Small Boats on Big Water. What You Need to Know 

Great advice on river safety. We fish the 2 most dangerous rivers in the country (in my opinion) the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers in east central Louisiana. Learned many lessons. 1. ALWAYS have a sharp knife ready. You may need to cut an anchor rope at a moment’s notice. 2. Have a plan and discuss it with whoever is in the boat with you. Winging it is never a good idea, and hope is not a plan. 3. We choose never to go alone. Too difficult to safely control a boat and work the anchor rigging properly. 4. Watch where you put your fingers, hands, and feet. A loose anchor rope in heavy current can quickly tighten and break fingers and hands. A loose rope in your feet can quickly wrap around an ankle and pull you in. Be safe and God bless. Bon peche!!! (good fishing)

Dude it’s been three years since you posted this and I can tell you regardless of how many views this gets, you’ve definitely saved lives with your information. You’re a good man Hagen. Good luck fishin

Great write up man. The best advice I could ever give anybody is don't wear boots on the boat. Try swimming with boots on sometime, in calm water, and you'll understand why I'm saying this. And trying to get them off while in turbulent water is just a recipe for disaster. I fish in my 12' boat regularly but not on big water.

I didn’t give two thoughts about safety when I was younger. As age catches up with you the realization of how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. Ain’t no fish worth dying over. The best tip I can give is listen to that little voice inside that’s telling you danger is at hand. Many of the dumb things that I have done were done after I told that little voice to shut up.

You have very good points about on the water safety, thank you for the video. I do have a big concern though, you haven't mentioned the #1 safety rule to top all safety rules on the water. PFD!!!! I am a Public Safety Rescue Diver on the Mississippi River. I have recovered more bodies of River Rats and those that just wanted a fun day on the river than I ever care to remember. It is such a simple thing to do, put on a PFD. Get an inflatable if you need to but get something that is comfortable and that you'll wear. You make your boy wear one right? Do you want him to see you drown if something happens, especially when you ae wearing bib overalls. Swallow your pride, and please wear one! Promote wearing one just like you promote your other gear. I was on the river for 30yrs before it sunk in to my thick skull, but you owe it to yourself and your family. Tell me I'm wrong!

Hagen, I'm really glad to see you bringing safety issues up like this since you have the publics eye now! Thanks!

This is an important video alot of the channels on here dont stress the safety as much as they should.

Binge watching. Thanks for the shout out. Great video!!! Nice work!!

Good advice for people newer to the rivers and a good reminder to us older folk. I've been Jon boating and fishing the Mississippi up around Pool 26 for many years. Its easy to get complacent when you set out to relax after a long day of sun and fun on the water. Even in larger boats, the river will get you when you least expect it. Barge wakes are easy to avoid, its those darn rollers off the big cruisers plowing along at slow speed, churning just as much water as they can that creates what I believe are more dangerous conditions. You are right about large debris floating and the weather bringing wind and lightning too. Anyone who is totally at ease and comfortable on the water anyplace is asking for trouble. You have to respect and appreciate the power of big water.

Great info ! ! Been boating for 40 years and had 14 footers and 20 footers and big rivers doesn`t care what size boat you have ! Gotta watch the undertow from heavy loaded barges also, it can grab you and if you don`t have the power to break away you`re done !

Me and my buddy always try to stay away from big wake and never take the little 14ft jon to places where’s there’s lots of freighters. Recently I saw a guy in a 16ft jon out on the Amsterdam-Rhine channel, even had his girl with him, both without vests, closely passing/crossing the bows of freighters …you just can’t fix stupid. People need to realize flat bottoms are simply not made for choppy water and things can go wrong very quickly. Good that you spread words of warning!

As I said before I'm new to fishing and bought my 1st boat last spring and I LIVE by the rule when in doubt DONT!!!!!I know my skills are still in the baby stages like you said a fish isn't worth your safety or life youve taught me a great deal so far so keep the videos coming 😊 ☺️

I’ve been scared several times myself. That’s why I stay in creeks on the lake with 14ft. I’m glad you mentioned logs running into the anchor rope. Very helpful video Hagen 👍🏼

Hagen, unfortunately we can't teach people the most important safety tip, COMMON SENSE. Great video, keep up the great work like you always do.

Awesome video and words of wisdom Hagen. Nobody has to big of a boat or to much experience to skip a lesson like this .👍

Excellent advice brother, teaching lessons that can be fatal if learned the hard way. Thank-you for the info.

In my 16ft Jon on the Mississippi I've got one hard rule I literally live by. No go at south winds above 12 mph. No matter how good the fishing. South wind against the Mississippi River current is deadly for smaller boats. I also just bought a bigger boat for Mississippi. But my wind rule may not increase by much.

Sir, Thank You! THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT VIDEO TO MAKE. In the past 80 years I have seen several bodies recovered out of lakes, and the sad part about it from what I have learned, they lost their life due to a lack of knowledge, or were drunk. The act of Anchoring, and being anchored, always put people into a potentially dangerous situation if they do not know how to anchor properly, or respond to events that may cause them to be venerable doing the activity they are doing. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS IS CRITICAL FOR ANY BOAT OPERATOR. I feel you have brought up some critical issues that a responsible person must consider. I only have a 12 foot “V’ Hull aluminum boat. “Large Wakes” created from powerful boats passing by, are my worst safety issue. I have to be as quick as a “Long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs”.

I put a 14 ft john with a 9.9 on it in at virginia point in kenova wv and went to 12pole ck at camden park and fished all day,when we came back out that evening the wind and waves was terrible,i swore i would never do that again in a john boat,!!!! Thanks for the video

I have a small 12 foot v bottom that I use to fish the Rappahannock river here in VA, so this was probably the most informative video that I've watched. Thanks my dude! Stay safe on the water everyone 👍✌

Thanks for the great advice I've been cough out there once myself with a 16 ft Jon Boat made it to a Cove to get out of the Wind so the pump could keep up , never let someone talk you into let's keep fishing when you know the weather is turning bad

On any size boat, things can go bad in a hurry! I appreciate this video. Can’t be too safe out on the water.

Thank you, I’m still contemplating on buying a boat in general but am looking around for tips and ideas. Glad I came across this video

best safety tool you have is common sense great video Hagen thanks for sharing

Thank you for caring an sharing your information I've fished creeks an lake's my whole life but the river always has my respect

Thank you Hagen, very good advice that I will keep in my mind. Take care and stay healthy and safe.

And always wear your life jacket at all times on the water😎👍

Wind and other boaters is your main threats out on any water big or small. Good advice though!

Great video Hagen it’s good to here tips and warnings from someone who has experienced it! God bless bud!

Fantastic video some of the best FISHIN videos don’t have fish in em. Thank you very much sir!

Really great information here brother. I think we all sometimes forget just how dangerous rivers can be. I love it out on the water but she demands respect and she will get it one way or another.

Good tips. Things can go bad in the blink of an eye. Don't challenge Mother Nature, you may get lucky a few times, but eventually you run out of luck. Everyone stay safe.

Excellent video, I've been in some ruff water on the Ohio. I had a cabin cruiser that didn't feel the waves much and would see smaller boats riding some big waves, always kept an eye on them in case they needed help. Thanks for posting, be safe out there.

Good information brother. I hope this finds the people that need to hear it the most. I'll be honest, I always wondered how you pulled off so many great trips on the river. Glad to see you in a bigger boat!

Very well done. I know you did this some years ago but Great information for not only the new boater but the long time boater. Thanks

Very necessary topic. I've run a 14ft deep V on the Missouri River. Its a great boat but it is sketchy at times. WIND is the issue. I've sunk my boat as I was pulling it on to my trailer during a wind storm. 3ft waves.

Very helpful video man really loving this channel

I have a 16' mod v jon. I've surfed it behind my buddy's wake boat. It taught me alot about how to handle waves and wakes. I've taken it out in the Gulf many times but if the wind is over 10mph, I don't go out. In the Atlantic. it has to be dead calm before I do out. Definitely you need a weather radio and VHF I've been caught when the wind came up and had to deal with 3' waves. If the wind is against you it sucks. Wind and tide against you it sucks worse. Sometimes I trim up and it helps Of course I have to go slow.. If the wind and tide are with you, you can go fast if the waves aren't too high. Boats want to float and will take more than you would think but practice makes it go easier. I was in the Ohio with my canoe and barge wakes are pretty scary. It's a square back with 3 1/2 hp. I get as close to shore as I can. I almost always wear a PFD. The scariest thing I ever did, I was behind about a 40' twin diesel working his wake for fun. I got through all the wakes but the first wake was bigger, about 4'.I noticed it too late to pull out. I thought I would get broached if I slowed so I punched it. The boat came down hard but it stayed on top. I don't think I'll do that again.

65 years of running rivers and tailwaters here, good, solid advice from a young guy that seems to have a firm grasp of the consequences of making stupid mistakes. Thanks.......

Good video. I'm inexperienced boater but always eager to learn new tips and tricks. I like your idea about tying a float to the end of your anchor line in case you need to untie real quick and move the boat. Like you said, you can always go back and retrieve your anchor that way. I'm going to do that. Thanks for the tip.

Thank you for this video. I've been watching your videos for a few days now, but this one is the one that made me subscribe. I've been fishing for a few years now, and just purchased a 14' jon boat last fall. I have only taken it out a time for two, because I don't know much about boating, and want to do it safely. I have all of the proper equipment, in great condition, but have only fished in calm water. I want to eventually do some river fishing, but the current is too strong on the Mississippi. I will definitely cut my teeth on the smaller tributaries of the Missouri and Illinois rivers, and look into something bigger later to tackle that muddy Mississippi. My main goal is catching good fish, and I don't care how small the body of water is. I have nothing to prove, just wanna enjoy the water and hone my fishing skills. Again, thank you so much. You gave me many things to think about.

As a soon-to-be new small boater, I appreciate your video very much.

Great advice, I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and I have the opportunity to fish the Mississippi River. Following these tips may save my life.

I'm new to boating, I have a 14' Jon boat that i'm fixen to put in the river this season. I live in South Point, Oh and bank fish the Ohio River often, your ANCHOR advise really made me think! I almost sank last summer on a 5 acre lake called Jerry's Lake here when a super strong wind came & i tried to pull my anchor. Very dumb mistake on my part! trying to free my rope almost caused a bad situation! Float the rope & get to shore! Thanks for the great video! Always enjoy your info! FISH ON!

Think strongly about a boat with full upright flotation. I have taken rollers over the bow twice from yachts in the ICW on a 21' Carolina skiff. Also shark fishing 4 miles off the beach with 1.5' seas at 10 seconds, within 30 minutes of wind picking up the 1.5' seas turned into 5'-6' at 5 seconds. That made a questionable ride getting back to the inlet. I now run a 24' bay boat but can't have too much Safety gear! I wear inflatable pfd with extra life jackets onboard. Dry floating ditch bag with survival gear, food, water, flares, etc. ACR PLB (everyone needs this for any outdoor hobby). Think of how many boaters, hikers, hunters have been lost or hurt to be found dead or never found! For approx. $300, emergency help is a push of a button away. I also installed a MOB device on the boat, if I am trolling and go overboard the outboard engine automatically shuts down. Can't be too safe, especially when boating alone.

Thanks for the video, just bought a 16 ft Jon boat for me and my son for catching on the Ohio river

Very appreciative for this video. I dont currently own a boat ,but I've spent many of days out on the water in boats. I myself have been scared from a few incidents. Tou gotta respect the water .

I highly recommend the boating safety course for every angler. It teaches great tips for safe boating, and navigation. Great video.

Great video and good advice

Another thing to remember, those barge waves come back off the bank, so if your anchored close to the bank you can get the wake coming amd going. That can be scary also.

It’s not just the rivers! I was caught in a storm on a lake with 60 mph winds and I thought it was the end🙏 I couldn’t bail fast enough rain flooded my engine the trolling motor couldn’t match the 💨 wind the storm passed just at the right moment! Adrenaline rush and lots of prayers 🙏🙏 Never went fishing again when a storm was predicted!

Good and useful information! I always tell people that fish from a boat - "you are a boatman first and a fisherman second."

We have a big boat and I agree 💯 there's days I won't go out stay safe

Man I'm glad you did this video. I'm in the process of getting a little Jon boat. I'm going to keep wind in mind. I only plan on ponds and the north Canadian but great info. Love your channel. Keep up the great work brother.

Glad your okay brother I've had close calls from bass boats flying pasted me in coves just glad your safe keep up the great video

Good video, you got to respect those big rivers. I live in Arkansas and fish the Arkansas river. That thing can get hair real quick. I see people in small boats all the time and worry about them.

Glad you made this video, I’ve had the s#*• scared out of me before. This is all good advice, hopefully it’ll keep someone out of harms way. Mother Nature will make you respect her one way or another lol.

Thank-you.

Great video. I had no idea how dangerous river fishing could be.

Good advice! Here’s 2 sketchy situations I’ve been in on the Missouri River, and another thing I see a lot on videos that make me nervous… One time my brother and I were floating jugs and got the boat pinned against a dyke with the current hitting us almost broad side on a corner, this happened because I didn’t start the motor to correct course soon enough. Bad things happen fast and your perception of distance and speed is wrong out there. Another time we were headed up stream back to the ramp right at sunset, we started seeing a few logs and I could go around them, but soon I had to slow down to miss them. As it got dark I realized I wasn’t making any progress upstream because I had to go slower and slower, with limited fuel I tied the boat off behind an obstacle and we called a friend to pick us up and drive us to the ramp about 13 miles. At the ramp the river was still bank to bank logs, could’ve walked across it. I wasn’t sure the boat would still be there the next day but it was. Finally, I see a lot of people anchor fishing upstream close to barges, I guess it depends on the water, but where I fish if your anchor slips or a log hits your rope there’s no getting away from the front of that barge fast enough, you and your boat will be under it in seconds.

I learn something every time i watch your videos...another great one here. Thanks man!

Absolutely fantastic video thank you for sharing my friend 👊

Thanks for the safety share! Stay safe!

Don't forget the float plan! Tell someone where you are launching, the area you are fishing, and an estimated time of return any time you head out alone!

The logs and other stuff floating down river is a great point.

I fish between the jetties on the Mississippi River. I don't anchor because of the barge wakes.

All great points about rivers, we mainly fish the Ohio up by West Virginia. It's important to understand the rules of boating, far to many people get boats witout even knowing the basic guidlines of navigation and or boating safety. At no point should you ever be near a barge in transit in any size vessel, you're just asking to get into trouble. Also I don't know how you guys get near the dams like that, up this way you're not allowed anywhere near them. I think the keep out signs are 1000' feet away down river and 2000' up river?

I’m from Mississippi and I fish the Mississippi River. I fish the Tennessee at Wheeler also. They are two very different bodies of water. As a rule of thumb unless you really know the Mississippi River...PLEASE PLEASE NEVER throw an anchor in that river. It will immediately sink your boat because the current is so strong it will pull your boat down and water will rush in faster than you can cut a rope. The barges on the Mississippi are allowed to push 50 barges at a time. They waves are deadly compared to what you will see on the Tennessee. I respect both rivers and you can fish them. The Mississippi needs a different level of respect and there are a 1,000 dances associated with it. Be careful

Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Great video. Keep em coming I'll keep watching.

Boated Ohio River for 50 years. Back in the day barges put out massive rollers, not really to bad now. If I have to cross the river in front of a barge, I do it at minimum of 1/2 mile or more in front of one, you never know when you will loose engine power. The thing to this day that still scares me the most is a large cruiser with a lot of speed = rollers 3, 4 + rollers that roll down the river for miles. If you see 2 or 3 of them running together …. god help any size boat. Wear your life jacket & hook up your kill switch. If you don’t have a kill switch, one can be put on your motor, it will save your life even on flat water.

Really good video. Thanks for giving some people a sense of what can happen very fast

Was in a 18ft kayak I’ve taken many trips into the Fort Lauderdale area with not many issues on a decent day. earlier today near pisgah bay on ky lake had a what looked to be a work/fishing pontoon boat of sorts. I don’t expect people to slow down of course but he threw off some at least 5ft barrel waves. Fun but didn’t expect waves like tht was also a 20mph sw wind lake was pretty choppy no white caps or nothing but lot of big boats out.

Great points made. Been there done that and I need a bigger boat ;) Happy Fishing!

Shore enough thank ya for the advice we all sometimes take safety for granite when it should be our first thought. We heading for Wheeler on the 18th of March hope the wind and rain are to a minimum. Really enjoy you and Landon's videos ya keep it real and that's what I like . Fish on oh buddy

Thanks for a very informative video on river fishing. You point out a lot of issues I never thought about!

Thank u buddy I got this lil boat starting out again but this time lil boat and it's really dangerous

Great video and good advice for people on the water in the boat 👍🏻

Excellent advice

I fish the Ohio in a 18' John boat and it can get rough at times. The creeks and small fiver can hold good fish year round. Common sense and situational awareness can keep you out of trouble. Never take big waves head on always quarter them . I have zigzagged up and down the river many times. Never make abrupt maneuvers in rough water. Wear life jackets and have a bailing device and a good bilge pump. Check the weather before you head out on the water. A beautiful day can go to hell with one afternoon thunderstorm.

Thanks bud this is exactly what I was looking for. I live in Missouri I done a lot of lake fishing in my fiberglass bass boat but have not been on the mighty MO since I was a kid, I just got a Jon boat and want to go after those big cats but am a little nervous.

Just last Saturday, I caught a 60lb blue on the ky river in Frankfort ky. Smaller rivers hold big fish too!

Excellent video buddy. Great info.

Good video man,having been on the water all my life I've been in some tough situations. I always leave a float plan with someone so if something were to happen the would know where I was. It only takes a second for a good day to turn bad. Be safe out there.

Excellent boating safety Hagen. I've had close calls in my 16ft polar Kraft I've since bought a bigger boat also

You got a good heart brother!

I just got a 14 foot Jon boat...thanks, great advice!

Another GREAT video Hagen!

Thanks for the great safety tips.

Very helpful advice.Thanks for sharing what you've learned.

I was fishing down on the Ohio River last spring "meldahl dam" and there was a real nice high dollar bass boat that came up 15ft off the bank where i was fishing. He had his spot lock engaged just chilling, he was marking some fish when all of a sudden, his battery died and he lost power and couldnt get it started back. The current was wild that day, thrashing every direction. His boat was chaotic, bouncing around and there was nothing he could do besides sit tight. Luckily another boater was there and saw what happened and helped the guy get power. It was absolutely scary. I dont have a boat, but i take a risks just fishing down there. When i gotta walk across 400 yards of slippery rip rap to get to the spot.

Well said.....I'm on Tennessee River in the area close to I-40 ...... It's more like a river than a lake (it's considered to be Kentucky Lake). These are good pointers.

Great content in this video. If you have a boat you must heed this advice.

Thanks Good advice.

Very good video Hagen

Thanks for making this video great tips couple of my head and thought of being new to the river so I really paid attention again thanks

Cumberland river in nashville is tight...ive been in some sketchy situations in my 14ft... When i see a barge ill pull up anchor and head for shore most of the time unless i fell there is adequate space... A bigger boat and a radio is in my near future.

Scaredest I have been in a long time was having wife & 4 daughters out on our boat, 25’ carver cabin cruiser, on the lake when the wind picked up & we started getting hit w/ 4’ waves, & of course they were close together. Really scared us. After that event I really started learning how to drive boats in bad weather, how to effectively navigate the waves safely

Thank you for posting, we run a 16.5' lowe and have fish the Salt around Shep, but when current is moving can get scary. Was thinking about going to the Ohio around the dam, when river is low. Thanks some good info to know.

ive had the same experience with an out going tide and incoming wind. decided id go out to the same place near high tide and it was much smoother