Float Plan, do you use one?

[Pilar]

How many of you actually tell the folks you leave at home where you are going?

I realize that this is not a big deal when you do a little lake troll or cane pole deal at St Louis ponds. It is a big deal when you take on big blue. Some of us will do just that later this week when the Coho slaughter gets under way.

Actually it's pretty easy. Leave a note stating what VHF channel you monitor, where you parked your rig, a description of your boat, where you are fishing (yes GPS is good), when you are going out and returning and who is on the boat. Then when you hit the beach call home and tell them you are safe.

Using that scheme is good because if you don't call they can assume you need help. This gets the Muddy water navy underway much sooner and may even cause you to get rescued if you are lost at sea.

Just a thought, did I miss anything?

Semper Paratus!, Coast Guard Motto (Always ready)

[Phish_on]

I will often leave a note, just as a clue of where to start the search - -

depends on where I am going and if I am alone or not, sort of my subjective guess on the relative danger.

Mine would say something like "fishing Columbia River out of Hammond, back or call by 5:00pm. BYE"

I left a similar note going camping on the Deschutes - no boats involved, just off alone in a remote area wading in the Big D.

[Mr. Fisherman]

Mine say's:

GONE FISHING WITH PILAR.

images/icons/grin.gif

[hawgcatcher]

Good Idea Peace. We never seem to do these things but they are important. I was up at Hagg Lake last October fishing from shore for bass. No body there but me. Fishing was good too. (oops didn't want that to get out. I went to release a fish by the c ramp boat dock. I stepped over the rail that it rides on. Hit a patch of the slickest mud you could find. Went down with my back and hip landing on that railroad rail. I tried for ten minutes to get up with no luck. I thought that the SO Patrol would find me when they locked the gate. That was a couple hours later. Finally I made it up and managed to drag myself up the ramp to my truck and made it home. Bruised hip, chipped bone, sore back. I was lucky. But it goes to show how fast something can happen and if no one knows you are there, you might be a long time found.

Leave a note or tell someone. images/icons/blush.gif

[Tinman]

Float plans? Absolutely...every time, no exceptions. I have a fill-in-the blanks form on the computer. It has all the information on my boat, and all I need to do is add my destination information for the day.

Pilar, I also include a description of the tow vehicle and license plate number. That lends credibilty to the search when the Coasties find your truck, right where it should be...but you are still unaccounted for. Also include the maximum cruising range of the boat so they know how big a radius to search.

[Killertraylor]

I usually leave a note in the window of my truck that says "Jim, Darryl and Bubba - ran out for a few minutes to catch a limit - stay close by and I'll be in to pick you up." I figure that nobody will mess with my truck if they think Jim, Darryl and Bubba might be close by. I do the same thing at our cabin when I'm gone - same names, but a little different message. I always let someone know where I'm headed if I go out on the ocean.

[ol tuna skipper]

Back when I was single I never thought of doing this till one time I was winter steelhead fishing on the trask. I ended up like hawgcatcher. Went down on my hip and ended up flat on my back. I had slipped on an iced over rock and couldn't get up to save my life. everytime Itried I only slipped further into the frigid waters. Worried about my waders filling with water, I managed to get them off. Then my socks stuck to the ice. I finally made a lame crawl back to the truck. I never did fish in icy winter weather alone again.

Morale of the story. always leave a note and destination even when your sure you won't need one. It can't hurt.
A guy I new died one winter out hunting when his rig slipped of the road. If he had not left a note, his dad and brothers may not have found his body till spring if ever. Not the best outcome, but at least we were able to lay him to rest.

[AllThumz]

At the last meeting of the Albany chapter of the NW Steelheaders, there was a guest speaker from the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Like Tinman said, it was highly recommended that a description and license of the tow rig be included, as well as the description and registration numbers of the boat. In the heat of the moment, someone who has to report you as missing won't have to try and remember what might be a trivial detail.

John images/icons/smile.gif

[Pilar]

Good point about the tow rig. I always figured anyone looking for me would know what rig to look for. Maybe thats a bad assumption. I'll add the info to my list.

They see the rig in the parking lot and they know you're still out there.

[KarenLee]

useful info images/icons/grin.gif