Randy talks about a tragedy on Lake Hartwell today…#lakehartwell #bassfishing #fishing #sportfishing
Randy talks about a tragedy on Lake Hartwell today…#lakehartwell #bassfishing #fishing #sportfishing
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I have always said that I would stop wearing my life jacket when I could swim a mile to shore while fully clothed in 50 degree water and four foot waves and having a broken collarbone, concussion, and an anchor line wrapped around both legs.
I was working in Hartwell a couple months ago. I used to go sit by the lake every weekend I was off. Beautiful lake, hate to hear about this tragedy
I'm a kayak angler in canada, and cold water is a big fear of mine. You can have a medical emergency and die from hypothermia/exposure in 20 minutes. Wear the proper gear at all times, guys.
I fell in the water here at Lake Fork, Texas early February 3-4 years ago while I was fishing a bank, and don’t know what happen it just happened, I had my jacket on but the wind blew my boat toward the bank and in to my lap, I was literally trapped with my boat sitting in my lap! The water was 42-44! I like to have never pushed the nose around to get out from under the boat. . Over 58 years of fishing and never understood how someone can simply fall out of boat, lol it happens and sometimes we don’t even know why or how!
The boat began taking on water due to high winds and they weren't able to make it to shore before it sank. They called the tournament officials when the boat began sinking and other anglers responded to their location. The boat went down about 300 yards from shore and 1 angler made it to shore, 2 were picked up by another boat and 1 was rescued near shore. The one who was rescued near shore passed away in the hospital from hypothermia. Nobody drowned. Prayers for the family of Kimberly Gomillion.
God bless this family
and next week the tournament directors will allow them to have 650s on the back no boat needs to go 100 mph so they can get to the fish quicker, that technology should of been halted at 100 hp or even 50.
True that Randy. Just over a dang fish. Peed blood next day on Kentucky lake and Barkley in a tournament. Not worth it. Another reason I don't fish tournament anymore. The ones putting it on don't give a hoot about 20 to 30 mph winds and ur safety. When they get the money they gone.
My condolences
People don’t understand what cold water does to the body. Up here in Wisconsin you go in that water even in the summer that water will suck your body heat right out so your brain tells you to take your heat and put it into your center of your body so your arms and legs don’t work making it hard to get back in your boat
Thanks you for reporting this. Anything that can be done to reduce the risk of this type of tragedy from happening again is worth the time!
You can't change stupid randy. There are several deaths every year in the calif delta, almost in every case could be prevented with common sence,something that lacks in the tournament world.
I was canoeing in the SUMMER on a cold spring fed trout stream there in Missouri and had been drinking when we went in. Canoe got caught sideways to the current on a snag. It was deep and fast, and by the time I could get to the bank I swear I was just about done. Couldn't swim any more, only float. Scary, and in the summer!
I took the cold plunge once in 42f water when my boat blew out into the lake because it broke loose at the ramp. Lucky for the electric trim. I was in fantastic shape but the cold takes a lot out of you. I look back now and realize how stupid I was.
Sad deal
I live in NY and I winter fish. Water in the 30's slow down and be aware of the wind
Good tips. I’ve never heard another video gives these types of boat safety advice. Thanks Randy.
Caution : always be sure to wear your life jacket
So Sorry for the angler that lost his life. Thoughts and Prayers for him and the family.
That poor angler Jesus what a tragedy God bless his heart
. Sad day.
Get an auto inflate pfd! I almost drown falling into 40 degree water once. It yanks the breath from your lungs, and that could be your last breath. My boots filled so fast, my pants, everything i had on was trying to kill me.
I was pulled out by a barn hand named Tanya Manson, I'll never forget her.
She saved my life
Details are limited still, local news reports the lady was given CPR by EMS on location before transporting her to the hospital. Shock of cold water induced a young man’s heart attack at Lake Hartwell about a decade ago. I fish this lake once a month, the deeper parts are rough with light wind. Winter fishing is dangerous, but any fishing can be. I was knocked unconscious by a rock when my kayak capsized. Fishing in a remote, calm river and had a life vest on. Luckily, a friend pulled me out or I wouldn’t be here today. Sold the kayak, river earned my respect that day.
Little update. It was a striper tournament. 4 people went in the water. I live on the lake, there was no wind. But all 4 were rescued. However, 1 died from hyperthermia.
Water temp is 49 degrees at saddlers creek
Prayers for the family
It was a striper bass, not a bass boat. Lifejackets were to save them all no I’m not Buddy levels my third cousin
You can’t sync my pontoon I’m just saying $6000 cash
I feel so sorry about this it’s even dangerous in the summertime fishing as much as winter be safe out there y’all god bless and god speed
The cheater box finally took some guys life. Now randy can spend 3 days of shows talking about how dangerous alive scope is to anglers now.
I have added 2) of the nylon step straps things to my cleats that I can roll to aid in getting back in the boat. They are tucked up under the cleats
Very sad. Also, always wear killswitch when running outboard engine. Condolences to family and friends.
Sorry to hear about this. Thank you for the much needed good advice.
My club event was cancelled bc of weather on hartwell today but the winds werent bad. It was a steiper boat that went down so it wasnt a bass tournament it was a striper event
I live around Hartwell don't see how it was high winds. They were light today.
Never fish alone. If something happens you're on your own and that's not a good thing.
Just a thought… "Killed" and "died" are different. "Angler killed" makes me think he was murdered… "Angler dies" makes me think accident
I was at my local lake last March in my boat fishing and a kayaker drowned. He went to West Bank on the dam and banked his kayak to take a leak. We had a hard west wind that day and it took his kayak out in the lake. The guy decides to swim out after it and couldn’t catch up to it and ended up drowning.
Appreciate your insightfulness from experience, I will not forget what you said..
Prayers
So sorry to hear this report. As an old rescue diver, kayaker, and canoeist we were taught to "dress for the water temperature. " what they meant was, SURVIVE the water temperature. Dry suits are common in those communities, but not fishing. Prayers to the families.
Carrying an emergency kit in the boat during winter is mandatory!
This is all so true thanks Randy
We’ve just had a winter storm pass through this area , why would the tournament directors go on with the tournament ?
Not sure about what life jacket they were wearing, or not, but you CANNOT trust the auto-inflating ones! One friend of mine died because it did not work and a first cousin of my wife drowned because his didn't inflate, but they miraculously revived him…although the lack of oxygen to his brain took over 2 years of rehab to get back to a "semblance" of his previous self. I'm a long time Musky angler that fishes in very late season (We crack ice at the ramps to go out) and we always wear very high-end float coats when we're out. Even then, once the water temps are below 50F, you don't have long before hypothermia will kill you.
NO. 1: WEAR YOUR LIFE PRESERVER! In cold water, you will drown long before you would have died from hypothermia. You lose muscle control and cannot swim. You cannot hold your head up. You lose consciousness. You drown. The life preserver is not a guarantee but it is your best chance.
Prayers for the family