boating safety

Operation Dry Water, a national campaign aimed at deterring drinking and boating, will be in full force in Minnesota Friday, June 29 - Sunday, July 1. That means public safety agencies will increase patrols looking for intoxicated boaters.

As more and more people head out onto the water for boating season, it's the perfect time to brush up on boating safety and life jacket laws.

Now that Memorial Day is here, most people in the Northland start to get into a summer state of mind.  However, many area lakes are still very cold and that can pose a risk to boaters who are not wearing life jackets.

Boating season will be here soon and the Minnesota DNR says that anyone who plans on operating a boat needs to take the time to get educated on operational and safety rules and regulations.

We are coming off a very mild November, but air and water temperatures are dropping.  With that in mind, the Minnesota DNR wants to remind people on canoes, kayaks and fishing boats to to extra precautions.

When you're boating this summer, remember that wearing a life jacket is a simple thing to do that can go a long way towards saving your life.  If you resist putting one on because you think you'll get too hot or they're too cumbersome, try an inflatable life jacket.

The weather this weekend for anglers is expected to be cold, especially Saturday morning.  Regardless of the temps outside, the Minnesota DNR says that water temperatures statewide are still below 70 degrees, cold enough to cause the gasp reflex and incapacitate even strong swimmers in less than one minute.

Now that it's starting to feel a little more like spring, there will be boaters who are eager to hit the recently thawed lakes and rivers across the Northland.  It is a lot of fun, but the Minnesota DNR reminds boaters to be on the lookout for debris in the water and the potential for ice-damaged ramps at public water accesses.

This weekend the national Operation Dry Water campaign will be in full effect in lakes across the area, aimed at deterring drinking and boating.

With a holiday weekend upon us and fishing season in full swing, the lakes will be swarming with boats across the Northland.  What a perfect time for the Coast Guard to release a handy new boating safety app.

One week-end we're talking to the Co-Ho Salmon Anglers in Canal Park and the next week-end we see several of them have moved from casting to out-rigging.  Fishing season is in full swing.  If you're taking your boat out for the first time this year, the  MN DNR provides a list to check for safety.

Over the weekend, Dave Anderson from the Northland's News Center did a story on sail boat safety, and reported on a mishap that took place just a couple of weeks ago.