Thanks to everyone!!!!

Gary Dobyns · Post by **Gary Dobyns** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 7:56 pm

Thanks for the concern. I got to come home a few hours ago. I am still going to out of fishing condition for a while. PLEASE wear your lifejackets and kill switches. The kill switch saved my life, no doubt about it. I was NOT wearing a life jacket. I know better,but with 35 plus years of boat driving and never having anything happen, I got lax. I was pitched hard against the port side before I went out of the boat. I do not remember hitting the boat but I broke the handles off three reels. I do remember hitting the water. I was under the water trying to fight my way to the top. I had no use of my left arm, and could hardly move. BUT, I got lucky as the boat stopped on top of me. I was a hundred yards off shore in the San Joaquin. I hit the bottom of my boat before I surfaced. Getting in the boat was a bitch. I used the outboard to climb in and then I could not hardly move. A boat drove within 40 yards of me and would not stop. I would like to know who this was. It looked to have a Pepsi sticker on the side. I am not 100% sure it was Pepsi, but I think it was. Steve H. stopped to help. THANK YOU STEVE. When I was in the water I figured that I was done. What are the chances of the boat stopping on top of me? I was running around 70 MPH when I bow hooked and got ejected. I have always been lax about wearing a jacket. Thankfully I was wearing my kill switch, It saved my life. At this time I will not have to have surgery, but may have to later on. PLEASE wear your safty equipment. It may save your life. Again, thanks to all.

Gary D.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:00 pm

Great news! Glad to hear your home Gary. Take care.

mac (Doyle McEwen) · Post by **mac (Doyle McEwen)** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:02 pm

Thanks for the info Gary..I hope you don't have to have any surgery anytime soon..I know a lot of us are going to be rethinking how we do things on the water..I spent 5 years as a rescue swimmer in the Navy, but I haven't been in the water in so long that I don't think I could swim any distance to try and save myself..I try very hard to wear my safety gear anytime the big motor is on..You take care of yourself and get back to the business of fishing when you can..

mac

CN · Post by CN » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:04 pm

Never haveing a situation like this happen yet I will never go without a PFD and it appear's the kill switch is more important than I thought.

Steve Reed · Post by **Steve Reed** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:09 pm

Gary glad to see you back on here, get well soon.

Man its horrible to even think about what could have happened, you have directly or indirectly helped a lot of people and we all appreciate your contribution to western bass fishing.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:10 pm

Hey Gary -

I was going to call you when you got out of the hospital - but, since you are cruising the internet I might as well let you read it - maybe it'll help pass the time while you wait to get back on the water!

Glad to hear you are doing better and home! You've been in my (and I am sure 1000's of others) thoughts and it's great news that you are on your way back to health!

There is nothing good about your accident - but, I can say that it opened a lot of our eyes to what could happen on the water. If it can happen to you it can happen to any of us. I for one know that my kill switch is going to get a lot more work from now on!

Next - don't worry about hurrying back..... get healthy and then take some more time off. I don't think any of us donators are going to complain about you taking some time off. :)

In all seriousness, I am sure I speak for all of us anglers - when I say I hope your back to 100% health and back on the water very soon!

DeltaDan · Post by **DeltaDan** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:11 pm

Brother Gary .... Thanks so much that you were protected by Him and are able to share with everyone/all of us of how close we all can come at any moment to seeing Him face2face.

I have experienced meeting the water Very Unexpedily 2x in the last 10 months and have only had some mussle strains and two lost cell phones.

I have been kicking aroound the idea for Luke and his tourneys of the West Marine maunal inflating life vest ... You story and my experiences personall done killed that train of thought -- and when The 3 boys and I do purchase "Comfort" vest -- They will be auto inflating.

Rest well .... and my family and I are looking foreward to you weighing in a BIG 3 day sack for the FLW Delta '09 already. You will be the

in town for personal redemtion !

Cheers,
Dan

MIKE TREMONT · Post by **MIKE TREMONT** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 8:27 pm

Glad to read that you are at home and on the mend. Lets hope you never have to have any surgery. The body is an incredible machine that is very capable of healing itself.

I appreciate that you can come on the board and tell us the facts. I have been lax with both the kill switch and vest at times. I wish you wouldn't of had to be an example to open up my eyes.

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family for a speedy recovery.

plungers · Post by **plungers** » Fri Mar 14, 2008 11:15 pm

Gary glad to hear your ok
I do have to ask a question. What is wrong with some of our fellow fishermen?
I can not belive that person didn't stop to help you. WOW you could of drowned because he was in to big of a hurry. I really hope you get to met with this person someday.

Last Saturday while fishing Don Pedro I lost my lower unit ( All Of It no skag no prop every thing GONE) going about 70 mph I went for one hell of a ride Bow hooking and skipping across the water, before I came to rest my boat had taken on about 6 or 8" of water I was lucky I didn't flip or get ejected from the boat. However I was suprised at seeing a few boats fishing in the area and not one came to my aide.
We all need to be there for each other! Its not like a car where you can walk to get help.
Gary I am sorry to hear about your accident If there is anything I can do to help give me a call. Jim Moulton

NaCl · Post by **NaCl** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:34 am

Scary experience Gary. I'm really glad you came out of it as well as you did in view of the possibilities.

.....NaCl

Triton Mike · Post by **Triton Mike** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 12:38 am

Gary, GREAT to see you back at home!! I told everyone in a previous thread that if something like that can happen to you with your vast experience in driving a boat then it can definitely happen to anyone. I'll be wearing my lifejacket from here on out. I'm also guilty of being lax for the past 25 years. Glad to see you back online!! Get well and don't eat to many donuts.

Mike

longshot · Post by **longshot** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:01 am

Glad your home Gary and hope you heal fast so you can get back to what you do best!
I too am guilty of rarely (tournaments only) using my kill cord. I havent forgot since. Its too bad that something like this has to happen for us to sit back and go damn such a simple thing to do for safety.
Im am happy you put it on that day SAVED your life and all

Bet you remember your PFD next time too?
LS

FIVEtenthz · Post by **FIVEtenthz** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:17 am

Thats a hell of a story Gary, I didn't know how close I was to loosing one of my heros

Very glad to know you are back home and goin to be ok.

sykofish · Post by **sykofish** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:51 am

Glad to hear your home Gary.

You scared the hell out of all of us. Hope you are back on the water soon.

Your story got me thinking, I always wear my PFD, but seldom hook up my kill switch. It will be hooked up at all times from now on.

Dbass · Post by **Dbass** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:04 am

Gary,

My family and I wish you a speedy recovery. I hope all take your advice by wearing thier lifejackets and kill switches.

Bass Wishes
David

Ricky-S · Post by **Ricky-S** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:18 am

Welcome back Gary. Good to hear that things are working out for the best.

Thanks for being honest about the situation and hopefully others will head your suggestions.

Sounds like a very scary situation. Heal well!

BassnReed · Post by **BassnReed** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:28 am

Gary,
Glad to see your in good spirts and hopefully recovery will happen quickly. I guess this experience is a definite eye opener for many of us who dont wear our PFDs on a more regular basis, including myself. That will now change!!!

Again dude glad your home and get well soon.....

Keith & Lorrie Reed

Bill K · Post by **Bill K** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:38 am

Good to hear that information, re. you personally. Hope you do not have to have any surgery on the back, it is not any fun ( know from experience). Glad you are home and now headed for recovery with family and friends. Also thank you for the kick in the butt on reminding us all to wear that PFD and hook up the kill switch. I believe many, many of us get lax on that one and things can go wrong is a split second. Thanks again and get well soon. BIll K

Stratos278 · Post by **Stratos278** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:27 am

Glad you're home, Gary...hospital food sux (anyway it used to) and I hear hospital Security makes visitors pass thru a Krispy Kreme detector.

Like a lot of folks here on the boards have said, this was really an eye-opener for me too. I wear my PFD religiously since I swim about as well as a boulder.. The kill switch is something else. Most times the lanyard is just dangling, whacking me in the knee. Not any more...I will ALWAYS snap it to the D-ring on my life vest from here on out.

Once again glad you're home and on the way to a (hopefully) full recovery

basshunter4u · Post by **basshunter4u** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 7:52 am

Gary the bay area bass hunters wish you a speedy recovery and thank god you are able to talk about your experience. I know even on small, non tournament waters we fish all of us get lax about our safety equipment. Your freak accident has opened all of our eyes about our Kill switches and life vests. If it can happen to an expert like you it can surly happen to the rest of us and maybe not have the same results that you had. I hope to see you out at clearlake in July at HBC 2 and maybe you can share your story with the rest of us trophy hunters the importance of useing your safety equipment and what can happen to those who dont. Get well soon

Don Osborne

Jeff Jewell · Post by **Jeff Jewell** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:22 am

Good to hear your getting better, scary stuff, thnks for sharing it with us.. I frequently don't wear a vest or a kill switch, but after hearing your story I will from now on. Like you I have confidence in my boating ability, however you have way more time in boats than I do, so if it can happen to you it can happen to anyone!
Thanks for sharing...
Jeff Jewell

Noluk · Post by **Noluk** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 8:49 am

Best wishes on a speedy recovery. I can only imagine how hard this must be on you. As a thought on your road to recovery. You have helped and inspired thousands of fishermen and brought thousands more into our sport. Your impact on our sport will be difficult to ever measure. This accident, while painful for you, will save lives in the future. You may never know just how many fisherman make it back after an accident because they have changed their safety habits after hearing your story. Someone on this board, will have a better chance at life after a boating accident, this year, thanks to your willingness to share this experience with us. Thank you. I hope this thought will help you in the days ahead, some of the physical therapy days will probably require an extra thought to keep you going. Someday, there will be a wife or father or daughter who is more thankful to you that all the fishermen in the world whom you have helped catch another fish. Godspeed.

George Fedor

Phil · Post by **Phil** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 9:23 am

WE WISH YOU NOTHING BUT THE BEST AND SPEEDY RECOVERY, TAKE CARE MY FRIEND...........

PHIL & PEGGY
JIGS

Barry Watson · Post by **Barry Watson** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 10:59 am

Thank goodness you are going to be o.k. We have been praying for you.

This event brings home a fact for me. I have been wearing a PFD when we are running, and my pard always uses the kill switch, BUT, when I climb up on the back deck, I take of my jacket. I still think in terms of being a blue water diver, scuba guy and competitive swimmer, but I need to remind myself that was 40 years ago. If I stumbled off the deck, I probably could not get back in and if I hit my head like you did, it would be "Katy Bar the Door"
I really need to suck it up and wear my sospenders when I am fishing. At least it would blow up by its self if I was knocked out.

Your wreck may end up saving some lives ol buddy.

Cal T · Post by **Cal T** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:13 pm

Whew, glad you're OK. Had us worried there bud. That's a hell of a story Gary and one that should serve as a reminder to all of us. After reading the story I was looking around to see if I had a swim ladder I could sell you.

We're all glad that you are doing better. Your fans in Wyoming were pullin' for you.

Take care and take it easy for a while.

Cal & Kathy Tatum

conniek · Post by **conniek** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 1:45 pm

Whew Gary, we are so glad to read you survived. IMHO-The folks who do not stop to render aid on the water should be severely punished. We always wear our kill switch, but get lax about the life jackets. A wake up call for all of us. Safety on the water can never be taken for granted. We have seen folks get in big trouble here on Fork for not using kill switch and life jacket. So glad you are ok. Everybodys Prayers with you for sure.
fellow yamamoto dawg conniek- www.lakeforktacklerepair.com

Turkeyman · Post by **Turkeyman** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 2:06 pm

Gary, Best wishes on a speedy recovery.

Andy Giannini · Post by **Andy Giannini** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:09 pm

Glad you are alive.

Respectfully,

Andy Giannini

wccjanel · Post by **wccjanel** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:14 pm

Gary,
It's so good to hear you are well.
Your story, if nothing else, will be a model (a testiment if you will) of how short term our lives are. God has called on you to help teach us via your experience, and brother has He done His job well. Not only do we see the importance of safety gear, but the duty we have to help each other.
Thank you, Gary for getting better, and for sharing your testimony with us.

Peace Be with You,
James

Skeeterman · Post by **Skeeterman** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:28 pm

Gary ,
Im happy to hear you are doing better.Just to let you know Gary the boat being thier was no coincidence that was the good LORD taking care of you when you needed help.

BassQuacker · Post by **BassQuacker** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:47 pm

Gary,

Wow what an experience, glad to here your recovering nicely.
Get well soon and keep up on those tips, huh. Take Care!!

Team Davies · Post by **Team Davies** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 5:50 pm

Great to hear you are out of the hospital and hope all you aches and pains will end very soon. Knowing you I'll bet they were glad to see you leave as much as you wanted to leave. My wife always tells Steve and I as we leave to go fishing make sure you wear your life jackets. I told her about your accident and now she will add and the kill switch. Glad to hear your up and moving around.

Team Davies

Steve & DeLynn Davies

mark poulson · Post by **mark poulson** » Sat Mar 15, 2008 6:19 pm

And don't try to do a U turn again when the Crispy Creme bag blows out of the boat.
Let it go!!!

Hardshell · Post by **Hardshell** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:42 am

From one cripple to another, there is fishing after pain! We wish you a speedy and successful return to the tournament sceen. Thank you for your testimony about safety equipment and it's use, this experience of yours will save someone's life, and you can bank on that.

Get well soon.
Hardshell

TTCal · Post by **TTCal** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 9:18 am

Gary, glad you're back home safe and sound and on the mend. Scary scary experience. Get well bud and hope to you out there before long.

Terry Battisti · Post by **Terry Battisti** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 10:59 am

Hey Gary,

I'm happy to hear you're home. Man, what an experience. We were all thinking/praying for you.

I hope ya get better and get on the water soon.

Your friend,

Terry

Mark Pollard · Post by **Mark Pollard** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 1:05 pm

Get well Gary. Good news is you are O.K. Get back on the water.Good news for the other guys is they did'nt have to compete against you for awile.

Get well Gary.Glad you are doing fine.

Rod Brown · Post by **Rod Brown** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:09 pm

Hi Gary,

I'm very glad to here your doing better. Fortunately this accident ended on a positive note. For this to happen to one of the best and most experienced boat drivers in the world just goes to show everyone that this can happen to anyone at anytime.

We all get laxed and don't wear our vests and kill switches sometimes, but with this happening to you will really open everyone's eyes and will prevent tragedy in the future.

We all know what happened after your shoulder surgery you came back and won a few pro/ams, so get better soon and you can win the next FLW you fish!

Sincerely, Rod Brown

bassindon69 · Post by **bassindon69** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:20 pm

Yea, What everyone else said

.

Don.

492slayer · Post by **492slayer** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:29 pm

Gary, glad to hear that you are on the mend. Like all that posted before, you are truly lucky that you were able to get back into the boat. Hopefully your recovery will be a speedy one. If you need anyone to fish your waters while you are out of comission, I'll stop by and you can give me all the spots and tips to be sure they are still there and biting

Colebass · Post by **Colebass** » Sun Mar 16, 2008 11:36 pm

WOW! I come back from vacation to this? I'll tell you something almost funny, I almost had a wreck myself! I was driving back from disneyland very late friday night northbound on I-5, I see several trucks with bass boats going southbound. I say to myself, I wonder how Gary's did in the event. I pull out my Blackberry, starting searching the flw site, your no where to be found? What the heck, we talked last week, you were all set to fish.............hmmm I say to myself. Blackberry then goes dead, because I hadn't charged it!! My sleeping wife is next to me and I ask for her to put her password in so I can use her blackberry. And you know my wife!! She says it's late, you don't need to be reading the Blackberry and driving at the same time! So no news till I get home!! I get home and find out, you don't even make it to the event, because you had a little accident!!

Get better soon my friend!

Cole

Bob Simard · Post by **Bob Simard** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:00 am

That's - well............. Damn Dude. Cold water, no left arm use, and you got yourself back in the boat. Impressive to say the least.

Man - I've been running 10 years now and have gotten VERY lax. No more - that's quite a wake up call for all of us.

Glad you're home and mending.

Best Regards

Bob Simard

Slippy · Post by **Slippy** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:22 am

glad to hear your ok Gary.

ash · Post by **ash** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 10:45 am

Has anyone been able to identify the "Pepsi" boat? That is Total BS.

Gary,

I wish you a speedy recovery, I still cant believe you got yourself back in the boat....HOLY SHIZZZ Glad you are still with us. There are times in the summer where I dont wear my PFD and killswitch only, those times are behind me, its like riding a motor cycle without a helmet.

God Speed

Jonathan

Greg_Cornish · Post by **Greg_Cornish** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:09 am

Its hard to imagine this Pepsi boat seeing him and kept going. Are there guys out there like that??

BASSNUTZ247 · Post by **BASSNUTZ247** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:45 pm

MY TELLS ME ALL THE TIME WEAR YOUR VEST I GUESS I BETTER START BECAUSE STUFF DOES HAPPEN,GARY GET WELL SOON WE NEED YOU ON THE WATER
TAKE CARE
GARY F

FIVEtenthz · Post by **FIVEtenthz** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 2:59 pm

Skeeterman wrote:Gary ,
Im happy to hear you are doing better.Just to let you know Gary the boat being thier was no coincidence that was the good LORD taking care of you when you needed help.

Amen to that.

bassinbillmc · Post by **bassinbillmc** » Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:24 pm

Gary,

Glad to hear that you are doing better, and hopefully you will not need to have surgery. This should serve as a poignant reminder to everyone that safety equipment is very important and we should be assiduous about it.

As an aside, I finally picked up those swimbaits you told me about and an 806 rod (can't find a 795 anywhere). Hope to go out next week and try everything out.

Sincerely,

Bill McGuigan