Today I had a bitter reminder of how dangerous the water is. I was fishing on Lake Lewisville in North Texas. The outside temp was 48 and the water was only 42.  While fishing under a bridge close to shore, I hooked the only fish of the day.  Then the wind blows me against the bridge pilling and I fell over.  Lost the fish.  I was wearing a heavy ski jacket and pants with tennis shoes. After throwing my rod back in the boat I realize that I can't get back in without some leverage. Thankfully I was close enough to swim to shore towing the boat by the trolling motor. I was in the Army and remembered my cold water training and immediatley after getting out of the water I completely strip out of my clothes and dry off with a towel. I then go to the ramp slowly so that the wind does not cause me to get colder. The whole time i am remembering that the week before somebody got hypothermia the previous week after falling in the water.  Thankfully I was near the ramp and got in the truck and turned the heat on full and called a friend to bring some dry clothes.

so much for a good day on the lake.

Lessons Learned:

wear life preserver even when only using trolling motor

always keep dry towel on board

pack dry clothes in boat

keep rope on side of boat in case need to tow from water

Glad to hear you came out of it well.  We seem to need those reminders once in awhile.

Had another member and his son go in a while ago. Rondef will attest to the use of PFDs. Glad your ok.

Glad you're all right. That can be an eye opening experience.

I could have never done that. Amazing.  Just got a boat. I am going to get me some kind of boat ladder to hang off the back of it.

My brother tells me of an incident where one of the guys fell in with the temps down about freezing and the water temps VERY cold. They got the guy back in the boat and then they sandwiched him between them to keep him warm till they got back to the ramp and to the truck where there were dry clothes. After he changed and spent some time in the warm truck, they were back out fishing again!