Right on bigs.

I think it's mostly true that (for those who are vigilant and sober) things don't happen as quickly as you are expecting, but for those that aren't ...... woe unto you.... I guarantee things will happen much, much faster than you expect or can even imagine. Been there done that.

Boating is similar to driving in many respects. There is always the unseen danger lurking out there even for the most experienced and careful. And we can't forget there are always lives at risk whenever we get behind the wheel or the oars. But even though we can make the roads a bit safer, rivers will be ever changing. The thing we need to keep in mind as "captains" of vessels heading into harms way is that we are not only responsible for the safety of our own passengers but also for those who are prepared to lay their lives on the line to bring us home should we ever find ourselves in trouble.

I like a beer as much as the next guy, but to me there isn't a brew made or even a fish caught that is worth the lives of those I'm responsible for while on the oars.

Bigs, just like you and many others, I too have witnessed a lot of asinine and unfortunate things on the river, but what continues to amaze me is not that boaters continue to do stupid and unwise things, but that there are so many courageous and dedicated individuals that stand ready, even now, to come to the aid of the most reckless, inconsiderate and foolish of us on the river. In many cases these fine folks show they care more for our lives than we do for our own. God bless each one of them and grant wisdom and safe travels to the rest of us. Hey, the good Lord gave us a each a brain. Why not use it?

Great news: safety and fishing success are not mutually exclusive.

Be careful out there.