6′ in Red Wing 3/25/22

32,600 cfp…with a forecast of 7.0′ in a week.

I’m surprised that I haven’t seen any trees or large limbs heading down river yet.
Maybe they are all just under the surface?

As always put on the PFD. Your chairs don’t need to float…you do!
I hope your family never has to say “I’m glad you wore your PFD”, but if you do get the sudden toss into the river, they will be happy you did.

We had one too many, preventable drownings last year. Do your part to ensure this doesn’t happen again!

PS It’s also recommended that you have a fishing partner this time of year. New to the river but still want to go fishing? Ask in the Trip Swap Forum. Offer to kick in for the gas and learn something about the river from a more experienced River Rat.

/PSA

I hope everyone takes Brian’s advice and wears their life vest along with your lanyard every outing. The slight inconvenience of snapping one buckle and slipping a lanyard on your wrist is worth not becoming the next story we read about on here.

Last weekend I found the first and hopefully only submerged tree of the year with the new motor, and I almost got thrown from my seat in the process. Pool 3 had a lot of ice and a fair amount of wood floating down river on sunday. Thankfully a little paint scuff on the gearcase was the extent of damage this time, but I have personally not been so lucky in the same scenario. Smashing your face into a windshield, and drifting down river knocked out in the boat, is not a fun experience. Things happen to even the most experienced river rats sometimes… no one is special when it comes to boating the river.

I spoke with a guide on Winni many years ago. Some wire got tangle in his prop. He said he couldn’t have been going 5 mph. His client was tossed from the co pilots chair and would of gone in the water had the front chair not stopped him. The chair broke is arm. The guides face looked like he was in a street fight.

It takes a moment to turn the odd in your favor.

hillhiker wrote:

along with your lanyard every outing.

PSA – Lanyard-kill switch use now required by law. (In case you missed it last year)

https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/engine-cut-off-devices.php

-J.

Thanks Jon.

This was sobering…”A typical three-blade propeller running at 3,200 rpm can inflict 160 impacts in one second ….”

appreciate the PSA every spring BK! the river is no joke this time of year so if you are not familiar, just take it slow and keep your eyes peeled!