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Cold Water Fishing Safety (Guest Article)
by Jay Eiche
Reprinted from the Potomac River Smallmouth Club newsletter

(From the February 2001 newsletter)

Fisherman Dies Feb. 8th on Susquehanna River

Last month, former club President Jack Cook wrote of the dangers of hypothermia. Unfortunately, the death of Galen “Skip” Walters, Sr. last Thursday on the Susquehanna River near Harrisburg provides a tragic example of how real the threat hypothermia is to cold-water fishermen. He died on his 49th birthday.

Galen Walter was not a member of the Potomac River Smallmouth Club. However, apparently he was a friend of a number of club members and an active participant on the discussion boards at the RiverSmallies.com website. There is a nice tribute on the RiverSmallies website and some details on his life and death. I would add my condolences to those posted on the website.

We will never know the exact reason for his death, but he violated a number of basic rules that must be observed by those who feel compelled to try Winter fishing. First, his life vest was found lying on the bottom of his jetboat. Second, he was fishing alone. Third, it appears he was having engine trouble and attempted repairs on the boat.

WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST!!!!
If you fall into forty-degree water, it will take your breath away and make it difficult to continue breathing. You have a very short window where your arms and legs will function with any degree of effectiveness. It will soon scramble your ability to think clearly. It is very unlikely that you will be able to save yourself. Hopefully, your life vest keeps your head above water long enough for someone to help you or you float to shore (alive).

NEVER GO FISHING ALONE!!!
If you fall in, you will most likely need your partner to save you. He may remind you to PUT YOUR DAMN LIFE VEST ON!!! He may even suggest that fishing in the snow when the water temperature is forty isn't the brightest thing either of you have done and suggest going to the Fishing Show instead. Humor him; he's smarter than you.

Extreme conditions will test your equipment. If your boat, motor, trailer, or whatever isn't at the peak of maintenance, don't go. Out in the middle of river is not the time to check and see how much battery is left on your cell phone. Nor is it the time to determine that you can't get a good cell signal. Cold weather reduces cranking capacity on batteries. Plan for the difference and/or bring a spare. You should assume that anything that can go wrong will and it will ruin more than the fishing.

Cabin fever is a reality. So is hypothermia. If you have to go cold-water fishing, understand the basics and don't underestimate the risks. Cold-water fishing can produce some trophy fish. However, when you are gawking at the photo of the guy in the snowmobile suit holding up a 5 or 6 lb smallie, I encourage you to also take a long look at that beautiful photo of your wife/husband/family you keep in your wallet. Keep some perspective.

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(From the March 2001 newsletter)

Some Additional Safety Concerns For Fishermen.

Having not yet gotten down off my high horse from last month's rant about safety when cold water fishing, I thought I'd pen a few more words on safety concerns during the rest of the fishing year. Perhaps you can benefit from some lessons I've learned the hard way.

Hopefully, having convinced you that fishing with a partner is both safer and more fun, I now want you to watch your back cast. I spend a lot of time in the stern of my canoe. The shorter the canoe and the longer the rod, the better the chances of sinking a set of treble hooks in your partner rather than that five-pound Smallmouth. What can you do? Watch your back cast. If conditions permit, paddle closer to your target rather than trying to load up your rod and lure to the max. Bend down all your treble hooks: crankbaits, Rapalas, tiny torpedos, whatever. It's more sporting, and with treble hooks you have more chances to screw up and a more difficult removal if you hook yourself. How do I know? I stuck a tiny torpedo behind my ear while wade fishing Watermelon Park on the Shenandoah several years ago. As I couldn't get it out myself, I drove to Leesburg Hospital where upon entering the emergency room the nurse inquired as to my medical need. I pointed the lure hanging behind my ear only to have her opine she thought it was an earring. It wasn't real pleasant. Your local fishing guides will appreciate this effort as well.

Wear sunscreen and a hat. Put the sunscreen on in the house when you are getting dressed to go fishing. Use a sun block rated at least 30. Remember to cover your ears. If you don't believe me, ask Chuck Kraft or anyone who fishes much and they'll tell you the same thing. If you wait until the dermatologist tells you that you have skin cancer, you'll be prone to overreact and start to adopt the Middle East Shiek look. Save yourself the harassment and your spouse the tears, and just do it.

Pay attention to cuts, scrapes and puncture wounds you get while out fishing. Keep your tetanus shot current. Treat all wounds with hydrogen peroxide and antibacterial ointment. If an infection does develop, go see a doctor immediately. Ken Schultz, his brother, and I have all had serious infections develop from scrapes we received while fishing. Ken's brother had to have a fairly large chunk of tissue removed that left a permanent reminder of his run-in with a river bacterial infection. Two summers ago, I spent 5 days in Arlington Hospital with an infection of my left leg that developed from a scrape I got on my shin wading with a group of club members down at Turkey Run on the Potomac River. I had a temperature of 104+ and had a bevy of specialists treating me before the fever broke and they got the infection under control. While I suffered no permanent damage, I was not a happy camper.

Finally, a word of caution for those that fish out of a jetboat: they are amazing fishing platforms and after a while it's easy to get complacent blasting along at 40mph in 6” of water. My thought here is not to worry so much about damaging the lower unit on the boat, but perhaps your “lower unit” as you go flying out of your seat and over the trolling motor on the bow of the boat (if you know what I mean).

The point here is that hypothermia is only one of a number of safety issues a fishermen faces. If you use a little common sense and follow basic safety practices, you will be fine. Your memories will be of tight lines, not lines in the emergency room. Let's be careful out there.