Bullard's Bar and Safety

Fished Bullard's Bar for kokanee yesterday.  Caught half-a-dozen, and then my day took a turn.
I was trolling with a downrigger, when it apparently snagged on something.  The boat took a hard right, and then flipped hard and threw me in the water.  What I had assumed would be a good safe day with perfect weather was suddenly the opposite.  Several things conspired to make it worse.  Some gear had become tangled in the seat and I had just unsnapped it to work the gear loose.  When I went over the seat fell out of the boat, and sank.  This was critical for me, as I have a self-rescue inflation bladder.  Problem is it attaches to the seat when being used.  I had just lost my ability to get back in the boat.  Water temp. was 53 degrees, with ambient temperatures to match.

Long and the short of it.  I was wearing wool clothing which kept me warm for a while, but became too heave to make any progress swimming.  I was in the water at least 40 minutes and could not get to shore.  Things were getting critical when 3 generous guys showed up.  Not sure how much longer I had in me.  I lost over a thousand in gear, and scared and embarrassed myself.  I was headed into hypothermia and was shivering violently.  I share this in the hope someone makes themselves safer out there.  We forget how dangerous this sport can be.

Please be careful.  I think I am safer than most, cause I am old and not what I used to be.  Yet, I got in trouble in perfect conditions in a fairly small lake.

Thank you to my rescuers.  Sorry I wrecked your afternoon's fishing. 

Anybody have opinions of outriggers?  I may need some training wheels.

Wow, thanks for sharing your ordeal with us, and I'm so happy you made it out alive.

Hope you don't mind answering a question. Were you wearing immersion gear? In lakes I used to just wear waders, but I have started wearing my dry suit just because it takes about the same amount of effort to get on and off plus having the benefit of the relief zipper.

I always thought that in a lake I would be able to get to shore, or have plenty of people around if I needed assistance. Now I have another good reason to wear the dry suit anywhere I launch.

Thanks Again   
 

Very scary situation indeed. Glad to hear you are ok!

Glad you are ok and humble enough to report your mishap.

Even in small lakes on cold days i wear my neoprene pants , wet boots and never wear anything that is cotton. 

I have yet to use a downrigger on my kayak but have used them on my boats. I always try to tighten the downrigger just enough so if i snag it will release line.

Alex

Glad you're okay!  That's a scary moment for sure.  40 minutes is a really long time in that situation.  You were close to the 1 hour mark in the 1-10-1 rules.

I hope you don't mind more questions, but I think it'll help everyone form a complete picture and think about how they might avoid repeating the situation.  Were you wearing a PFD and do you feel it was properly fit/adjusted?  What was your downrigger line made of (steel wire or braid or other)?  How was your downrigger attached to the kayak?

I have yet to use a downrigger on my kayak but have used them on my boats. I always try to tighten the downrigger just enough so if i snag it will release line.

Alex

+1 this.  I've had it snag once in a lake going slow and its a scary feeling.  Now I do what Alex mentioned, don't tighten the knob all the way, just enough to prevent line from releasing unless it snags.  This should give you some time to loosen it and not completely flip over.   

Glad you're ok though.

I have yet to use a downrigger on my kayak but have used them on my boats. I always try to tighten the downrigger just enough so if i snag it will release line.

Alex

+1 this.  I've had it snag once in a lake going slow and its a scary feeling.  Now I do what Alex mentioned, don't tighten the knob all the way, just enough to prevent line from releasing unless it snags.  This should give you some time to loosen it and not completely flip over.   

Glad you're ok though.

This for sure.  When a whale took off with my downrigger ball, a similar situation could have happened to me, however, I had 100 lb braid spooled, and had the DR loosened enough to where the whale just started peeling line.  I had a knife right where I needed it for a quick cut, and I was safe.  Thanks for sharing and glad you made it out alive.   

I have yet to use a downrigger on my kayak but have used them on my boats. I always try to tighten the downrigger just enough so if i snag it will release line.

Alex

+1 this.  I've had it snag once in a lake going slow and its a scary feeling.  Now I do what Alex mentioned, don't tighten the knob all the way, just enough to prevent line from releasing unless it snags.  This should give you some time to loosen it and not completely flip over.   

Glad you're ok though.

This for sure.  When a whale took off with my downrigger ball, a similar situation could have happened to me, however, I had 100 lb braid spooled, and had the DR loosened enough to where the whale just started peeling line.  I had a knife right where I needed it for a quick cut, and I was safe.  Thanks for sharing and glad you made it out alive.   

I have been meaning to switch my downrigger line to braid and second the knife easily available if needed.

Funny you mentioned that. Me and a friend were trolling for salmon and what looked like a large bait ball but somewhat different on the fish finder ???  Next thing you know line is peeling out the downrigger. Luckily it broke off after a few secconds. Musta been hella barnacles on that bad boy.

Happy to answer questions.  I have a very high quality pfd, which I was wearing.  I have put on 25 lbs. in the last few months because of an injury, and that did affect the fit.  I had to constantly pull it down so I could see.  One more reason to lose the weight.
The downrigger is a mini troll, which was mounted in a Scotty rod holder.  I was fishing at 25' in 250' of water, and never dreamt the thing would snag.

As for the immersion gear.  I have been going back and forth on one piece vs. two piece dry suits, but don't own one, yet.  I won't be going out again until I get one, and it will be a one piece.  I do think not wearing cotton saved it from being even more hypothermic.

Happy to answer questions.  I have a very high quality pfd, which I was wearing.  I have put on 25 lbs. in the last few months because of an injury, and that did affect the fit.  I had to constantly pull it down so I could see.  One more reason to lose the weight.
The downrigger is a mini troll, which was mounted in a Scotty rod holder.  I was fishing at 25' in 250' of water, and never dreamt the thing would snag.

As for the immersion gear.  I have been going back and forth on one piece vs. two piece dry suits, but don't own one, yet.  I won't be going out again until I get one, and it will be a one piece.  I do think not wearing cotton saved it from being even more hypothermic.

That 25lbs might have been the difference, it is an insulator.

Glad you are safe, and thank you for swallowing your pride and providing the public debrief, these conversations are very important.

One more question... if you had a PLB with you, do you think you would have activated it?

Thank you for your post. Your story is something I’ve been thinking about while placing downriggers on my boat and heading up to mountain lakes,...that specific situation, snagging on something and your entire world changes.

I’ve yet to purchase a dry suit, because of cost, and (stupidly) not wanting to appear like a rube worry wart while everyone around me is seemingly super chill in regular everyday outdoor gear. I’m not a great swimmer, not in great shape, with joint issues. I’d also like to lose a buncha weight before dropping a G on a dry suit,...but, yno, money doesn’t matter after. Adding dry suit to credit card this week, because I wanna go home at the end of the day.

Sorry that you lost a ton of gear,....thankful that you’re here to tell the story. Thank you for sharing.

Glad you are OK. Plenty of 'basic' safety info on this board.  The downrigger drag tips are level two advice.  And, very good advice at that.  Level 1 advice

Dress for immersion
wear your pfd-always
have a waterproof commo device (vhf handheld best)

I would add a 1.5#, do one thing at a time on our kayak while fishing. If I need to open the front hatch for instance, I pull all my lines up and secure all the rods etc first.  It's never one thing going wrong that gets you its always two or three at the same time, or a cascade of events that puts you in trouble.  so glad you're Ok and have courage in posting mistakes its how we all learn to stay safer, which is #1.

Bushy

Thank you for your post. Your story is something I’ve been thinking about while placing downriggers on my boat and heading up to mountain lakes,...that specific situation, snagging on something and your entire world changes.

I’ve yet to purchase a dry suit, because of cost, and (stupidly) not wanting to appear like a rube worry wart while everyone around me is seemingly super chill in regular everyday outdoor gear. I’m not a great swimmer, not in great shape, with joint issues. I’d also like to lose a buncha weight before dropping a G on a dry suit,...but, yno, money doesn’t matter after. Adding dry suit to credit card this week, because I wanna go home at the end of the day.

Sorry that you lost a ton of gear,....thankful that you’re here to tell the story. Thank you for sharing.

I just spoke to Kokatat customer service about sending my drysuit in for a warranty issue.  Due to high demand there is a 3 month delay if the drysuit you are ordering is not available.  I love Kokatat products!!

  I have put on 25 lbs. in the last few months

I am a little husky myself.  ( understatement of 2021 ) 

I wear  5mm neoprene pants in the ocean and 3mm for lakes and carry or wear a 3mm neoprene jacket made by  NRS ( grizzly for the big boys )

I also wear 3mm neoprene socks in the ocean with my wet boots . Even have a 3mm neoprene hat in emergency gear bag. Dont forget a bilge pump on top of all other safety gear

Eventually i will invest in a dry suit.

https://www.outdoorplay.com/NRS-Bills-Wetsuit-Jacket?color=3&custcol_size=279&msclkid=22ad85db80d31d5d9d8ee5db16808099&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=3+US+GShop+MidVal+Brands+and+Models+8.5&utm_term=4581046483141976&utm_content=3+US+GShop+MidVal+Brands+and+Models&color=3&custcol_size=192