Ebb & Flow

Getting Out of Hot Water by Staying Cool

By Trey Leggett

It sure has been a hot summer so far! I looked at the long term forecast and it just doesn’t seem like the sweltering heat is going to subside any time soon. The only relief we can hope for is a cloudy day, the deep south dip of a front with some drier air, or those pop-up afternoon thunderstorms for some cooler temperatures.

The heat hasn’t been keeping too many fishermen at home, though. Many of them have been hitting their spots early in the morning or late in the evening, then retreating home with their catch. I’ve been going for most of the day, but I like to take a break and pull up to a sandbar or beach and cool off in the water.

I’ve heard of a lot of trout, reds, and flounder being caught by anglers. Many of those catches seem to be during the morning hours. Not sure if that’s because they got off the water by noon or if that’s just when the fish were biting, but I’m going with the former. There are also reports of successful flounder gigging trips here lately. Be careful when gigging not to stab yourself or a buddy, use sufficient lighting, and remember your fish size and limits.

If you think it’s hot on the water, it’s even hotter as you venture your way inland. Many outdoorsmen know that July and August are opportune times to get a few workdays in at the hunting lease. Road or trail maintenance, mowing, clearing for shooting lanes, food plot work and scouting are all exhausting work in the heat of the summer.

When you’re working outside, it’s very important to take frequent breaks, drink a lot of water and some electrolyte drinks, and find some shade. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are very serious matters. Make sure you work with a buddy and each of you know the signs and symptoms of heat related illnesses and what to do in the event one of you succumbs to the heat. Don’t forget to watch out for those pesky cottonmouths, water moccasins, and rattlesnakes.

With our typical summertime weather patterns in full swing, we must realize the dangers that are right around the corner and what precautions we can take to increase our chances of avoiding a crisis: 1. As always, hydrate, hydrate, hydate. You should be hydrated before attempting any kind of outdoor activity. Have plenty of cool water with you in a cooler. Electrolyte drinks are a good addition if you’re sweating heavily, but should never replace water. 2. Wide brimmed hats create a lot of shade for your head, face, and neck. 3. Use sunscreen, wear light colored clothing, and have something

John Povanda cooling off in the water. Photo by Trey Leggett

for shade. 4. Anticipate pop up thunderstorms and have a plan to avoid or hunker down safely until it passes. Many of the thunderstorms we get are accompanied by lightning and/or winds upwards of 60 mph. Plan ahead and have an idea of what your actions will be. If you’re fishing, definitely lay your fishing poles on the floor of the boat during periods of lightning and it makes sense to retreat from open water at the onset of high winds. Remember that water spouts can form out of nowhere and be right on you in a heartbeat. Some are pretty tame and small, but some can be very large and very destructive with winds in the F1 category. 5. Have a VHF radio or working cellphone available to call for assistance, if needed.

These are just a few suggestions to help you get through our typical storms and heat, but still be able to get out and enjoy our resources, on the water or off.

Stay safe and tight lines.

Trey Leggett is an outdoorsman sponsored by Engel Coolers and Hobie Polarized sunglasses. Email: info@southerntidesmagazine.com