[Hamish Young]

Not a humorous thread this, so if you're looking for a laugh look elsewhere.
 
As some of you will know a group of us go to Assynt every year for a weeks fishing trip, covering everything from wee brownies to bloody great Pollock. As a group we never stray far from each other when shore fishing on the sea, partly for the craic but also for the safety element. Every year we lose anglers to accidents on the coast and this latest event up here in the North http://www.northern-times.co.uk/News/Hopes-fade-for-missing-angler-29092011.htm has triggered this post.

We all take risks from time to time, but can I implore forum members to consider the following before going out on 'tricky' areas of foreshore on their own.
1. Let someone know where you are going and stick to that plan.
2. Let someone know when you are leaving to go and when you'll be back.
3. Consider the conditions (wind, sea state, tide, forecast conditions) - is it worth the risk
4. Wear a life jacket. If you are swept in (or fall in) then it could save your life.

More locally to many forum members is the foreshore between Aberdeen and Montrose, every winter it claims the life's of more anglers than it should. I don't mean to preach, all I ask is that you consider the four points above.

Please do not let it be you that the emergency services have to search for, be prepared, be careful and enjoy many seasons of safe coastal fishing.

Hamish

[Rob Brownfield]

Agreed, it makes me bloody mad when i see anglers either on the cliffs, or deep wading a fast flowing river with no lifejacket on.

For the cost of filling the car you can get a self inflating "braces" style lifejacket that is essential when out fishing.

Good post Hamish

ps. Sundridge do an excellent range of floatation suits. They do one aimed at coarse anglers that comes in olive green (not the bright colours normally associated with floatation suits) and is well worth buying if going afloat on large lochs. Used with a life jacket, they will keep you alive much longer than if you go overbaord in just waterproofs.

http://www.sundridge.co.uk/products/specialist-clothing/super-crossflow-carp.html

[Paul Rankine]

Hi Hamish,
                   As someone who  fishes this coast in the winter I would add this ,

 DO NOT FISH ALONE FROM THIS COASTLINE THIS WINTER , PARTICULARLY IN A STORM.

 Unless you are very lucky indeed ,  if you end up in the water  you will die , lifejacket , survival suit or
 not.

 This coastline has many large rogue waves in the winter which can catch even experienced anglers off guard .

 It only takes a moment .

 No fish is worth your life or that of someone who comes to help.

 Paul.

[Peter Rawlinson]

Good thread this . I used to fish around Kylesku area and the lochs up there years ago  .   I was amazed how many anglers would have a good session in the bar and then go out on the sea in a small boat .
They would not get in the car after drinking , but jump in a boat without a thought on safety .

Drink and angling do not mix .

Pete

[Ben Dixon]

Not too bothered personally in a river, if I can't see the bottom, I don't put my feet there (unless the water is fairly warm) and I don't tend to venture into a river if it's up by much.  I don't wear a life vest, probably should but the above precautions have until now kept me fairly safe.  I think I'd be most at risk when fishing from the bank in the spring and slipping or loosing my footing so I went and bought some studded rubber boots which help.  I never really feel unsafe in the river, that said, I am far more cautious in some than others but it is water temperature that is my main consideration when wading.  Angling will always carry some risks, I guess it's just something we have to accept. 
Drinking and fishing is something I have never really done, I can't be arsed doing much after a drink.  I'm always amazed at the amount consumed in fishing huts both from a waste of fishing and safety perspective.

Our coast is a very different story, I've far more respect for the sea than I have our running waters and I'm probably over cautious when fishing from the rocks.  I'm not so certain that I'd be walking away from a mishap on the coast.

Ben

[Jim Eddie]

Totally agree with all thats been said. Bill Bain the guy who has the tackle shop in George St was very lucky recently when he survived being swept off the rock South of aberdeen recently.
100% agree about the alcohol, no one enjoys a drink more than me, but I never mix it with fishing.
Now I know the waistcoat iype thingies are a bouyancy aid and not a life jacket but , I will and do wear one of these when I am likely to leave my collar type one in the garage.

 

Jim
 

[Matt Henderson]

I've got a an Englands life vest for wading in the spring time and always use my stick in the spring too. I do however have a dram at lunchtime. However I'm driving so it's one and no more!

[Will Shaw]

Quite apart from actually falling in, I think the other big thing is to be really careful where you put your feet. Slipping and falling on rocks is not good for you - even if you don't fall in.

I went A. over T. once running across rocks to photograph Ben with a good pollack. I was lucky not to crack my head, fall in, or smash my camera. (I got a good pic of the fish, but missed the moment when Ben's rod exploded...).

Also, I'd say it's a good idea to spend a couple of minutes well back from the shore watching the waves before selecting a spot to fish from. Every now and again you get a bigger wave which engulfs an otherwise safe-looking spot.

W.

[Euan Innes]

I have to add to all of the above that although wading jackets / fly vests with built in lifejackets are in principal a good idea, on this years Assynt trip this happened.
It was too warm for a jacket so I took it off. As it landed on the rocks the toggle caught and it inflated!
Not only did I have no lifejacket for the rest of the week but it dawned on me that what was the use of a lifejacket if you couldn't wear it?

I have since bought a proper jacket that will keep me alive even if I'm only in shorts and a t-shirt. So think about it before you buy a lifejacket - they only work if you wear them.

(Thanks again to Kev for a loan of his spare for the rest of that week - top bloke that Kev chap)

 

[Hamish Young]

The FAI into the deaths of four anglers on Loch Awe in 2009 have released their findings, in brief courtesy of the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15238983
Or if you have a few minutes to spend:
http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2011FAI43.html

Hamish

[Noel Kelly]

The FAI into the deaths of four anglers on Loch Awe in 2009 have released their findings, in brief courtesy of the BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15238983
Or if you have a few minutes to spend:
http://www.scotcourts.gov.uk/opinions/2011FAI43.html

Hamish

Hamish thanks for posting that. I have spent the last half hour reading some of the report and I have been close to tears a few times.
Awful reading but should be required reading for anyone who goes afloat...
 

[bordertroot]

Agree with Noel, but with advice from this forum,I dont go out without my `jacket`

Bob

[Hamish Young]

Been meaning to update this thread following the loss of some posts.
Anyway, below is a link to a press release from the MCA's angling liaison officer (a role I had a hand in developing) there's some interesting/useful stuff in there but, for me, the main piece of interest is the on-line survey on life jackets.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/newsandpublications/press-releases.htm?id=BEB60F65258CC447&m=10&y=2011
This survey has not, as yet, had the meaningful coverage in the angling media that I feel it needs, but it represents the first time the MCA has pro-actively gone about collecting information from us - the anglers. Many of us fish in a variety of environments and I'm pleased to see the survey takes that into account.
Please spend the ten minutes it takes to fill in the survey, it's a wee bit generic in places but the data gathered will be very useful indeed.
Thanks,
Hamish

[Euan Innes]

Survey done.
It only took five minutes so come on chaps.

 

[Mike Barrio]

Mine done too

Cheers
Mike