San Pablo Wipe Out

I never thought I would post here, but here we go..

It was an ok day at SPR. I was with a friend in a pontoon. It was windy and the water was a bit choppy. 15 mins of fishing (for bass) with nothing biting and I was like, wait a sec, let me tether my paddle to my yak. I grabbed my tether from my supposedly lockable milk crate but which  I left unlocked afterwards. Reached to my left side to clip the paddle. I think I leaned too much towards my left as I was having a hard time clipping my rope. The water/current/wind was pushing me from the right and next thing I knew, I was hanging for my dear life for about 3-4 seconds and down I went.  For a few moment, I was in panic mode. I'm not a good swimmer and I've never practiced self rescue before. All the contents of my crate were all over the surface. It took me 3 tries to flip my yak back and another 3 to get on it. Thank god to all those self rescue videos i've seen from Youtube. Lost 3 rods in the proces, a net, my Hawgthrough, and a knife.

I've always put a floater on my rods but for some reason I didnt this time. I figured Ive been to this lake a lot of times and nothing like that has ever happened to me. I guess, I got a little too over confident and lazy. I did manage to save a rod and end up catching a couple of bass. I guess I can put this on my hall of shame. It sucks when you learn the hard way. What a loss.

Look on the bright side, it could have turned out a lot worse. In the end it was a lesson learned and a story to tell that just might keep someone else from doing the same. I'm glad you're okay. I bet you'll practice your self rescue a few more times now. 

Its not if you fall in, more when you will fall in.

Good on you for taking the time to post your embarrassing moment as it may help somebody in the future.  Too bad you had to learn the hard way but at least your alive to tell about it.

I was hanging for my dear life for about 3-4 seconds and down I went.  For a few moment, I was in panic mode. I'm not a good swimmer and I've never practiced self rescue before.

Were you not wearing a PFD?  I know many people don't wear one on fresh water, but the fresh stuff can kill somebody just as easily as the salty stuff can.  It takes very little water to due somebody in.

Its not if you fall in, more when you will fall in.

+1, those that have and those that will!!!

I was wearing my pfd. When I said I was hanging for my dear life I meant I was hanging on my kayak while it was still going sideways. I was trying to balance it back but wasn't successful. When I hit the water, I wasn't even thinking or realized  that I had my pfd on. First instinct was to hold on to something and stay afloat.

Good to hear.  Other than the lost tackle and bruised ego, glad to hear you were unscathed.

Look on the bright side, it could have turned out a lot worse. In the end it was a lesson learned and a story to tell that just might keep someone else from doing the same. I'm glad you're okay. I bet you'll practice your self rescue a few more times now. 

you betcha! The only thing keeping me from practicing self rescue was the cold water temp. I was Actually holding until summer to do it, but then this incident happens.

Thanks for posting, first thing I plan on doing now is securing my stuff on my kayak.  I usually just throw it on top, just recently I got the hatches drilled out. 

Did you gps where you dropped the rods?  We have a lot of freedivers on the board.. Lol

excellent on the pfd.

Glad to hear it turned out ok, always be prepared even if you have done it a million times sorry about the lost gear .

Thanks for posting, first thing I plan on doing now is securing my stuff on my kayak.  I usually just throw it on top, just recently I got the hatches drilled out. 

Did you gps where you dropped the rods?  We have a lot of freedivers on the board.. Lol

I didn't mark it on gps. The location is around the buoys by the no gas zone. Uhhmm, San Pablo is a no body contact water so diving would be prohibited. I tried dredging them out but no luck. Oh well, $h!t happens right.

Sorry about the lost gear. But thanks for posting about the incident. It's a nice reminder that things can happen anytime, any where. I know I've been a little lax sometimes outta haste or laziness. You can never be too safe. 

Super Herb..It happens to the best of us..theres always a first time for everything...sorry for the lost of gear, look on the bright side you only lost a gear in the process of learning..not thy dear life I ate surf probably 3x already, but I learned to keep my gears safe..

Thanks for sharing your story!    Had a similar experience once in January.  Man, falling into COLD water is like getting socked in the stomach.    Glad you fared well, and still caught some fish to boot!    Stuff can be replaced... But the story will be with you forever 

One of the kayaking books I read, (forget which one) said the first thing one should do after purchasing a kayak is take it out and climb all over it, fall off it, and get back on all different ways.  Sit on the nose.  Sit on it backwards.  Lay down on it, etc...  I think that's excellent advice, and the only way to truly know your boat.  It helped boost my confidence tremendously.

Otherwise you never know.