How to play it safe on your Idaho angling adventures
Safety has been a top-of-mind topic for me of late. Between all the craziness happening in our world and my relatively new role as a dad to an adorable two-year-old, I feel a heightened sense of responsibility for keeping my family safe.
Throughout my fishing adventures, I’ve been fortunate to avoid any major mishaps. A couple hooks in the thumb and a barb from a feisty catfish are about the worst afflictions I’ve suffered. But fishing — and any outdoor activity, especially those that take place around water — does have its share of hazards. Here’s a quick checklist to help you keep safe:
Gear up
The most important piece of safety equipment is a life jacket. Kids should wear one anytime they are near water. Adults may not want to wear one while fishing, but we should at least put it on while motoring to and from our destination.
Another underrated piece of safety equipment is sunglasses. I almost always keep mine on, even if it’s not bright out, as glasses offer key eye protection from flying hooks, lures and weights. Hats, long sleeves and sunscreen are also on the list of essentials.
Don’t get hooked!
Sharp hooks are great for catching fish, but it’s no fun if they wind up in your skin. Always double-check before you cast to make sure your fishing partner hasn’t wandered into your backswing. Be careful unhooking fish, especially with lures that have multiple hooks attached. If your line gets snagged, use caution when trying to pull your gear out. Most of the accidental hookings I’ve witnessed happen when a snagged lure becomes dislodged and comes flying back at the boat.
If you fish with young kids, here’s a pro tip — go bass fishing with weedless soft plastics, which are less likely to snag weeds, trees or people.
Watch the weather
While we don’t have hurricanes, tornadoes or (usually) earthquakes in Idaho, it’s always smart to keep an eye on Mother Nature. Perhaps the most important factor to watch for is wind — it really hampers fishing, and can make for dangerous boating conditions. Anything over 15 MPH is probably a good reason to reschedule your trip. If you get stuck in a storm — and believe me, they come out of nowhere sometimes — the best thing to do is bank the boat, find some shelter and wait it out.
Be wildlife aware
It’s important to know what kinds of animals might cross our path on a fishing trip. A man recently (and miraculously) survived a bear attack near Henrys Lake in eastern Idaho. If you’re in bear country, carry bear spray. Making noise on a hike is a good idea, too, as it will usually spook bears, moose, rattlesnakes and other potentially dangerous animals. Speaking of snakes, they are common in our desert habitats. Watch your step when traveling over rocky terrain and if you see or hear a rattler, give it a wide berth (they won’t bother us if we don’t bother them).
Handle with care
When you catch a fish, proper handling will help protect both the fish and your fingers. Bass and panfish can be gripped by the lip, but watch out for their spiny dorsal fin rays. Trout are spine-free, but they do have sharp teeth — although not as dangerous as the fangs on walleye, pike and tiger muskie. The aforementioned catfish barb is another one to watch out for. Channel cats and bullheads have three — two on the pectoral fins, and one on the dorsal. Keep your hands clear to avoid a painful sting.
Safe fishing, and tight lines!
Join my next fishing class!
You’re invited to join me for my next fishing class, Catfish are Jumping, set for July 20 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn Boise Spectrum. We will cover all kinds of in-depth tactics and strategies for catching catfish in Idaho waters. To register, visit www.tightlines208.com. I hope to see you there!
Jordan Rodriguez has been fishing Idaho waters since he was a teen. Share your fish stories, adventures, tips and tricks with him at tightlinesboise@gmail.com or visit www.tightlines208.com.