'In the Boat'
FEBRuary 4, 2026

February 4, 2026 - Cold Water Boating Safety Is Not Optional

Water Temp: 39°F

Air Temps: 20s-50s

If you fall in the water in the winter, you better have a plan for getting out and dry as quickly as possible. In 40-degree water, you have less than 10 minutes of meaningful movement before cold water shock and hypothermia degrade your motor skills. After 30-45 minutes, you're likely unconscious. After an hour, you're likely dead. 

Here's what I do to make sure I make it safely home each day.

Wear your PFD. Always. Not stowed under the seat. Not within arm's reach. On your body. If you go overboard in cold water, you will gasp involuntarily - it's called cold water shock. If your head goes under when that happens, you're inhaling water. Wear the vest. It will also keep you afloat if you are unable to get to the boat or shore.

Attach your kill switch. If you fall out and the boat keeps running, you now have two problems: you're in deadly cold water, and your boat is leaving without you. Attach the lanyard to your belt or PFD every single time you start the motor.

Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back. The lake is big. Cell service is spotty. If something goes wrong and nobody knows where to look for you, search and rescue is starting from zero. Text a friend, tell your spouse, leave a note in your truck. "Fishing the San Juan arm, back by 4pm." Simple.

Carry a PLB (Personal Locator Beacon) or satellite communicator. Cell phones don't work in most of the lake's canyons. A PLB does. If you're in trouble, you can call for help even when your phone is useless.

Carry a first aid kit and dry change of clothes. Hypothermia doesn't just happen from falling in - it happens from getting wet and staying wet in cold wind. A change of clothes can be the difference between a bad day and a medical emergency. Keep a dry bag with spare layers, a towel, and a basic first aid kit.

Practice self-rescue. If you fish alone, make absolutely certain you can get back into your boat if you fall out. Try it in warm water during summer. It's harder than you think, especially in bulky cold-weather gear. If you can't pull yourself back in, you need a different boat setup, a ladder, or you need to stop fishing alone in winter.

Winter fishing can be excellent, and Navajo is fishable year-round if you're smart about it. But the margin for error is zero when the water is this cold. Dress for immersion, not for the air temperature. Plan for the worst. Respect the conditions.

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