Fish Happens

Sad boating tragedy happens every year. I post this info in hopes it will let new kayakers realize the dangers of Cold Water. As air temperatures begin to get into the 70s, it encourages people to go out kayaking and boating. Unfortunately, the water temperatures are still deadly cold. Deadly Cold! Click on the headline link for the full story. If you haven't watched the 1-10-1 rule, watch it and commit it to memory. Water temps as of today are still below 50 degrees in the Mobile River.

Headline: 4 Boaters Die, 1 Survives in the Gulf of Mexico.

Adam Einck, a spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, said, “It is believed the four deceased succumbed to hypothermia.”
"... water began filling the boat more quickly, and before anyone could put on a life jacket, the boat capsized, throwing everyone into the water," Einck said.

What they don't tell you is without a life jacket on, you'll drown before you ever reach the stages of hypothermia because your arms and legs become useless quicker than you think.

According to a Hypothermia Chart, in water 40-50 degrees, with no protection, you'll lose dexterity in under 5 minutes even though you might survive for 1-3 hours in the water before hypothermia kills you. No dexterity=no swimming=no staying above water WITHOUT a life jacket. Give this more thought. These times are of course, subject to weather, health, and other factors. In water temps between 40-50 degrees...

Approx survival time without a life jacket: 5 to 10 minutes.
Approx survival time with a life jacket: Up to 3 hours.
Approx survival time with a dry suit - a long unknown time.

Until water temperatures get into the 70s, dress for how long you wish to survive in case you capsize because of something as silly as a fish jumping out of a water and knocking you off balance. Fish happens. Stay close to shorelines in cold water conditions.

Watch the Cold Water Boot Camp Video!

02/13/2011 - Perdido and Styx Rivers Confluence

Launch Site: Seminole Boat Launch near Seminole, AL
Launch Cost: FREE
Destination: Perdido River and Styx River confluence. (Not part of the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta)
Distance: About 17 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 5-1/4 Hrs
Weather: Sunny, winds calm to 10 mph. Air temp 50-60 degrees. Current on both the Perdido River and Styx River were running less than 1 mph. Water temp: too cold to swim.
GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

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1) Heading north after launching. Concern about current was put at ease after seeing paddling conditions at the launch site. Check the river gauges before paddling these rivers.

2) Duh, almost all rivers lead to a dead end. It would be wise to plan your trip out and put it on a GPS before you leave, although if you follow the current on these two rivers, it would be hard to get lost. The objective of this trip was to check out 5 launch sites near the confluence of the Perdido River and Styx River and add that info to the Mobile Bay Area Kayak Launch Sites map which identifies launch sites within about a 60 mile radius (1 hours drive) of downtown Mobile. This map now has 126 launch site locations, 68 percent of which are free.

3) The Highway 90 bridge over Styx River. Nice paddling conditions.

4) I bees thinking that being a bridge inspector has its dangers.

5) The dull grays and browns along the shoreline are brightening up.

6) In the center of this photo is a tiny flower, about the size of a pin head.

7) The waters in this area had a visibility to about 4-5 feet deep. There are plenty places along the shore to get out to stretch the legs and have a bit to eat.

8) Near the Nature Conservancy Lane Landing site, someone has attempted to attenuate the boat wakes to stop erosion using old Christmas trees. Sure smelled good along this shoreline.

9) he information Kiosk at the Nature Conservancy (Not open to the public yet), had a unique design. It has a bird house entrance on each side and the bird's home is vented.

10) Sunset on Perdido River.

Both the Perdido and Styx Rivers are long rivers which make them suitable for shuttle type paddles and overnight trips. I was surprised how trash free these two rivers were, even in the developed areas. Either one of these rivers will make a great destination for a paddle.

02/12/2011 - Caswell Lake, MS

Launch: Cumbest Bluff Launch in Three Rivers, Mississippi
Launch Cost: $2
Destination: Caswell Lake and backwater tributaries.
Distance: About 11 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: Almost 5 Hrs
Weather: Sunny, winds calm to 10 mph. Air temp 45-50 degrees. Current in Pascagoula River was strong. Water temp cold.
GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

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1) Houseboats near the launch site - Culbert Lake. This the first time I've paddled from this launch site. It is a 1.5 mile trip up the Pascagoula to get to Caswell Lake entrance.

2) These houseboats are on Caswell Lake. Once you go past the houseboats into the deep swamp, you can get lost - be sure to take a GPS with spare batteries. If you look at the GPS track, you can't even see the stream, but there were streams all over in there. Probably could have gone to Parker's Lake had I not run out of time and had to turn around to get back before dark.

3) Current on the Pascagoula River was flowing up to 2.5 mph in places.

4) Once off the Pascagoula River, paddling was easier. The backwaters of Caswell Lake were awesome to explore. There were plenty of large based bald cypress trees with character.

5) Even though there has been freezing temperatures the past two nights, signs of spring were evident, like this tree in bloom - perhaps a Chokeberry?

6) Water levels in this area can get deep. Tree trunks are covered in a moss about 10 feet high. Following the creek was difficult at times because there are so many paths to choose.

7) There are plenty of interesting tree shapes - this photo was rotated 90 degrees.

8) This was the only deer I saw today - unfortunately the deer's head is on the deck. The guy on the right is holding one of its legs. The boy in the middle shot the deer with a muzzleloader and was posing for this photo. This kayaking area, not in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta, is part of the Pascagoula Wildlife Management Area. It's serious hunting territory so wear bright Orange when you paddle over here!

9) A fisherman with his dog.

10) Another houseboat in the making. All the white specks in the water are styrofoam. The Pascagoula River is littered with styrofoam. Did you know Styrofoam is bad for the environment?

02/08/2011 - Pumphouse Canal - Duck Lake Loop

Launch: William Brooks Park (US Hwy 43 at Chickasaw Creek – Southwest Corner)
Launch Cost: Free
Destination: Pumphouse Canal - Duck Lake Loop
Distance: About 11.5 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 4 Hrs 15 Minutes
Weather: Sunny, winds calm to 10 mph. Air temp 45-50 degrees. Tides minimal. Current minimal. Water temp 45-50 degrees

GPS Track: To view or download the GPS track of this trip, Click Here.

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1) A muscovy duck was watching the yellow kayak go by.

2) Speaking of ducks, I rescued one today. A washer and dryer ought make it happy. It never ceases to amaze me what can be seen on kayak trips.

3) Was going to go up to Black Creek but remembered the log jam blocked the return trip so I turned around. It is not an easy paddle to get to Black Creek via the powerline ditch. Not many places to turn around either.

4) Yahoo! The log jam is gone so it is easy to get to Mobile River now.

5) Out in Mobile River, the birds were lining the shoreline.

6) The pelicans not on the bank could be seen overhead riding thermals in large flocks.

7) Nestled on the bank of the Pumphouse Canal were some love birds.

8) On the way into Black Bayou, three pelicans were headed my way.

9) Herons or egrets were shy today and stayed far away.

10) Pelicans were not shy at all and got right up close to the kayak. Great Paddle.

02/06/2011 - Mobile River

Launch: Shirley's (US Hwy 90 across from battleship USS Alabama)
Launch Cost: Free
Destination: Mobile River Loop
Distance: About 18 miles (round trip)
Paddle time: 5 hours
Weather: Sunny, winds calm to 10 mph. Air temp 45-50 degrees. Tides neap. Rain runoff current in Mobile River causing a 1-2 mph current. Water temp 45-50 degrees.

Hobie note: 6 miles into the trip, the pedal drive unit pulley shaft came loose - set screw came loose and I didn't have any tools. Luckily I had a spare pedal drive unit. To make matters worse, the Hobie kayak developed a small crack in the hull and water was leaking into it. With no bulkheads in the kayak, a crack in the hull is something to worry, especially when water temps are below 50 degrees. Despite the setbacks, this was a nice paddle trip on my favorite loop.

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1) Conditions were about perfect on the water at the start of the paddle. 

2) Wow, it was slick.

3) Caught one!

4) Upon reaching Mobile River, birds were lining the banks for as far as the eye could see to the north.

5) White pelicans were slowly waking up after the freezing morning.

6) A white pelican taking off.

7) Peek-a-boo, I see you. Also saw an otter who slipped into the bushes before a photo could be snapped.

8) A really sharp looking ship called "Peacemaker" which is connected to Twelve Tribes, The Commonwealth of Israel was tied up at the Convention Center. Some real beautiful wood work on that ship.

9) The Helix Caesar Pipelaying ship. For a better view of this unusual looking ship, click here. There is always something new to see going down Mobile River.

10) Large bulk cargo ship called Navios Felicity dwarfs the little kayak. Big ships are a marvel of engineering technology.