Accident on Beaver Lake

[fishinwrench]

When you are scooting across the lake there is always a good chance that there are "things' out there floating around.

If you can't see a half a human sticking up above the water then you prolly need to slow the down !

I don't care what color their shirt, hair, or kayak is.

[beaverbeater]

Beaverbeater, Stumpy is right to a degree, I have had more than a few canoe's and Kayaks that I have dam near hit. I don't mind sharing the water one bit with them but when they are out in Bad Weather, Low light or their vessel is near the color of the lake or backdrop they are endangering themselves and others.

FLY A FLAG for god sake and have lights on the darn things! I Ocean Kayaked for years and had Both Lights and Flag for safety. There is also more (rafts) showing up on the lake and they two need to take the same precautions.

I've bit my tongue so far but I was on the lake the day it happened and even in my boat NO WAY was I going out on the main lake in those conditions it was to dangerous. A 190 TRACKER is far safer than a canoe or kayak and when its unsafe for a big boat its definitely unsafe for them and not wearing a vest in those conditions and everything else combines was a recipe for disaster and one happened.

As tragic as this event is I hope it is also a lesson to people to learn to Respect the Lake and conditions and practice safety and use common since.

See he just said canoe. I have a bright red canoe, I never go out in low light and I always stay close up to the shore. If you can't see me, then you need to slow the f down.

[Feathers and Fins]

Oh I agree with that, But let me ask you would you have gone out on that day IN that area with gust ( reported by NWS ) of 37mph and average of 25mph?

[beaverbeater]

I only had one problem like that around the highway 12 area

. It was a nice day, and then it wasn't lol. Got out as quickly as possible, but it wasn't easy. It was a very bad day.

[hoglaw]

Your opinion sucks.... Just saying. I fish from a canoe in the Gulf of Mexico as well. Have been doing it my whole life in matagorda bay. Like I said. You are as wrong as wrong can get. Beaver lake isn't only for people that can afford 18k$ boat. You are the eighteen wheeler, I am the coupe. You don't run the road. It's shared. But someone with that low level of ideology like yourself wouldn't understand it.

You're out of line. Everyone on this board is more than willing to share the water with canoes and kayaks. I like to think that I am extremely conscientious of small non power boaters. I come completely off plane and down to an absolute minimum idle when I'm able. But there is a time and a place for everything. Personally, I wouldn't paddle the main lake at beaver at any time. Paddling is best done in protected coves or during off peak hours, but the low light conditions make that dangerous as well.

The analogy to the freeway was a good one. And you mischaracterized it as truck vs coupe to make your point. It's truck vs pedestrian. There's a reason why bicycles aren't allowed on interstates.

Paddling a rough lake is a very bad idea for the unprepared. Add in the fact that you're almost certain to get waked when working tight to a blind shoreline, and it's not hard to see that.

[Quillback]

It's really a sad deal , and from what I've read it has nothing to do with other boats. Sounds like a series of bad decisions that ended in tragedy. And yet another sad lesson on the consequences of not wearing a PFD.

"It all started on Tuesday when the family rented a house on Beaver Lake for a short getaway. Several family members were on the lake when their paddle boat broke. They decided to put 5 people into a 3 person canoe to get back to land.

"So we ended up losing control and it flipped over," said Joana Hernandez, Stacey's Sister."

[Blitz960]

You're out of line. Everyone on this board is more than willing to share the water with canoes and kayaks. I like to think that I am extremely conscientious of small non power boaters. I come completely off plane and down to an absolute minimum idle when I'm able. But there is a time and a place for everything. Personally, I wouldn't paddle the main lake at beaver at any time. Paddling is best done in protected coves or during off peak hours, but the low light conditions make that dangerous as well.

The analogy to the freeway was a good one. And you mischaracterized it as truck vs coupe to make your point. It's truck vs pedestrian. There's a reason why bicycles aren't allowed on interstates.

Paddling a rough lake is a very bad idea for the unprepared. Add in the fact that you're almost certain to get waked when working tight to a blind shoreline, and it's not hard to see that.

I've been watching this thread closely and seems like most of the guys here that has more than a thousand posts are going after the one guy that only has 15 posts and was voicing his thoughts. Thousand posts members standing together.

Regardless, I agree that when he said " your opinion sucks". .... That was not the way to voice your thoughts by starting off putting down someone else' s opinion. But what I disagree on whether it is correct or otherwise, is... Everyone seems to be "conscientious" of small non power boats but the statement is usually followed by why "small non power boats" shouldn't be on the water or sharing the same bodies of water when these "thousand posts members " are recreationally using their " big powered boats".

Then it is also usually followed by "advice" on when and where these " small non powered boats" are "allowed" to be on. The specific areas "protected coves" and specific schedule are then listed. " Off peak" .... I've been fishing the lakes in the area since 1993 and I'm still not sure the "peak" schedule is. Almost at all times, there's going to be other users of these PUBLIC waters. Also, I guess all these canoe'ers and kayakers will have to all congregate at these " protected coves at off peak times" together. I'd personally love to witness these get-togethers. Also, using the same "rules" set forth, big powered boats aren't allowed in coves anymore and also, during off peak times, please kindly stay off the lakes. No more boating an fishing around after 1700 or was it 0500? We still need to determine the set schedule.

I feel like reading these posts, instead of saying what we all each need to do better ourselves to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again , we're giving advice on what others shouldn't be doing but we can. You see, setting specific times and places where specific group of people can do specific things is like back in the segregation days where specific group of citizens are only " allowed to stay in specific areas and times" and if they do come around otherwise, whatever that follows is open season. I understand my analogy is a tad far fetched but I'm following the same line of reasoning. And both suggest some kind of tragedy if certain rules aren't abided.

That being said, there are still a lot of good posts by members here that mentioned they try to shield "small non power boats" from wakes and other " big powered boats". These are the example of posts that suggest what each of us can do better or differently to protect one another. After all, I don't think anyone of us owns these bodies of water. Last I checked, the corp of engineers does. Which means, all of us as taxpayers do. Which also means we're in the same boat. Funny how the word "boat" comes back around but without no mention of size or displacement or power.

"The analogy to the freeway was a good one. And you mischaracterized it as truck vs coupe to make your point. It's truck vs pedestrian. There's a reason why bicycles aren't allowed on interstates." I think our highways are 12' per lane so that's the reason why pedestrian and bicycles are not allowed, sir. I personally don't recommend bicycles sharing 24' of space with big trucks. But these lakes are wide open. Dangerous? Yes of course but definitely more navigable if everyone is cognizant of their surroundings. On the highway analogy, I think may be instead of bicycles, how about motorbikes? That's more appropriate. So a big truck or SUV shouldn't tailgate bikes in general too closely and always give them ample space, right? We all do that or most of us do anyway. But it is everyone's responsibility including the bikers themselves. If they swing and swerves irresponsibly close to a truck or at the truck's blind spot, then the it's their own fault. Same should go for canoes and kayakers. They need to be held responsible as well but so does the rest of us in motorized boats.

Another analogy that most of us will be familiar with is hunting. So, should the bow hunter not hunt within the same woods and times as the modern gun hunter? What schedule should thus bow hunter abide by? What are peak hours and what areas of the woods should he be in? Or should he just go to his "protected" backyard and just shoots into a sack of target. He'll be safe, that's for sure. Or should everyone be more conscientious with their surroundings and not give " advice" on what others cannot do but they can?

Safety is a joint effort. PFDs are everyone's best friend if you're on water. We can all do better to prevent something like this from happening but there's always the outliers. We do what we can and hope that everyone else is doing the same.

By the way, I have both a big powered boat and a small non power boat, FYI.

I apologize for the long post. I've been following this site for awhile but definitely not a thousand posts member. Thanks.

[rps]

I've been watching this thread closely and seems like most of the guys here that has more than a thousand posts are going after the one guy that only has 15 posts and was voicing his thoughts. Thousand posts members standing together.

Regardless, I agree that when he said " your opinion sucks". .... That was not the way to voice your thoughts by starting off putting down someone else' s opinion. But what I disagree on whether it is correct or otherwise, is... Everyone seems to be "conscientious" of small non power boats but the statement is usually followed by why "small non power boats" shouldn't be on the water or sharing the same bodies of water when these "thousand posts members " are recreationally using their " big powered boats".

Then it is also usually followed by "advice" on when and where these " small non powered boats" are "allowed" to be on. The specific areas "protected coves" and specific schedule are then listed. " Off peak" .... I've been fishing the lakes in the area since 1993 and I'm still not sure the "peak" schedule is. Almost at all times, there's going to be other users of these PUBLIC waters. Also, I guess all these canoe'ers and kayakers will have to all congregate at these " protected coves at off peak times" together. I'd personally love to witness these get-togethers. Also, using the same "rules" set forth, big powered boats aren't allowed in coves anymore and also, during off peak times, please kindly stay off the lakes. No more boating an fishing around after 1700 or was it 0500? We still need to determine the set schedule.

I feel like reading these posts, instead of saying what we all each need to do better ourselves to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again , we're giving advice on what others shouldn't be doing but we can. You see, setting specific times and places where specific group of people can do specific things is like back in the segregation days where specific group of citizens are only " allowed to stay in specific areas and times" and if they do come around otherwise, whatever that follows is open season. I understand my analogy is a tad far fetched but I'm following the same line of reasoning. And both suggest some kind of tragedy if certain rules aren't abided.

That being said, there are still a lot of good posts by members here that mentioned they try to shield "small non power boats" from wakes and other " big powered boats". These are the example of posts that suggest what each of us can do better or differently to protect one another. After all, I don't think anyone of us owns these bodies of water. Last I checked, the corp of engineers does. Which means, all of us as taxpayers do. Which also means we're in the same boat. Funny how the word "boat" comes back around but without no mention of size or displacement or power.

"The analogy to the freeway was a good one. And you mischaracterized it as truck vs coupe to make your point. It's truck vs pedestrian. There's a reason why bicycles aren't allowed on interstates." I think our highways are 12' per lane so that's the reason why pedestrian and bicycles are not allowed, sir. I personally don't recommend bicycles sharing 24' of space with big trucks. But these lakes are wide open. Dangerous? Yes of course but definitely more navigable if everyone is cognizant of their surroundings. On the highway analogy, I think may be instead of bicycles, how about motorbikes? That's more appropriate. So a big truck or SUV shouldn't tailgate bikes in general too closely and always give them ample space, right? We all do that or most of us do anyway. But it is everyone's responsibility including the bikers themselves. If they swing and swerves irresponsibly close to a truck or at the truck's blind spot, then the it's their own fault. Same should go for canoes and kayakers. They need to be held responsible as well but so does the rest of us in motorized boats.

Another analogy that most of us will be familiar with is hunting. So, should the bow hunter not hunt within the same woods and times as the modern gun hunter? What schedule should thus bow hunter abide by? What are peak hours and what areas of the woods should he be in? Or should he just go to his "protected" backyard and just shoots into a sack of target. He'll be safe, that's for sure. Or should everyone be more conscientious with their surroundings and not give " advice" on what others cannot do but they can?

Safety is a joint effort. PFDs are everyone's best friend if you're on water. We can all do better to prevent something like this from happening but there's always the outliers. We do what we can and hope that everyone else is doing the same.

By the way, I have both a big powered boat and a small non power boat, FYI.

I apologize for the long post. I've been following this site for awhile but definitely not a thousand posts member. Thanks.

Blitz:

Thank you for a careful reasoned opinion and response. That kind of participation is welcome by all on the board. I do not know beaverbeater. The others I have met or have corresponded with for so long I feel I have met them. From things you said and hinted, I assume that you may not post often but you read this forum very often. That is good, very good. If you have done so, I am sure you have noticed that this forum differs from many (most?) in that good manners are the rule and not the exception. I suspect beaverbeater received the responses he did because he did not act within the "accepted range" of this board.

Beaverbeater:

Just a comment. I was taught you don't join a conversation by telling a man his mule is stupid and ugly.

[Stump bumper]

I did not mean to insult anyone, just to point out that the lake is dangerous and not very well regulated. I do have a 17ft glass boat and have quit fishing during a bass tournament that I paid to enter more than once due to weather or boat wake conditions. That area that the canoe went down was in what most big boats consider an "open lane" and not somewhere I would be in a small boat.

Seems the reason for this tragedy is overloading the canoe and not having the proper safety equipment. (DANGER..DANGER)

But I do teach defensive driving for a living and just as I teach drivers, you can't control anyone's actions but your own and when you try to control another vehicle (or boat) actions other than your own you become the problem, not the solution.

People have the right to get on the lake in anything they want or to swim the lake anywhere they like. All I am saying is dangerous in open areas when the boat traffic is heavy. Those $60K wake boats are designed to put out MORE wake and without big wake they don't do what they paid all that money to get.

They seem to get more popular every year, so please be aware of the traffic and hope to see you on the lake no mater how big or small your boat happens to be.

Also my little Nitro is NOT the big 18 wheeler on the lake, and not the DANGER I was speaking of.....I slow down for all little craft if I see them in time.

The DANGER I spoke of is being in 130 feet of water with improper safety equipment and training, if you want to take 4 people out on the lake I would get a bigger boat, I don't even have that many people in my glass boat.

HAPPY BOATING TO ALL

[Feathers and Fins]

Blitz960;

I see both Beaver and Stumpys point of views I also know “Dan the Fisherman” is close to this subject in real life and may be more sensitive to this thread than he might be to others and everyone needs to remember that when posting one of our own members and friends is involved to a degree.

You brought up the analogy of “Hunting” Most states during the Modern Gun season REQUIRE hunter orange to be worn at all times in the field, but in Archery they do not, it’s reasoning is to protect people from being shot. Should Small non-power boats be allowed on the lakes? Certainly its public water! However they should be required to have PFD’s on at all times and have Bow and Stern Lights and FLAGS flown ( Orange or Red ) these are bare safety requirements.

There are also certain areas Firearms are not allowed to be used and Bows are, The same could apply to non-powered boats as well ( there are lakes even that do not allow for power boats ) The non-power boats should not be in the main channel of a lake or creek arm it is dangerous period, during the Heavy Boating season typically April 1^st to October 1^st. Beaver lake is 28,000 acres which is more than enough water to be shared. However certain areas should be off limits to the non-power boats. I also believe certain areas should be NO WAKE zones for the bigger power boats.

Its really not about post count as it is the POST itself.