Be Safety Diligent!

[choochoo]

I know this is pretty much preaching to the choir, but I hope some folks breezing through here will find this useful. It’s summer and stupidity is moving toward its summer peak. I’ve seen two ugly events this past week.

The first occurred as I was manning my catfish hole near the back of Becky’s near the no wake bouys. Some clueless man, who was way old enough to know better, comes cruising in with his lady friend/wife. He came in way to hot on his joy ride and tried to swing around in front of the bouys without decreasing speed. He literally swung by me at about 30 feet from the bank and docks. He sure had a sense for the stink eye as I know he could feel mine burning him, but wouldn’t look over.

The second occurred yesterday when we had the catfish hole converted over to a swimming hole. Right about the time the rain was starting we had left the water and I turned to look as a boat wide open coming right toward us had caught my attention. Right about the time “what is he doing” crossed my mind he started turning and I saw the kids on an inflatable behind him. Immediately “oh no” became the thought. Images of last year in Bull Run were running through my mind as I thought “there’s no way they are gonna make it”. He swung the kids around and never let up. Hand on the Bible they cleared a dock by 5 feet at best. I had to leave. I could watch anymore.

Now word is coming of a drowning just a couple of hours ago. Please be careful. Fun can become tragedy in an instant.

[tblspoon]

On that note..
I haven't fished the Oak Grove area much, but, I did during a company tournament this Friday night.
The wake boats were returning to their ports with full ballasts. If you were not paying attention, the wakes would throw you from your boat or into the rocks and docks. I was lucky enough to hear the waves cresting prior reaching my boat. Granted, it didn't stop the water from entering my boat, but, I was able to brace myself from being thrown from the boat. My bilge pump had a big work out on Friday.
I normally fish by myself. It's hard to think that I could be crushed by my own boat while following every safety rule out there.
The thing that bothers me, I was taught, at the Boater Safety Course, that every boater is responsible for their own wake.
Why are they not held accountable for the MASSIVE wakes? Wakes that they are intentionally creating that are causing havoc on bank erosion, dock damage and boat damage?

All right, I'm ready....
Pour it on.

[choochoo]

The wake boats are awful. And seem to have the most unreasonable people at the helm. I personally think action will have to take place eventually to address the havoc they raise up in many coves. I’ll take ten jet skis to one wake boat. Rather be shot by a .22 than a .44.

[ghostcomanche©®]

Excuse my ignorance of the subject, but I thought the state mandated Boating Safety Course, was supposed to take care of all the idiots on the water...so what happened with that???

[choochoo]

The information is there and useful. I think what cuts to the issue is the lack of humility, wisdom, consideration, respect, and a little knowledge of the golden rule. But I think that’s what you were implying on the sly. Lol

[quackquackboom]

There are plenty of idiots on fishing boats. I do both and have seen equal shares.

[choochoo]

True indeed

[tblspoon]

I agree about the fishing boats. The one difference is, if you lighten the load on your boat, the less water displacement. It would not take that much of an effort to empty their ballasts. Same difference when a boat comes off plane. The wake is damaging to people around.
By the way, quack quack boom, Love the hummingbird. Thank you.

[Red Bear]

Jun 10, 2018 18:30:13 GMT -5 ghostcomanche©® said:

Excuse my ignorance of the subject, but I thought the state mandated Boating Safety Course, was supposed to take care of all the idiots on the water...so what happened with that???

people ignore it? out-of-staters not required to have it? still doesnt prevent people from being idiots even if they took it? etc...

[tiltntrim]

A well aimed 2 oz barrel sinker helps get their attention so you can point out the dos and don'ts of water safety.......