Just now, LrgmouthShad said:

@Catt I need to head over that way sometime. 

 

We go 4-5 times a year, swimming, rafting rapids, & fishing.

I don't jump in to cool off since its a lot harder to get back into a kayak in the middle of a lake.  But I will dangle my legs depending on the lake.  Most places up here you're not allowed and some of the lakes have HABs so it's not healthy to.

 

@Catt I didn't know there were 'mountain' streams in LA.  That looks like a bunch of different mountain freestone streams in the north east.  Had you told me you were on vacation up here I'd have believed it.  Beautiful place.  I assume no trout in there but probably bass?

I jump in all the time 

13 hours ago, gimruis said:

Warm water kinda grosses me out. We have swimmers itch and elevated levels of e-coil in some lakes right now.

I got swimmers itch once at Gull Lake and thought I was gonna itch myself to death. That stuff sucks.

57 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Beautiful place.  I assume no trout in there but probably bass?

 

Largemouth, Kentucky Spots, & occasionally a Striped bass.

I used to but now I have a cooler of ice water in the boat and an Endura cloth.  I dunk it, squeeze out the excess and wrap it around my neck.  That is all of the cooling off that I need.

Sometimes, but not in a long while now.  This year has been cooler than in years past where I am.  I don't think we've broken 100° yet.  It's also been a lot wetter than normal.  

 

Also, our water is pretty muddy, so when you get soaked, you also wind up with a fine layer of rust colored grit when you dry off.  Also, it's technically illegal to swim in these lakes.  But there's no one out there to enforce those laws, and lots of people do it.  

I have before but not the biggest fan. I don't like my clothes sticking to me and I don't really overheat so I'm usually fine as long as I have enough water to drink. 

I unintentionally fell in once on a steep bank, but I was fishing a reservoir for drinking water so the water was pristine mostly.

there is a local like i like to visit.  i have to drag my kayak and gear 1/4 mile and lower the boat down a steep ravine to reach water.  but it is clear and deep.  it is an old quarry, so it is 50 feet deep everwhere, EXCEPT where the old truck road was excavated to allow vehicles to the bottom.  i love fishing that "ramp". 

 

i went once and as i approached the area, i noticed swimmers.  they had hiked around to the ramp and would walk down and swim.  i was mad/bummed, but i dont own the lake.  they got there first.  as i neared, i noted that they were all elderly women.  total badasses.  they grew up swimmng together, and as their husbands died off, they kept the tradition of swimming as a team.   i talked to them, and after an hour i was hot enough to dive in.  those ladies could swim me to death.  

 

i was cool with it all.  i found fish in the middle anyways smashing a popper.   my dog loves that lake.  

5 hours ago, Texas Flood said:

I got swimmers itch once at Gull Lake and thought I was gonna itch myself to death. That stuff sucks.

Shallow still water where ducks hang out is not a good idea.  Our bay you can see the bottom in 18' of water which makes you almost feel like you could drink it.  Sad since it is definitely the lake with the most human pee in it in MN

3 minutes ago, Deephaven said:

Sad since it is definitely the lake with the most human pee in it in MN

 

I'd steer clear of the north side of Big Island this time of year unless you want to stand waist deep in urine.  LOL

9 hours ago, Jar11591 said:

@T-Billy I’ve seen the monsters you pull out of the waters you fish. Id like to keep all my toes. 

NO SKINNY DIPPING!!! ?

I can take the heat pretty well so I stay out of the water.  The one time I did go in for a swim I was retrieving the top half of a two piece rod and that pond water wasn't the cleanest. 

Well I wade a lot, I get wet often. 

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

 

I'd steer clear of the north side of Big Island this time of year unless you want to stand waist deep in urine.  LOL

I spent a lot of time there when younger.  Shocking how many 4+ lb bass I pulled out from underneath boats.  The reaction from those swimming was always funny 

3 hours ago, T-Billy said:

NO SKINNY DIPPING!!! ?

Chuck Berry has a song about that.  

6 hours ago, Woody B said:

Chuck Berry has a song about that.  

Once I was swimming Leesville Lake, plum full of muskie, couldn't stop to take a break. It was awful hard fending off those things, with both hands hanging on to my ding-a-ling. ?

I was once fishing a large flat on Lake Okeechobee in the Monkey Box, in July on a hot sunny day.   I saw two guys out of their boats and wading along fishing as they walked.  After about ten minutes later we headed their way to see what was up.  They had the boat tethered around their waste, and they were fishing a grass line from the open flat.  They told us they do it to stay cool, and move quietly and slowly picking apart breaks in the weed line, while the boat floats along following them.    These two had obviously done this before and were comfortable with water frequented by the occasional big gator.  This technique is not in my comfort zone.

Roland Martin did that for years. He would wade and have his boat tied to a rope around his waist.  He stated that he quit doing it when it got difficult for him to get back in the boat. Getting old makes a lot of things difficult.

On 7/13/2023 at 7:43 PM, Jar11591 said:

Thats what pools are for! Not a chance I’m getting in a lake or river. 

That's funny. I don't go in pools.

 

On hot days when the river is low and clear I often just grab a rod, a pocket full of extra tackle and wade the river. Sometimes I don't even bother with the rod and tackle. LOL

I dangle my feet while I fish from kayak. I also wear a mission hat that works like a snap towel so I wet it when I get hot and it cools me off fast. I'm relatively comfortable up to low 90s in that setup and with sun clothes covering everything else.