Re: [Paddlewise] Fish sticks

At 09:11 AM 10/24/02 +0000, Wes wrote:
>A couple summers ago I was out on a night paddle with a group, and we had
>cylume lightsticks as markers. One lady had one dragging in the water from
>her stern loop, and a muskie hit it. Scared her pretty good, for an instant.
>
>We had another night paddle last Saturday night. ... her mother, in front,
>accidently hit a large muskie with her paddle. The fish reacted, then hit
>the boat with a large WHACK! that could be heard all over the place. It
>gave everybody a start, and we're just darn glad the little girl had
>listened to her father -- we think it had been attracted by the light stick.
><snip>
>Still, I think the next time there's a group night paddle out there, I'm
>going to take a roll of duct tape so that no one has to have light sticks
>dragging in the water . . . never thought I'd have to deal with that
>particular natural hazard out there.

Be careful where you tape it. A friend of mine and her two sisters did a 
three-woman entry in the Texas Water Safari, 260 miles from San Marcos to 
the Gulf, non-stop. Late at night they were paddling with headlamps on. A 
big alligator garfish came out of the water and tried to eat the lamp. 
Fortunately, it couldn't jump quite high enough. Unfortunately, it hit her 
in the side and broke three ribs.

I think paddling with sharks is safer. Good tip, though, Wes.

Steve Cramer
Athens, GA
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