What are the basics of motorboat safety?

Above all, know your boat. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, operator errors account for 70 percent of boating accidents. Many states now require you to take a safety course, in person or online, before heading out on the water.

Keep the number and weight of passengers and gear within your boat's capacity, usually listed on a plate near the operator's position. An overloaded boat is more difficult to control and easier to swamp.

Make sure someone on land knows where you're going, who's with you, and when you'll be back. Look online for downloadable float plans, and fill in the emergency numbers.

Practice safe fueling, avoiding harm to you, your passengers and the environment. Follow this rule of thumb: one-third of your fuel is for getting out, one-third is for getting back, and one-third is for emergencies.

Know the risks of carbon monoxide, which can build up in and around your boat whether you're anchored or underway. Install CO alarms. Be alert for symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning-irritated eyes, headache, nausea, weakness, dizziness. Get the person into fresh air immediately, even if you think the symptoms stem from seasickness.

Don't drink and boat. Your reaction time is already under stress from sun, wind and spray, plus the boat's noise and motion. Alcohol further impairs judgment and coordination.

Get a free annual vessel safety check from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power Squadron. Go to www.vesselsafetycheck.org. You can also run a virtual check online.

For links to additional information, boating safety courses and state boating agencies, visit the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety website, www.uscgboating.org.

How do I control my fishing boat in heavy winds?

Fish are often most active on the windblown shore, increasing your potential catch, but wind can become too much of a good thing if it blows you where you don't want to go.

Your trolling motor is your first line of defense. Heading into the wind when casting a shoreline or a mid-lake structure gives you more control over speed and direction than going with the wind - and lets you cover your target area more thoroughly. If you're using a transom mount, try backing into a strong wind.

How do I effectively troll a drop-off?

Trolling contours is a great way to present your bait right in front of the fish's nose. When fishing structure, though, you have to keep tight to the structure for your presentation to be in the strike zone. Move just one boat length away, and you could come up empty.

When trolling clean edges like drop-offs with rock-sand bottoms, use a crankbait model designed to dive deep enough and let out enough line for the lure to make occasional bottom contact. Weave along structural edges at 1-2 mph by starting deep and leaning back out when your bait starts to touch, then head back out until the bait runs free. You'll cover a lot of territory by repeating this pattern along the edge of the structure.

Trolling weedy edges is more challenging. Avoid snagging, uprooting and fouling by running shorter lines and using deeper-diving lures that float back to the surface when you stop. Go deeper when you feel contact with the weeds. If you do snag a weed, a forward snap of the wrist should rip the lure free. Avoid hang-ups by anticipating turns, watching your depth finder and turning the boat to follow where your lure will travel.

What's better in flats, trolling or poling?

The short answer: It depends. A lot of factors come into play, so you have to decide which are most important to you.

The first issue is noise. Traditionalists argue that poling is the quietest way to sneak up on fish. Some poles today are designed to be extra quiet, but it may be impossible to eliminate the sounds of grinding sand or sucking mud.

On the other hand, some of today's most powerful electric trolling motors make so little noise that experienced anglers say spooking bonefish, tarpon, red fish, striped bass and bluefish is never a problem - especially when operating along a hard bottom. It's important, though, to run at a slow and steady pace and to shut down when you're ready to cast.

Then there's ease of use. You need stamina, a sound back and good upper body strength to move a boat with a pole. Moving in heavy wind can be even more taxing - and can turn your pole from a means of propulsion into nothing more than a steering device. A cable or remote-operated motor has no problem taking on a stiff breeze and may be more convenient, especially if you're fishing alone.

One more factor: It's more difficult to spot-locate fish - and make your way toward them - when you're also messing around with a pole. Newer trolling motors are easy to operate and maneuver, freeing you to concentrate on your fishing.

Fishing is for the Young

By Ted Takasaki with Scott Richardson

Almost every state has a "Take a Kid Fishing Weekend." Adults accompanied by children typically do not need fishing licenses on those days. The effort is intended to introduce kids to fishing and to get adults who once fished back into the habit.

More than four out of five Americans fished as a child. Surveys show that most adults who fish today started before their 13th birthday. That means the best way to preserve the future of the sport is to take kids fishing.

Here are a few ideas to enjoy a day with children out of doors.

Let youngsters help you plan the trip. Show them where the lake or river is on a map. Show them hydro (contour) maps of the targeted waters. All of this helps build anticipation.

Let kids help with other preparations. Spend a night or two after dark with flashlights and trowels digging in the yard for nightcrawlers. Take the kids to the store and let them pick out food and drinks. Let them help make and wrap the sandwiches. Have them gather the sunscreen, insect repellent and sunglasses. Take along a bird-watching guide.

Check regulations. Some states require children under certain ages to wear safety jackets. Even if your state doesn't require them, they're still a good idea. Make certain they fit and are comfortable.

Don't use gear designed by Mickey Mouse (sorry Mickey). Spincast reels are OK for youngsters - but make certain they are good ones.

Kids want ACTION, and they don't care if fish are small. Target schooling fish, like bluegills. Perch and crappies are good, too. Walleyes can be good at certain times. Do your homework to ensure as much success as you can.

Use a simple slip-float rig for panfish. Kids love to watch for the bite (admit it, so do we). Use a Thill float, a small hook and enough split-shot to balance the rig, making it easy to detect even light bites. Show kids how to tie a simple Palomar or Improved Clinch knot. Use wax worms and nightcrawler pieces for bluegills. Use wax worms or minnows for crappies.

Don't get too fancy. Older kids can be taught to jig for walleyes and sauger in rivers. But, let them use heavier jigs, like 3/8-oz. Fuzz-E-Grubs, to keep them on the bottom and in the strike zone. It's also easy to teach them to use three-way rigs with heavier weights on the dropper. Same is true for Lindy Rigging; make sure the weight is a heavy one to teach them the importance of bottom contact.

Kids don't care what kind of fish they catch. Make a big deal out of whatever they reel in. Put away your prejudices, and applaud even carp. They fight great, and that's all children want. Nothing is more depressing than to watch a kid fight a fish for five fun-filled minutes only to hear the grown-ups in the boat say, "Oh, it's just a carp." The smiles from the little anglers disappear quickly.

Even if you don't plan to keep any fish, put the first one or two in the livewell. Let the kids check on them often. It gives them something to do. Same goes for the minnows. You'll be surprised how a trip to the livewell or bait bucket to check on the fish will perk up bored kids.

Take lots of pictures or video.

Stop often for snack breaks.

Take some fish home to eat. Show children the angling process from water to table. It teaches kids that there's nothing wrong with harvesting a few fish according to the state and local laws. Kids should know that there is a food chain and they are part of it.

If you shore fish, let them explore. Countless hours can be filled with exciting discoveries, like crawdads hidden under rocks.

Never, ever make them stay longer than they want.

Nearly a quarter of Americans who fish are under the age of 16. Someone has to show them how. Don't you think you should? Take a kid fishing!