You guys know anybody that drowned or almost drowned while wading?

[Timber Hole]

I'm afraid this is the best I can do for a personal near drowning....

A few years ago we were crappie fishing in March. It's a private 90 acre lake with a "boat house". We were fishing out of one of those Gheenoe deals, or whatever those fake canoe drowning traps are called. When we were done, we pulled into the boat house, got out of the floating coffin, unloaded our gear, and raised it up to the second floor, where the bar was, on some cable contraption. No, I have no idea how I ended up with permission to fish there.

Soon enough, we found ourselves enjoying some beverages and rehashing the day. It was chilly....maybe 50 degrees, but we had put a spanking on the out-of-control crappie horde.

At some point during refreshments, I realized I had left my sunglasses in the now elevated 12 feet above the water, swinging on cables, piece of garbage make believe boat.

I walk over and see my sunglasses on the front thing that masquerades as a seat.

It has always made perfect sense to me at my advancing age, when reaching for something, to steady myself with any nearby ledge. Even in my inebriated condition, this was still sensible to me. In this particular case, that would be the gunnel of the swinging death trap. Which is exactly what it did as it swung out from under me, as I reached ad grabbed it to steady myself.... and left me in a 12 ft. freefall.

The 48 degree water was quite shocking, and I had an immediate thought that cold water felt a lot harder than warm water.... but that turned out to be the lift, that was not in use, since Summer had not arrived, and all that was needed to lift the boat from hell was the death swing.

14 stitches and instant sobriety.

The end.

I don’t think it’s physically possible to drown when you are inebriated. If it was I’m pretty sure I would already be dead!!!

 

[JP]

From what I could find, the Kokatat suits come in pretty bright colors, useless for waterfowlers. Am I not searching far enough or have they quit making subdued colors that would be adequate for duck hunters?

The bright colors make it easier to find the bodies.

 

[Soggy Socks]

My Mustang inflatable is red. Don't want them to have to look too hard if by chance im still alive.

So the first year I decided I was going to hunt ducks instead of just occasional shooting them. I went to a small lake near my camp never been there before. I put my red canoe in decoys, camo to cover the boat, floating gun case and paddled to the far side which made perfect sense to me. The water was a foot deep. I know I must have done this but don't remember if i stuck the paddle in to test the bottom. It might have felt hard enough to hold me. Anyway I got in the water and immediately went up to my chest in mud in my chest waders. The only thing that saved me was hanging onto the canoe and after quite a while was able to get back in. I was exhausted and if it happened now I"m sure I would not have made it. So I paddled to another spot put decoys out got out on a humack of semi dry land and hunted till legal shooting hours were over. I shot at one duck. Paddling out after legal hours I listened to the barrage at the lake on the other side of the road which continued after loading the canoe on my truck.