My condolences go out to the families of all the outdoorsmen who have lost their lives recently.

Central Texas has had more than its share of boating tragedies in the past two months. Several drownings have made the news, with the latest being a grandfather and grandson who died at Richland-Chambers Reservoir.

Sadly, the two men reportedly had life jackets on their boat, but they were still in the packages.

We all know that outdoor activities have inherent risks, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded occasionally of the importance of taking safety precautions and carrying appropriate emergency supplies.

Some things outdoorsmen and women should remember to take when heading out include first-aid supplies, a compass or GPS unit, a flashlight, a whistle and clothing appropriate for the weather and the physical environment.

Hunting and fishing tools obviously have the potential to be dangerous and deadly. Experienced outdoors people always keep in the back of their minds that guns, bows, knives, fish hooks and other gear, when used incorrectly, can kill or injure people when handled incorrectly.

Other dangers exist when boating, such as injuries sustained from falling out of the boat, panic or shock, aspirating water, hypothermia and other troubles. These can cause even the strongest swimmers to face life-threatening problems in the water.

Fortunately, preparation and awareness eliminate most risks. Most people who practice smart behavior never have a problem.

With summer on the way, let’s all remember to be careful out there and have a great time.

Crappie in the shallows

Lake Waco anglers are finding crappie in shallow water among shoreline timber. Good catches were reported last week around Koehne Park and Reynolds Creek. Sand bass are being caught in fair to good numbers in the South Bosque, with both live bait and Road Runners noted as productive.

George Courtney reports that a Lake Waco catfisherman caught a 35-pound blue cat last week on a rod and reel in the upper end of the lake using stink bait and a slip cork. The fish was caught in 4 feet of water.

Missed opportunity

I was disappointed as I drove home from my daughter’s soccer game Saturday afternoon. Not only because we were edged out by a 1-0 score, but mainly because Bosque Park was empty when I pulled in.

Bosque Park is located below the dam, just off Lake Shore Drive, and features excellent spillway fishing as well as calm water opportunities. It has historically been one of the most consistently productive fishing spots around Lake Waco.

What makes Bosque Park unique to me personally is that I have never fished there without catching something. Another rare feature is that it doesn’t have an entrance fee. Hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

People who complain that there’s not enough to do in Waco should take a drive through Bosque Park. Maybe you’ll come up with some ideas.

Illegal fishing rigs

In the coming weeks, TPWD game wardens will be working on locating and removing illegal trotlines, juglines and other fishing rigs from area waters, according to Capt. James Ranft.

“I’d like the word to get out about making sure everything is properly tagged,” Ranft said. “We are more concerned with compliance than writing a ticket.”

A line hanging between two trees that’s mostly out of the water is not only ugly, but also dangerous.