Ok Folks, ... you get my annual safety and play safe rant

As temps are cooling down (air and water), ... little mishaps can turn ugly in a very short time.

This past wednesday, Manon, a fairly experienced angler here took a rump dive off of a small boulder on the #8 pool here.

Now, ... everything was fine and she only bruised her derni?re and her ego (as there were other anglers nearby).

She quickly scurried up to her pickup, dried off ... put on some dry clothes and settled in to a sheltered beach for some food.

So what's so dramatic about this story? .... Well, ... absolutely nothing. And that's the point.

Manon fishes alone, ... like many of us. She did however have dry spare clothes in the truck. Ample food and snacks for energy and she wasn't out of her element (deep wading, running rapids or jumping off of stumps on the trail).

When I met up with her she was warmed up ok, warm hat and scarf on, extra sweater under her jacket and munching on some real food.

Things could have been different.
  • She could have been swept away, ... [/*:m:4fb16]
  • she could have stayed in her wet clothes and gotten hypothermia, ...[/*:m:4fb16]
  • She could have been miserable, cold and hungry. ... or WORSE, ... [/*:m:4fb16]
  • she could have been forced to drive home in damp clothes, missing a wonderful day on the river.[/*:m:4fb16]

So, ...
  • take those few extra minutes to check the batteries in the flash lights (gets dark early now), [/*:m:4fb16]
  • put those extra Cliff bars in the glove box (and 2 in the vest). [/*:m:4fb16]
  • Restock the first aid kit with those things you've used over the summer at the cottage or around home.[/*:m:4fb16]
  • Remind the wife, girlfriend or neighbour that you DO have a "flight Plan" and will check in when you get out of the bush.[/*:m:4fb16]
Mostly, ... take that extra time on the river to relax and go slow ... have some fun and don't rush.

Haste doesn't only make waste, ... it can lead us to do some really stupid things

Prepare for the worst ...
Play hard ...
Come home safe.



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Christopher Chin, Jonquiere Quebec
[url=http://pages.videotron.com/fcch/:4fb16]Fishing the Ste-Marguerite[/url:4fb16]