3 minute read
Ebb & Flow - Hypo-fishing
Hypo-Fishing
By Trey Leggett
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Kevin Kelly (foreground) and Daniel Adcock are both dressed in layers appropriate to the weather. Photo y Jessie Kellam, Summit and Surf Photography
Inshore fishing has been spectacular since the weather has gotten cooler. It’s been so good, fishermen have been rushing out the door to get on the water and hit the right tides for that optimal bite.
On one such chilly day, two fishermen hit the water with hopes of filling their cooler with nice fish. The ride out was a bit on the cool side, but the guys toughed it out knowing the rising sun would warm things up. Well, the sun did come out, but an hour later clouds moved in.
Determined to catch their limits of fish, they forged on, in spite of the cold. After a while, one of the fishermen began to shiver. He tried to keep at least one hand in his pocket while holding his rod and reel in the other. After suffering the cold weather for a while, the men finally decided to make their way back. Upon arrival at the boat ramp, one of the men collapsed and was shivering uncontrollably. His buddy called EMS and the man was taken to the hospital and treated for hypothermia.
Hypothermia – when your body temperature drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Causes could be prolonged direct skin exposure to cold air and/or exposure to cold water. Alcohol intoxication and diabetes can also prohibit effective heating of the body, which can put you at greater risk when you’re in a cold environment. If immersed in water a person can typically survive one hour in 50-degree water, while surviving only 15-25 minutes in 32-degree water. Even if you get out of the water quickly, you still need to warm up your body’s core and exposed skin areas.
There are many ways to protect yourself from hypothermia while enjoying the outdoors fishing or hunting: 1) Wear clothing layers. You don’t want to be so overdressed that you get hot and start sweating on a cold day. Wear several layers of clothing so you can shed layers when you are warm and be able to put them back on when you cool off. 2) Store extra clothes, a towel, and a blanket (or an emergency blanket) in the event you get wet in cold weather; it’s easier and safer to just change your clothes. 3) Make sure you’ve given your outdoor plan to someone in the event you have mechanical problems or you have a medical emergency. An outdoor plan (similar to a float plan) lets others know where you’ll be and what time you should be back. 4) Ensure you have a charged cellphone, satellite phone, or VHF radio in the event you have an emergency. 5) Don’t forget about readily available floatation devices when boating – falling into frigid waters will not cause immediate hypothermia, but can cause cold shock where you have very rapid breathing and gasping that can lead to a spiked blood pressure and possible cardiac arrest.
Don’t get caught off guard when you enjoy outdoor activities this winter. Plan ahead and survive the unexpected.
Stay safe and tight lines.
Trey fishes for Hobie Kayaks, Hobie Polarized Sunglasses, ENGEL Coolers, and SouthEast Adventure Outfitters. Email: info@southerntidesmagazine.com
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