Proven Night Crappie-Fishing Methods
Night Fishing Safety
Editor’ Note: While nighttime crappie fishing
can be fun and productive, always be safe where your
life is concerned. Just this summer, we’ve all
heard about injuries connected with boats – fishing
or cruising – at night. Follow these tips.
When you’re planning to fish at night, study
your state’s water-safety regulations before you
go. Don’t be macho. Wear your life preserver always
– as soon as you head toward the dock. Don’t
just sit on it, or have it available in the boat, if
that’s
what your state requires. A friend of mine and his family
this summer of 2006 were motoring at dusk with their
lights on when a smaller boat with no lights hit their
craft mid-stern, knocking his three children and his
wife into the water. They all have had to endure hospital
stays because they didn’t wear their life vests,
although they had complied with state regulations. Too,
be sure you have a fire extinguisher on board and all
your running lights are operational. Also make certain
you have a light you can
leave on in the boat during the time you’re anchored.
Then other boaters can see you. I use a small fluorescent
light to light up the interior of my boat and to enable
me to see how to remove hooks and bait easier. I also
keep a small Mag Lite in the top of my tackle box to
help me find equipment in my box at night. Too, I carry
a spare set of flashlight batteries. Every time I get
in a boat, my batteries seem to be dead or dying. Keeping
a spare set insures I have plenty of power for my night
lights.
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