Ohio angler recovering from boat accident on Lake Okeechobee

Hailstones acknowledges he's feeling 'pretty good under the circumstances' after Thursday's mishap

OKEECHOBEE, Fla. – Veteran angler Pat Hailstones of Cincinnati, Ohio, is recovering at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., after he and his co-angler partner Josh Noe of Albemarle, N.C., collided with the J and F Lock and Dam on Lake Okeechobee Thursday morning following the start of day-two competition in the Stren Series season opener.

Hailstones sustained facial lacerations and a broken hip as a result of the collision, which occurred Jan. 4 at approximately 10:45 a.m. He was later airlifted to St. Mary’s where he underwent surgery. According to Hailstones, his hip will require surgery, but he will be making the trip back to Ohio before having the procedure done.

Noe avoided serious injury and is back on the water competing today.

“The water around the lock and dam was real skinny,” Hailstones said. “The water is only a couple of feet deep, and to get in there, you have to trim your motor up as you sit the boat down to avoid hitting the bottom. While I was doing that, I trimmed the motor a little too high, lost control and collided with the riprap around the lock.”

According to Hailstones, just before the boat impacted the riprap, Noe jumped overboard to escape injury.

“There was no place for me to go,” Hailstones said. “It all happened so fast, and I’m glad my partner was able to go fishing again today.”

After the collision, Hailstones called tournament director Chris Jones, who dispatched emergency crews.

“I feel pretty good under the circumstances,” said a good-spirited Hailstones.

The thoughts and prayers of the entire FLW Outdoors staff are with Hailstones, Noe and their families.