http://www.startribune.com/462/story/704081.html
Just read this story. With the night trolling season at hand, please everyone be careful out there. Big waves and the dark of the night can make any lake dangerous. Take it slow, bring a friend, and plan ahead for the worst case scenario. I would hate to see anyone, especially an IDA’er go down this fall.
I was expecting to see this was a small fishing boat, not a 27′ bayliner.
Be careful out there this fall, mother nature doesnt have any mercy. Ending up in the lake with a little wind blowing in 50 degree water temps = disaster.
Slow down and be safe. Other fishermen are a hazard also, especially in choppy conditions. Lots of boats in the same area, many people going too fast, other people making foolish decisions because the fish are biting and dont want to leave(like the battery going dead and lights dim).
Be safe and catch some fish.
good advice. thats a sad story.
I fish alone alot during the week and if alone or with somebody the survival jacket is on at all times at night.
It doesnt sound like it was a boating accident per se – pretty good sized boat and it was anchored. Engine problems and panicked maybe, tried to swim for help? Who knows. Too bad to see this happen though.
Probably just fell overboard and could’nt get back in the boat. It would be stupid to swim. All he would need to do would be pull anchor and drift till he hit shore.
-J.
That is a sad story for sure. You can not be too careful fishing after dark. Cell phones, GPS, letting people know when to expect you back and taking someone with you are all good ideas. Be safe.
I agree with Jon. A friend was on the north end of Mille Lacs on openig weekend. He bent over the edge of the boat to release a fish and a wave hit at the same time. He was in the lake before he could even think about it. He was in heavy clothes and all the guys in the boat could see was the bottm of his Sorels as he was going down. With some fast thinking they were able to get him back in the boat. He is really careful releasing fish in rough water now. If he was alone that day he would have been in big trouble.
Sad story. I try to have redundency in my communications gear especially at night. a Radio and a cell phone or two cell phones.
Sad story. And to think some of us where out there that night. Here are a few of the things I keep in mind while boating at night and other times.
I spend a fair amount of nights out there alone also. A small mishap fishing with a partner can turn into a big one while by yourself. A little planning ahead for these bad sitiuation should be used.
It is also a good idea to have a little safety talk with your passangers before heading out on the water. Some may not know what to do or expect if someone goes over the side. When your in the water it may be a bad time to start explaining this to them. Some may need to know as simple of things as how to turn the boat off or take it out of gear or where throwable is. There is most likely more that can be added to this list.
Keep in mind that most insulated bibs and jackets will soak up water very fast and become unbeivably heavey in water. One thing I have been doing the last few years is to make sure the foot ware is loose and easy to kick off. You dont have a chance of swimming with them on and your not going to get the bibs off with your boots on either. Make sure the laces are tucked in good. Dont need these putting you over the side in the first place.
While traveling in the boat at night at higher speeds make sure and have your life jacket on and the driver needs to have the kill switch hooked up. This is often over looked but very important. Watching your boat drive away from you or circle back on you will turn a bad situation into a much worse one.
Wearing your life jacket this time of year may not insure that you are going to make it if you end up in the water. That water is very cold. Keeping your cell phone in a water proof baggy in your pocket might be a good idea. While on the river I even keep some matches and paper in there. I think the chances of getting back to your boat on the river are even slimmer than on the lake.
The very last benifit of wearing your life jacket is that if you do have it on and still dont surive the cold water it will be alot easyer for the family to find you. I have seen familys standing on shore crying there eyes out while the sherifs boats spend days and weeks looking for a family member. Talk about adding alot of additional heart ache to a all ready bad situation.
Did any one hear about the boat that went over on superior a few weeks back. This was a interisting story about how a simple error ended up with a 26′ boat flipping over and I think 4 guys in the water. One of which was the captian/guide. They all survived but it was still very interist to hear about. I will see if I can get more info on this and post it.
Be safe out there guys.
Life jackets save lives!!!! Be sure to be safe out there!! More fishermen drown than jet skiers every year. Thats because jet skiers have to wear life jackets.
Don’t attempt to take a leak over the side of the boat! More guy’s go in when a rogue wave hits them and knocks them off balance. Bring something to pee in & use it.
Also, if you need to drink……..stay home. I don’t need my fishing time wrecked while they drag the bottom looking for a drunk guy who fell over board taking a leak.
Be safe, if not for your self at least do it for family and friends. 
When I’m out there trolling at night in the fall, it always amazes me how many boats you’ll see with their lights OFF. Turn them on and leave them ON !!!
Mike W makes some very good points. There was a guy in Hastings about 10 years ago on the River that got chucked from a flatbottom by a barge wake. He was duck hunting, and had hip boots on. He drowned. There was evidence he was trying to get out of his boots. From then on, I have always used uninsulated bibs, and never tie my boots.
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Don’t attempt to take a leak over the side of the boat! More guy’s go in when a rogue wave hits them and knocks them off balance. Bring something to pee in & use it.
Get a plastic wiffel bat and cut the ends off. It gives you about a 3 foot “extension” so you don’t have to lean over or near the gunnel of the boat.
great idea jack! it will work well for me, i guess my wife will still have to use the livewell
Got this idea from my buddy in SD Jack. However, I still like to wash the bat out.
What ever you do don’t let anyone talk you into doing any beer shots thru one!! 
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From then on, I have always used uninsulated bibs, and never tie my boots.
I can be slow sometimes. 
Why the uninsulated bibs?
Sully
So when he gets back in the boat he’ll have nice dry insulated set to put on….
Less sponge material ?
Quote:
Don’t attempt to take a leak over the side of the boat!
Get a plastic wiffel bat and cut the ends off. It gives you about a 3 foot “extension” so you don’t have to lean over or near the gunnel of the boat.
Gives a WHOLE NEW MEANING to the question;
Do I need an extenstion ?
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