Bullard's Bar and Safety

Glad that you are OK and thanks for sharing.  I am very new to this kayak fishing thing and reading your experience made me respect this sport a whole lot more and made me realize how much more I have to learn.  Take care and sorry about the loss of your gear. 

Thank you for sharing your experience.  I fish in cold water most of the year at Stampede and Donner and I dress for being in the water as if I was launching at HMB every time. Sometimes the lakes give you a false sense of security that the ocean doesn’t give you, and I appreciate the reminder to stay with the program.

Sorry to hear about your gear, but it’s really good we didn’t lose you.

Thank you for sharing your scary experience and cheers to the folks  that came to your assistance.  Thanks to all for other safety tips.

PS  I carry a clip-on knife on my PDF with a whistle attached, wear a Farmer John wet suit and neoprene boots with wool socks in cold water, carry a VHF floating marine radio on my PDF, and hope to never have to use these safety items.  I also stuffed my hull with about 10 pool noodles for extra flotation it hull is breached.

I use dacron from DR line. It’s easier to see and no annoying harmonic vibration like steel line.

That's probably even better, as it's less likely to cut. The slight increase in diameter would probably only matter if you're fishing really deep.

What are you running NWM ? Ocean ? Freshwaster ?

Glad you are ok with the exception of losing some gear.  I'm also glad I read this post today as I was fishing at Bullards yesterday and the bite was good.  Probably would have been thinking more about snagging something under the surface than catching fish.  I'm guilty of taking for granted the great weather and conditions.  Your experience hits home the potential dangers of this sport.

Were you fishing near the houseboats? There are mooring cables all over that area. Boats snag them all the time if they do not know.

Read your rescuers post on FB yesterday. I do a lot of Kokanee trolling at Bullards Bar myself and had many snags but also make sure the know is not too tight. Having this happen in middle of lake is crazy. Probably a submerged lose but heavy tree/log? Those would be always big concern when I see those early season waterski folks.

Two weeks ago I lost my DR ball at pyramid lake when I suddenly got snagged. Was one of the expensive 4fin balls but probably saved me from worse. Had the ball attached to a ‘ Scotty #370 Downrigger Weight Snubber’ which did what it’s supposed to do. Break.

We’re you not able to swim to shore hence stayed with the kayak? Even the shores there are steep and muddy and crawling up the shore could be major challenge. I tried before I got my ‘pee bottle’. lol.

I do have a fairly heavy trolling motor installed on side of kayak now and it’s definitely leaning. Never tipped over or fell of kayak but this makes me wonder whether I could even flip it back with trolling motor installed.

Good reminder also to have strength in numbers especially in winter. I usually go up there on short notice but folks might join if you announce on this board day or so before.

So glad you are ok. My wife trusts me that I do everything to be safe out there especially when going on own. And tells me to keep wearing my neoprene pants and put that dry jacket back on. Tempting to go without when sun is out. Better be sweating than submerged in 50 degree water.
I might go Sunday morning to Bullards Dark Day. I hate those cables at the dam to avoid. Those got me a few times before as well.

Thanks so much for sharing.  I just got a DR for Christmas so am happy to learn from those that have been doing this for a while.  I have not seen mentioned the thought of having rescue steps with you.  I keep mine in my PFD and would use it to both flip my PA14 and get myself back in.  I have not had to use it under duress yet, but have practiced with it and it works well.

Glad you are safe and kudos to those that helped!

Thanks so much for sharing.  I just got a DR for Christmas so am happy to learn from those that have been doing this for a while.  I have not seen mentioned the thought of having rescue steps with you.  I keep mine in my PFD and would use it to both flip my PA14 and get myself back in.  I have not had to use it under duress yet, but have practiced with it and it works well.

Glad you are safe and kudos to those that helped!

I thought he did have one, attached to the seat and lost upon capsizing along with the seat?

Hi Crash,

Thanks for the clarification.  I didn't catch that a "self rescue bladder" is for re-entering the kayak.  Glad he is safe!

I had my budget director read this post to authorize the purchase of my first drysuit,...a new Kokatat Supernova Angler Semi-Dry (neoprene collar) is on it’s way to the house now. Gonna take a minute to pay it off,...but I’ll take those minutes.

I have several solo multi-day camp’n’fish’chill weekends planned for the year up in the mountains. Feels silly at first having a buncha self rescue gear (rescue step, paddle float, throw rope, bilge pump, large first aid kit), but reading stories like this, as well as others on this site and across the internet,...a lot can go wrong real quick. Scare myself quite often thinking back on the crazy risks I took. I like to think it won’t happen to me, and I don’t live everyday thinking it will. But at the very least I’ll be prepared with the tools for myself, or another who might need em.

Thanks again, for the post, all of the reminders, and for this community.

Glad you survived this.  It is a wake up call for all of us.

I got these for Christmas from my Budget Director 



https://www.watersportsoutlet.com/2020-nookie-pro-bib-double-waist-dry-trousers-charcoal-grey-tr12-p-21557.html

They are fantastic.  I have a paddle jacket I wear on top when the conditions demand it, but any waterproof jacket will do well since the very close neoprene fit around the chest works to keep most of the water out if one is really immersed.  I also have a fantastic drysuit I purchased from these guys several years ago; it needs servicing now and I need to lose weight, as I cannot get it on anymore.  Their prices are consistently much lower than equivalent US suits, they provide free shipping, which typically arrives in 3 days to the Bay Area.

Fitting:  This became a problem for me.  I'm an athlete, so my hips are wider than my waist.  Their sizing is for the waist, which is what I dutifully measured, so be sure to measure your hips and waist and use the larger dimension of those 2 when ordering.

Many people note that the drysuits can be hot in warmer temps.  This is true, BUT is easily corrected by either splashing oneself with water or by dangling one's legs in the water or even jumping into the water. BTW, I have worn wetsuits for diving, paddling, windsurfing, and surfing and can confirm that they are even hotter when it's warm out, and seriously less comfortable in general terms. when  It is far easier to cool off than to warm up after getting wet.

So glad you made it out and that there was someone in the area willing and able to assist you.  Plenty to be thankful for to go with the lessons you shared with us.  Bummer about the loss of gear.

my 2 cents is that a wetsuit should be enough for valley and foothill lakes.  Mountain lakes that freeze then a dry suit.  I used to own a one piece and loved it.  I could leave the backside half zipped to allow better air flow and if I ever needed to, I could zip it up. 

Another plus is a wet suit is less expensive and provides additional bouyancy while in the water. 

and imo are good for cool weather (common complaint is overheating in the summer) as you will stay warm in them but not overheat.  and if you are getting hot, then a quick dip in the water will provide immediate relief.

But the short answer is to get something that will provide you protection while in the water and comfort when on top.

As everyone else has said, really thankful that you were willing to share this and came out ok.  I have to admit that I often don't take lakes as seriously as the ocean since I'm generally close to shore and conditions are better.  But this is just another reason why you have to take every outing seriously.  Without people sharing their mistakes, no one learns. 

Last few times I've been out in a lake I've worn fleece and synthetic stuff, but I've been too lazy to throw on my 3mm wetsuit.  However, even if it's not too far to swim to shore, I need to remember that even 10 minutes in any water right now is going to ruin a day unless you're in a wet or drysuit. 

My issue with drysuits is that you have to keep them sealed, and too often I see people leaving them open for breathing; when a drysuit isn't sealed, it becomes a hazard in the water.  Wetsuits don't have the same duration of protection, but you don't have to worry about buoyancy or getting water inside your seal. 

I fished Bullard's Bar for the first time recently, by myself. I didn't know about the underwater cables near the houseboats, but I found out the hard way by snagging my downrigger on them. Luckily, I was going slowly and didn't come close to flipping. I heard a weird grinding sound and saw that the downrigger line (100lb braid) was starting to angle rearward. I realized what was happening and immediately stopped pedaling, threw the mirage drive in reverse, and backed up. The ball came free without much fuss. Got lucky. There should be some signs or something.

I pulled up the side imaging screen on my sonar and saw the cables. They seem to run from one side of the lake to the other, with risers coming up for each buoy. Don't deploy your downrigger until you're north of the northernmost buoys.