Angler Killed At Lake Hartwell Tournament Today…

[@arthurdsoto5751]

When you're fishing alone in the winter or early spring, always wear your life jacket. If you fall in & you don't have the strength to pull your self into the boat & you have electric trim, get on the cavitation plate & trim yourself into the boat. This saved a friend of mines life!

[@LuckyLucky-bm1pg]

you should wear ya life jacket anytime you're on the water point blank period...

[@kevingerrish7859]

Great idea if you don't have a ladder!

[@jboz1435]

Thanks for the tip about using the motor, I didn’t think of that but often think of the things I could do. Wearing the life jacket is a given to even have a chance to survive. Also thinking about a blanket or extra dry clothes to keep in boat incase I make it back into the boat. Ie I still have to make it back to the dock. Been out in the winter and not seen another boat so have to assume you’re on your own to survive.

[@ImionsaeXwb77]

fell off the boat one time and used the motor to get back into the boat..

[@SuperFishdaddy]

The boat began taking on water due to high winds and they weren't able to make it to shore before it sank. They called the tournament officials when the boat began sinking and other anglers responded to their location. The boat went down about 300 yards from shore and 1 angler made it to shore, 2 were picked up by another boat and 1 was rescued near shore. The one who was rescued near shore passed away in the hospital from hypothermia. Nobody drowned. Prayers for the family of Kimberly Gomillion.

[@ImionsaeXwb77]

high winds or boat wave..? i heard they got boat waved

[@Txdoubledigit]

Back in the late 80s I pushed off of a standing timber on a defined creek channel in Lake Fork in Jan. water temp upper 40s. The tree broke off below the water line and in I went fully clothed including insulated boots. Bobbed once lost my rod grabbed the boat and weighed 500 lbs. had I been alone I may not have gotten back into my boat. The wind was blowing hard at the time. You have a very short window before hypothermia. I was young and strong and very lucky. You have to be very aware if you go out in those conditions.

[@johnmorganjr769]

🙏

[@richardblair919]

So sorry to hear this report. As an old rescue diver, kayaker, and canoeist we were taught to "dress for the water temperature. " what they meant was, SURVIVE the water temperature. Dry suits are common in those communities, but not fishing. Prayers to the families.

[@krisgerman1302]

Thanks you for reporting this. Anything that can be done to reduce the risk of this type of tragedy from happening again is worth the time!

[@patrickwall8517]

Sorry to hear about this. Thank you for the much needed good advice.

[@poimendave9536]

Good tips. I’ve never heard another video gives these types of boat safety advice. Thanks Randy.

[@DMV49ers]

I fished an event several years ago where a co-Angler fell out the boat at Lake Okeechobee. Very tragic. The remaining days were canceled. Something I’ll never forget. Prayers to the family.

[@lastboomer.]

I was canoeing in the SUMMER on a cold spring fed trout stream there in Missouri and had been drinking when we went in. Canoe got caught sideways to the current on a snag. It was deep and fast, and by the time I could get to the bank I swear I was just about done. Couldn't swim any more, only float. Scary, and in the summer!

[@billyhorton5779]

There were of couple of people that lost their life duck hunting on Kaw lake, Okla in a small boat in the worst wintertime conditions possible a few years ago. Only the dog that was with them survived being capsized. Cold water/hypothermia is deadly!

[@cgms310]

Hartwell is such an amazing lake. It’s heartbreaking to hear of this tragic incident. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@davidcollins4993]

Terrible tragedy , I pray for all to have safety and care 🙏.

[@JwMatrix]

I took the cold plunge once in 42f water when my boat blew out into the lake because it broke loose at the ramp. Lucky for the electric trim. I was in fantastic shape but the cold takes a lot out of you. I look back now and realize how stupid I was.

[@mikeofborg2]

I wear my US Army Mustang immersion suit if I am on a boat in cold weather. I can survive in 32-degree water for 3 hours in it. It looks like a pair of gray overalls. I even wear it fishing from the bank in winter or ice fishing, because its damn warm.

[@DavidBrown-rc6bv]

So Sorry for the angler that lost his life. Thoughts and Prayers for him and the family.

[@af4od02]

I always take spare clothing, towels and blankets. Also, in colder water temperatures, I wear an inflatable life vest while fishing.

[@Michael-dj4iq]

Appreciate your insightfulness from experience, I will not forget what you said..

[@donyarborough4114]

It was a 25 yr old lady that lost her life. The local tv station reported boat sank during high winds. This is so sad. Two men and a 7 year old survived. I believe it was reported by WYFF. Not sure if bass boat, no need to assume it was.

[@randallperry2705]

This happened at a striper tournament, I seriously doubt they were in a bass boat, regardless it's horrible, prayers..

[@jeremydupree1238]

It was a striper boat not a bass boat that cap sized. My club tournament was cancelled on hartwell today.

[@mr.skeptical3071]

I live near there and fished a bunch of tourneys there, big water gets rough when it's windy!

[@WhitchurchFishing1]

Sad day in the fishing world prayers for the family

[@paranoy69]

that's a tragedy... i was police officer. on a search and rescue team and we made test in cold water.40F. the first minute you have to control your breathing. because you are shocking... after that most people won't be able to move after 10 minutes and you won't be able to climb into a boat. so Wear your life jacket and be careful, sorry about this incident and i offer my condolences to the families

[@jasonmitchell8211]

Sad deal. Prayers to those involved.

[@RiverRat-2112]

Dieter just recently had a vid discussing if tournaments should be postponed due to bad weather. I reckon the answer is, yes. Might be an unpopular opinion but once money is involved, good sense and morals go right out the door and the blame lies squarely on the organizers. And I am not picking on fishing, the same goes for most anything.

[@jessiepayne737]

Prayers for the family

[@oledahammer8393]

Not sure about what life jacket they were wearing, or not, but you CANNOT trust the auto-inflating ones! One friend of mine died because it did not work and a first cousin of my wife drowned because his didn't inflate, but they miraculously revived him...although the lack of oxygen to his brain took over 2 years of rehab to get back to a "semblance" of his previous self. I'm a long time Musky angler that fishes in very late season (We crack ice at the ramps to go out) and we always wear very high-end float coats when we're out. Even then, once the water temps are below 50F, you don't have long before hypothermia will kill you.

[@garyelderman1229]

Auto inflate pfds have a manual backup. If the casualty can maintain their composure to use it. Cold water is float coat territory .

[@Jonboy997]

I was working in Hartwell a couple months ago. I used to go sit by the lake every weekend I was off. Beautiful lake, hate to hear about this tragedy

[@michaelsheppard4227]

That's so horrible. Hate hearing stuff like this.

[@davidcrocker1294]

Sad deal😢 I live in NY and I winter fish. Water in the 30's slow down and be aware of the wind🙏

[@rodmakermagazine7117]

Once the water gets below about 50F the simple shock of hitting the cold water can cause immediate shock that most people will not recover from. Always dress for immersion.

[@alewis3707]

Yes! This is different than hypothermia, something that I have just come to understand recently. Cold water shock causes involuntary gasping when you become immediately immersed in cold water. If your head is under water when this happens, you are done, gone. You will inhale water, and you will not recover. This is not the same as hypothermia that will take you in 10 to 20 minutes. This is immediate. That is why dressing for immersion is so critically important, to reduce the intensity of cold water shock. And also paramount is wearing a life vest that will hopefully keep your head above water when you go in, or at least keep you afloat for possible rescue in the case that you do inhale water.

[@Tomc8030]

I fell in the water here at Lake Fork, Texas early February 3-4 years ago while I was fishing a bank, and don’t know what happen it just happened, I had my jacket on but the wind blew my boat toward the bank and in to my lap, I was literally trapped with my boat sitting in my lap! The water was 42-44! I like to have never pushed the nose around to get out from under the boat. . Over 58 years of fishing and never understood how someone can simply fall out of boat, lol it happens and sometimes we don’t even know why or how!

[@josephhillman8831]

My heart goes out to the family man cold water demands respect I don't even hardly fish alone in the winter anymore you get older I'm Glade for all the winters I fished I was fortunate to never had a incident and tell someone where you are going and a return time or call during the day from your cell and always have a cell charger with ya

[@mikeharris130]

Sad indeed. 🙏

[@EugeneJohnson-f9q]

I feel so sorry about this it’s even dangerous in the summertime fishing as much as winter be safe out there y’all god bless and god speed

[@johnfriar3805]

Randy, I live very close to hartwell lake and fish there a lot and you’re right people are stupid when operating boats, I’m always looking all around me, and still as careful as I can be other boaters do not watch for you at all

[@LandonS_23]

I was at my local lake last March in my boat fishing and a kayaker drowned. He went to West Bank on the dam and banked his kayak to take a leak. We had a hard west wind that day and it took his kayak out in the lake. The guy decides to swim out after it and couldn’t catch up to it and ended up drowning.

[@garymueller6488]

This is all so true thanks Randy

[@mikey-nm3od]

Hate to hear about deaths like this. Prayers to the person and their family.

[@DaveRollins-z1f]

Little update. It was a striper tournament. 4 people went in the water. I live on the lake, there was no wind. But all 4 were rescued. However, 1 died from hyperthermia. Water temp is 49 degrees at saddlers creek

[@wayneharley7233]

Hypothermia

[@kurtcarter761]

Practice getting back in the boat in warm water with typical gear you would wear in winter time 50 degree water. That trick of standing on the cavitation plate and trimming up isn't as easy as some make it out to be. I see a lot of E ladders many have bolted to the backplate , make sure you can get in between the motor and Power Pole . If you have spot lock keep the remote on you so you can stop the boat from drifting away from you or even bring it back to you if you fall off the deck while fishing with TM down. Everything about cold water fishing especially alone has to be meticulously thought out and practiced. Go jump off a dock in 50* water so you are aware of what to expect so the initial shock doesn't freak you out and cause panic. I was a small boat captain in the USN. We did every kind of drill imaginable. Cold ass water drills were brutal.

[@Bottomfeederonfire]

Details are limited still, local news reports the lady was given CPR by EMS on location before transporting her to the hospital. Shock of cold water induced a young man’s heart attack at Lake Hartwell about a decade ago. I fish this lake once a month, the deeper parts are rough with light wind. Winter fishing is dangerous, but any fishing can be. I was knocked unconscious by a rock when my kayak capsized. Fishing in a remote, calm river and had a life vest on. Luckily, a friend pulled me out or I wouldn’t be here today. Sold the kayak, river earned my respect that day.

[@johnmorganjr769]

Prayers 🙏

[@chumbsychavis2641]

My condolences 😢

[@MichaelBethJones]

I have always said that I would stop wearing my life jacket when I could swim a mile to shore while fully clothed in 50 degree water and four foot waves and having a broken collarbone, concussion, and an anchor line wrapped around both legs.😖

[@brians.4488]

I have added 2) of the nylon step straps things to my cleats that I can roll to aid in getting back in the boat. They are tucked up under the cleats

[@comfortablynumb9342]

Bummer. The water is dangerous. She's claimed many souls. Y'all be careful.

[@maxb1985]

I'm a kayak angler in canada, and cold water is a big fear of mine. You can have a medical emergency and die from hypothermia/exposure in 20 minutes. Wear the proper gear at all times, guys.

[@JL-tp3gx]

terribly sad. I wear a mustang survival catalyst suit once water temp is below 55/60....cold water is no joke. especially in places like stockton and truman...there is nobody around to help you

[@andrewsales5417]

Just a thought... "Killed" and "died" are different. "Angler killed" makes me think he was murdered... "Angler dies" makes me think accident

[@anthonylaster2475]

God bless this family

[@MichaelSwirzewski]

No real words to describe the sorrow of the families' loss. A terrible tradgedy.

[@SendItVibes]

Get an auto inflate pfd! I almost drown falling into 40 degree water once. It yanks the breath from your lungs, and that could be your last breath. My boots filled so fast, my pants, everything i had on was trying to kill me. I was pulled out by a barn hand named Tanya Manson, I'll never forget her. She saved my life ❤

[@Viper-eq7by]

and next week the tournament directors will allow them to have 650s on the back no boat needs to go 100 mph so they can get to the fish quicker, that technology should of been halted at 100 hp or even 50.

[@jdoboy6835]

I say,,,, draw a 1/2 mi SPOT to fish, out of a hat. When you get to that SPOT, you have to use ELECTRIC ONLY! Hartwell is 40 plus mi long. Only FISH IN 1 MI. Electric only.

[@bladengutz2042]

So Sad

[@boognish.]

Carrying an emergency kit in the boat during winter is mandatory!

[@regardtdupreez2752]

Very sad. Also, always wear killswitch when running outboard engine. Condolences to family and friends.

[@michaelloucks4448]

That poor angler Jesus what a tragedy God bless his heart 💖. Sad day.

[@jaredb9909]

I was running probably 50 mph or so one time my skag barely hit a sunken road bed and it was like a bomb going off under that boat came close to ejecting me and my partner both scared me so bad I thought my heart stopped

[@turnersawman]

I live around Hartwell don't see how it was high winds. They were light today.

[@ImionsaeXwb77]

someone stated they were heavily weighed down with equipment on a 18ft boat and got waved out took on water when a boat went by..

[@Jeschitown]

Out here in lake Michigan its basically an inland sea she claims countless lives per year

[@jeremydupree1238]

My club event was cancelled bc of weather on hartwell today but the winds werent bad. It was a steiper boat that went down so it wasnt a bass tournament it was a striper event

[@TheAverageFisherman99]

They're called LIFE jackets for a reason.

[@arciefan]

Terrible, so sorry to hear.

[@charleshatcliff5588]

True that Randy. Just over a dang fish. Peed blood next day on Kentucky lake and Barkley in a tournament. Not worth it. Another reason I don't fish tournament anymore. The ones putting it on don't give a hoot about 20 to 30 mph winds and ur safety. When they get the money they gone.

[@JayBrowne-u8q]

Never fish alone. If something happens you're on your own and that's not a good thing.

[@josephammons7309]

so sad

[@callaseter4811]

😥😭🙏✝️💕

[@GregoryBradley-v3t]

It was a striper bass, not a bass boat. Lifejackets were to save them all no I’m not Buddy levels my third cousin😭

[@TomHugley]

What?

[@wendellsuiter7869]

4 people in the boat not good!

[@jeremydupree1238]

Striper boat

[@rogerdaleabernathy5414]

Caution : always be sure to wear your life jacket

[@JohnDillon-zh7js]

So sad they need to slow down or have a speed limit.

[@jeremydupree1238]

Wasn't at all due to speed. Wasn't even a bass boat it was a striper boat and the wind was very light today.

[@DshaunBirch]

damn

[@wedoweeoutdoors]

Just couldn't wait to monetize a tragedy for those clicks could you....real classy Blaukat!

[@GregoryBradley-v3t]

You can’t sync my pontoon I’m just saying $6000 cash

[@TomHugley]

What?

[@pinballjunky7117]

The cheater box finally took some guys life. Now randy can spend 3 days of shows talking about how dangerous alive scope is to anglers now.

[@kevindavis3146]

Awful

[@Dean1Fishing]

Prayers for the family