Bass Fishing Forum - Westernbass.com

For those of you that know and are wondering and for those that haven't heard yet, Gary Dobyns had a boating accident on the Delta yesterday while pre-fishing for the NG series event. There was no ther boats involved and he did "not" flip his boat. He did however get thrown from the boat while making a turn. He hit the passenger side gunnell and has some fractured ribs and a fractured spine. The outlook at this time is positive but he still has a MRI to go through at 4:50pm today as a final precaution, but as of now he will not need any type of surgery or any prolonged treatment! That is the good news. The bad news is he won't be able to compete in the FLW event this week and is going to be extremely sore for a while. The other good news is he was wearing his kill switch which is probably the only reason he was able to get back to his boat! I'll keep you posted on his condition as they progress until he is able to respond on his own. By the way, he lost his phone in the accident so if you're trying to call or expecting a call, it ain't happening! LOL

DANG!!! I am sorry Gary. Get well soon!! I will give ya a big hug next time I see ya. Hang in there.

Don.

Gary, get well soon! I'll be praying for a quick and healthy recovery!

Good reminder to wear your PFD and kill switch. I personally need to be more consistent. I often put on my PFD on but forget to connect the kill switch. No different than the seat belt in the truck, need to make it a habit!

WOW! I saw him at about 4:00pm still on the water. When did this happen? Did he get back in the boat and drive back to Russo's??


Get well soon Gary!

WOW I was wondering why he didnt get back to me , he is usually pretty good about it .
I hope he is going to be ok , i know he is one tuff guy , Gary is such a giving individual there is not another guy like him who has done so much for us all , i hate to hear he was in an accident .
My family and friends prayers will be that he makes a full and speedy recovery !
Get well soon Gary , your friend Brian Ruthman

Mike wrote:WOW! I saw him at about 4:00pm still on the water. When did this happen? Did he get back in the boat and drive back to Russo's??


Get well soon Gary!

No, he was able to get back in his boat but flagged down another boater, (don't know who, but thanks) who ran back and got Phil Strader, who was fishing about 500 or so yards back from where it happened. Phil Came got him and towed his boat in and got the ambulance. Must have happened about 30 minutes or so after you saw him.

You never know out there sometimes, accidents happen every year and this one could of been tragic to say the least. Just last night I was telling the girlfriend that its pretty hard to get thrown from a bass boat, I'm eating my words now. Gary good luck buddy hope you get well and have a speedy recovery.



Chris Hughes

As horrible this is, it could of been so much worse.

Take care and mend well Mr. Dobyns

MIKE TREMONT wrote:As horrible this is, it could of been so much worse.

Take care and mend well Mr. Dobyns

No Doubt! I will start wearing my kill switch fun fishing now!

Happens to the best of us! Glad it's just some bumps and bruises!

BassManDan

Sorry to hear the bad news...wish you the best & a speedy recovery Gary.

Got a report today that Gary is already getting bored! That's always a good sign! Best wishes for a speedy return to the water Gary.

.....NaCl

There is a definite lesson in this as well as just about everything else Gary does..None of us likes to hear of these type of accidents..But Accidents will and do happen even to those prepared for them as best they can..If we all use this as a lesson as what can happen and take preventative measures, we will all be better off..Gary take care of yourself, hope to see you back out there competing real soon..

mac

Gary,

All the best towards a speedy recovery.

Get well soon Gary!!

Mike

Everyone except those who consistantly come in behind you in the tournaments. Har har. I remember Daves story about how much second place in tournaments had cost him to fish you out of the water 10 years ago or so
Get well quick so you can come back and kick some more butt in the tournaments.
We all know what happened but can someone tell us how it happened.
Did he make a hard right turn and just lose his grip and slide across the seat or did he hit something under water or what?????

Thats another GREAT example for the consdent use of PFD's and kill switches!!!!

Unfortunately this lesson was at the health and expense of our Top-Shelf Western Pro. Thank God he is still with us and no one else got hurt!!

Also good job to all that helped out after the accident.

Best wishes and a speedy recovery!!

Glad to hear Gary is OK. Best wishes for a quick recovery

He apparently hit a boat wake as he was making a hard right turn but with all the drugs to keep him civil, I mean for the pain, I haven't been able to get the full story on how it happened exactly except that there was not another boat involved and he did not hit anything. He should be able to get on here himself in a couple of days to explain it. He just asked me to make this post with some of the facts before the speculation started. He said to tell everyone thanks for their concern and he will be back soon, wearing his PFD and his kill switch! LOL

I was lookin forward to seeing you this weekend Gary. Get well soon, we need you back on the water representing.

Wholly cow!

Get well soon Gary.

Gary, I'm really sorry to hear about your accident, and thankful you aren't hurt any worse. Let me know if I can do anything to help you out. My wife is an excellent Physical Therapist, so if you need any help/advice to recover quickly just give me a call and we will fix you up. Hope you have a speedy and full recovery!

GARY, Stay strong dude, Gods speed. John lowe

Glad you are ok Gary. I wish ya a speedy recovery!!

Leroy B.

Guys I have been in contact with Gary and his family all day and he is in quite a bit of pain and they have him pretty sedated. We are not sure what is going on yet he is having the MRI to see find out the severity of his back injury, his arm is pretty banged up and he has some broken ribs as well.

The phone at the hospital has started ringing and we have to watch that guys as he is in no shape to talk and with the pain he is in rest is pretty scarce. Splash (Andy) and I will try to keep you guys updated on his condition.

We got his boat and truck back today and we are hoping for the best for Gary. Wear your life vest and kill switch guys and Gary is aware of everyone's prayers and well wishes and he wants you all to know he appreciates it.

kb

Damn, things sure can come at you in a hurry. Get well fast Gary and stay positive in thought. Family is with you, I am sure and our prayers are also, for a speedy and full recovery. Bill K

Thanks for the update Kent. Let Gary know we are all thinking about him and how lucky he is even though he might not feel like it right now. That sounds like a close call! I spun my boat one time at high speed and the G's are crazy! Luckly I stayed in the boat.

First and foremost Gary, glad the spinal injury didn't paralyze anything. My god that's scary. Glad your okay. Would like to know what happened when you're feeling better out of a genuine curiosity not morbid curiosity so we can learn from it. When a seriously good boater like you has a accident it had to be a freakish one. Glad you'll be okay!

Like Mike said, we just saw him right before this must have happened. Thank god for life jackets and killswitches. Get well soon big man. KB and Splash, please keep us updated. Thanks. Bobby D.

Hey Guys, There is a post on Dan Blanton's board that sounds very similar, don't know if it's the same accident: http://www.danblanton.com/viewmessage.php?id=100718 Hope you're feeling better soon Gary!..............Lee

Wow that doesnt sound like the same accident, but could there be 2 in 1 day??

Two in one day?? I suppose it's possible. Just shows you how dangerous boating can be.

Slow down guys!

I dont know, but there are a couple of things that dont match.

1st Gary does not have a mercury

2nd When I saw him at 4:00 he was no where near Holland cut.

I hope there was not another person banged up.

That was not the same accident guys. Gary was in the San Juaquin near Dutch. He had just left the Break.

He had the MRI tonight but no news until tomorrow. He is moving around a bit so that is good news.

kb

Wow, so another guy flipped his ranger pre-fishing for the NG?? Anyone know who it was??

Gary> Get well soon, I Hope for the Best.

Mike, There were two accidents, don't know if the other was a NG Entry.

Rich,

Gary

I wish you a speedy recovery! My thoughts and prayers are with you!

Son of a B&*() - I have been so freakin busy today I just got on here and saw this.....

Thoughts and prayers are with ya Gary for a speedy recovery.....

Yeah this sucks.... Hey Kent where can we send donuts to.....? tell gary to get well soon.....

Gary,Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.I will miss seeing you this time but hope to see you make a camio at Mead.Faith through Love and Peace...Jim

My thoughts are with you Gary.Get well dude and I wish you a speedy recovery.

Sorry for your accident Gary. I hope you are back in the water soon.

get well quick

Mr Dobyns,
Hope you are on a speedy road to recovery.
2 thumbs up on wearing not only your PFD but also your kill switch, a very good reason we are wishing you a quick recovery & not looking back at a senseless tragedy.

God Bless,
Chris James
Massachusetts

Mr Dobyns,
Hope you are on a speedy road to recovery.
2 thumbs up on wearing not only your PFD but also your kill switch, a very good reason we are wishing you a quick recovery & not looking back at a senseless tragedy.

God Bless,
Chris James
Massachusetts

Best wishes, for a full and speedy recovery.

Andy Giannini

Gary,

The richest man in the world is a man with great friends. Although we have never met face to face, I, like many others here, feel I know you through the great interaction on this website. I can tell by the overwhelming response to the news of your accident that you have many friends whether they have actually met you or not and that says a lot about your character.

I would like to wish you a speedy, pain free recovery. We will pray for you and your family during this difficult time and hope you are back doing what you love to do in the shortest time possible.



Dave Weston
Ukiah, Ca

Gary I haven't talked to you in a while but, I wish you a speedy recovery. The best to you and your family. Tom

Mike wrote:Wow, so another guy flipped his ranger pre-fishing for the NG?? Anyone know who it was??

Yes guys this is true. His name is Ryan. My cousin who fished the Hook knows him and pulled his boat out of the water. Here is what I know. He was flying super fast and the next thing he knows he is in the water. No PFD on. Boats motor was ripped off and is now at the bottom of the delta. Took him almost 20 min to swim back to his boat. Shookin up but not hurt. This is what was told to me.

SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR INCIDENT AND WE WISH YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY MY FRIEND; THE OL'E BONES WILL ACHE NOW FOR AWHILE.

JIGS