Was fishing for bluegill at Peabody and having a ball. Nice warm 70 degree day after a week or more of 50s. Was catching a bunch of 8" gills and tossing them back. Caught one that swallowed the hook and while I was getting my pliers out - and I still don't really know what happened - the canoe took a deep tip to port! Having some experience with canoes, I recognized that I couldn't grab the starboard gunnel without tipping over, so I baled out to keep the canoe from completely swamping.

COLD WATER!!!!

Did a bit of swimming to get the canoe to shore where I managed to clean everything out and get back in.

Now for the lesson in November fishing. Even with the sunshine and mild temps...by the time I was back at the truck I was suffering from a mild case of hypothermia. Shivering like I had a fever!

Let's be careful out there.

Dan

I remember a story when I lived by Branson in the 90's. Two trout fishermen swamped their johnboat in Tannycomo(trout lake- cold) in December. It was getting dark and they were dressed in snowmobile suits and only 1 gentleman made it back to shore.It was almost total dark and there were no lights around and he was totally exhausted. Air Temperture was in the 20's, before he passed out, He stuffed his suit with leaves and survived till morning when a trout fisherman or a searcher found him. The leaves insulated him and kept his suit from freezing on him.

Be careful in the canoe brother.. I went in on a used one with little bro.. We fished two or three times from it and I reliquished my claim to it.. He can have it! I was just utterly uncomfortable and unstable in it. I still would like to downsize my whole setup due to fuel prices.. I would really like a true old school flat bottom.. Maybe a bass pro "Topper" that just bareley fits in back of my 'hunk o crap dodge truck.. An electric only or even a Briggs 5 horse would be more than sufficient for everything I do but Baldwin.. I know the toppers are still probably a bit tipsy too but they have to be better than that darned canoe.. Be safe, if you are by your lonesome there is not even anyone to see you go down.

we have one of the little "bass buddy" boats- it's remarkably stable...two of us can bowfish from it...for where I do most of my fishing it's perfect..when I want to go on big water...I just whine at Bob to take his big boat LOL

I have a 12 foot topper style boat that is more stable than the canoe, but since this thread was started, I've upgraded the canoe with side stabilizers. I can't tip it now if I wanted to.

I can stand in it without problems now. When I'm fishing alone, I can put two batteries in front and go all day. One to get out and fish and the other to get back depending on how far I have gone.

I'm selling the 1236 Jon now and keeping the canoe.

Still, I've caught a lot of fish out of that old jon.

Dan