Hello fellow anglers. I just got back from an exhilarating weekend on Bridgeport Reservoir fishing with fellow angler Tom Blotter. We would have returned this weekend if the weather was not changing to winter. To me, fishing is like drinking 10 cups of coffee. When the bite is on and the fish are as big as we experienced, it is a natural high.  We fished for two days and caught mostly brown trout, with a few rainbows in between. All trout were in the 17 to 26 inch class. Rapalas was the ticket on this trip. The funny thing is, we caught the majority of our fish the day after the full moon. One thing I noticed was the water temperature. It fluctuated from 42 to 48 degrees. This reminded me of how dangerous it would be if someone were to fall overboard. And, were we prepared. The answer is yes. I have completed the Nevada boaters safety course and have picked up a few extra tips along the way from fellow anglers. When I fish with a new angler on my boat, the first thing I point out is the location of life jackets and fire extinguisher, and that I have a horn on the boat. It is important that all that travel with you know this important information. State boating laws state, You must have a life jacket that is properly sized for all passengers on board. Persons 13 years of age and younger must wear a life jacket when under way, unless in an enclosed area. Persons 16 years of age and younger, cannot use an inflatable PFD ( personal floating device). Boats that are 16 to 40 feet long, must have a throwable PDF on board. I also have a throwable life line that is attached to my boat. One never knows what can happen while enjoying a perfectly beautiful day. We get distracted by fishing or personal conversation. You may be doing everything right, but when someone else is not, you may pay the price for their mistake. I was at Topaz Lake with friends a month ago and noticed all were wearing PFDs while on the water in small vessels or enjoying their stand up paddle boards. I particularly noticed that not only humans had their PFD's, but Dale and Eileen Nichols had  one for their dog Luke. In Nevada, all persons operating a boat powered by a motor over 15 hp on interstate waters and who were born on or after January 1, 1983, must take and pass a boaters education course that is approved by the NDOW.  I highly recommend all boaters to take a safety course.  These courses are available to take online. In Nevada, go to the Nevada Department of Wildlife's website. Let's all be safe as we enjoy the waters, not just for ourselves, but for all around you.