Can't be too careful

[Dryrod]

[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Just that morning, the angler told his buddy to never get into a boat when there is lightning and thunder. Inexplicably, the angler didn't heed his own warning.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Later that day, with a storm fast approaching, he climbed into a boat with two other anglers at Lake Henshaw and minutes later they became drowning victims when their boat capsized.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Ironically, a lightning strike was ruled out. Nobody is certain what happened. It might have been a wind gust or a wave, or perhaps the men were seated in such a way that unbalanced the boat. [/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]"Our best guess is that somebody moved wrong in the boat and tipped the boat over," said Janice Mendenhall of Lake Henshaw Resort.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Whatever the cause, the tragedy last Thursday brought home again the importance of boating safety and wearing a life vest, particularly when the boat is traveling and when conditions are rough.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Arthur Boone and Abe Holmes, pastors from Long Beach, were fishing on the shore alongside Thomas Meridieth of Glendora and Herbert McQueen of Paena, according to Mendenhall, who knew three of them as regulars at the lake.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]A storm was quickly moving in from the east. Wind was picking up and a light rain began. Lightning and thunder were present. The anglers decided to head in. McQueen got into his small, aluminum boat and offered a ride to the others.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Meridieth and Holmes climbed in and the three started for the dock, leaving Boone behind, presumably because there was no room for him.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Boone told Mendenhall he was mad that they left him, adding that he shouldn't feel that way because it "wasn't the Christian thing to do."[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]So Boone started gathering his things for the walk back. Three minutes later, he turned around and saw the ice chest in the water, the boat flipped and Meridieth floating face down on the surface.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Boone waded into the water, dragged Meridieth to shore and tried CPR before running to get help. Meridieth's wife had been waiting for her husband in the car. [/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]A County Medical Examiner spokesman said the water was cold and the heavy winter clothing saturated with water, dragging the men under. Mendenhall said a windbreaker filled with air and kept Meridieth on the surface.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Sheriff's Department divers recovered the body of McQueen in 20 feet of water Friday. McQueen's boat was found Saturday. Holmes' body was recovered in 15 feet of water Sunday. No evidence of lightning strikes or other injuries were found.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]It was Holmes who told Boone about not getting into a boat when there is lightning and thunder.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]"I would've gotten into the boat too," Boone told Mendenhall. [/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Later, he told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "I'm so happy they didn't have enough room for me. I thank God they didn't have enough room for me."[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]Mendenhall said she warned all the boaters that morning about getting off the lake if the wind picked up. All five rental boats returned safely.[/size][/#008000][/font]
[font "Poor Richard"][#008000][size 3]The law requires boaters to have a life vest, but they are not required to wear one. Mendenhall suggested anybody traveling in a boat should wear one.[/size][/#008000][/font]
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[Feydakin]

So how many people wear their vest when fishing?? I don't.. I know where they are in the boat.. But I doubt I could get to it in freezing water with the boat upside down or sinking..
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[Tarpon4me]

When i'm on the ocean, I wear mine when i'm moving from point to point. Once i'm anchored off, I take it off, but I keep it with in reach.

On the river, I don't normally wear it. I keep it close by, but not wear it. I rarely even have the boat beyond an idle anyhow, and the river I usually fish is narrow enough to throw a rock accross. Not that it's an excuse not to wear it, but I suppose the risk factor is low enough that it doesn't cross my mind.
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[mojorizing]

It happened last fall at Strawberry. 4 in a boat no one wearing pfd's. Two drowned- husband and wife, and two made it out.
It can happen to anyone, anytime.
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[gdn443]

I think it boils down to common sense. If you feel in danger or uneasy, just put it on. Better to look stupid than dead. For me if the storm is coming and I can see it. Its full tail for the ramp. Sad part is it's the best time to fish, but not worth the obits.
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