I’ve decided to branch off of a thread over at GC. One of my best and most favorite whistles it gone, lost to me only yesterday. I had gone fishing with my younger brother, when we…hooked an alligator (about 5 feet or so). I like taking my whistle almost everywhere I go, especially in the middle of a lake . In trying to unhook the alligator, the whistle fell out of my pocket, and into the depths of the abyss of a lake. 
I was so determined to go into the water to find it, but factoring in the depth, and the clarity of the water (murky) [and the fact that we had just hooked a 5 foot alligator] I realized that there was no chance in finding it. A bit of humor though… 
it was a “Water” Weasel, so the weasel has been returned to the water. It was in a sense a “free” whistle, so it isn’t a financial loss, just a personal one. So now, I have lost three whistles in my time. For shame…
It’s returned to the water.
It’s in a better place now.
Let me congratulate you on your very wise decision not to jump into the lake after your whistle. Trying to unhook an alligator sounds bad enough. I’m sorry you have lost 3 whistles. Maybe you should learn how to make whistles—many seem to enjoy doing this. And then you could keep up a steady supply of them—which it sounds like you may be needing! You could save the more special whistles for whistling at home.
I have wittled a whistle or two out of some bamboo. They’re alright, and I keep those at home. They are special to me, mainly because they are truly a “bloody-hands” whistle. I used sandpaper and a “scalpel-blade” set to make them, and I have lost count as to how many times I’ve cut myself. Been thinking of making one out of some copper piping, just haven’t had the time. I don’t think any homemade whistle would replace my poor weasel…
Another reason not to take whistles with you when you hunt alligators. When will they ever learn?
On a side note, we did bring home some pretty decent sized fish. We shall have a fish fry in honor of the Weasel.
I NEVER take my whistle with me when I hunt alligator. Or crocodile, for that matter. Or lion. Or grizzly bear.
:roll: In case there is any confusion, I wasn’t hunting alligator. Just a simple fishing trip that went tragic.
Oh, come on, Shadow, smile! I wasn’t criticizing.
I guess I can… 
. I have went wild pig hunting before…gave a whistle to everyone in the group too so we could keep “in contact.” During that trip, I did have my Weasel with me…
Whistles are great adventure companions. I’m going to Belize in 2 weeks and hope to play my Syn at the top of a Maya pyramid.
I lost one of my best tweaked Generations one time, fell out of my pocket just like yours (under less honorable circumstances though). It was a great loss as well. Don’t know if I’ll ever get another one like it. It was one of those whistle hybrids (all Generation) that sounded just right, it just hit the spot every time I played it. Eb blue top head (tweaked) on D brass tube. I’ll never get another one like it.
I know how you feel 
Sad news, but consider yourself fortunate that it was just one whistle you lost!
I recently made a couple of whistles for someone who lost a pouch containing his favorite Copelands and Burkes while switching boats out on a lake this past Memorial Day weekend!
I think he told me there were eight whistles in the pouch, and it was lost in about fifteen feet of water… he did go diving after them, but the visibility was too poor that day.
He told me that he has invented a floating pouch, which he dubbed the ‘Whistle Life Jacket’, to prevent it from ever happening again… but I can’t imagine the emotional distress of losing that many high-end whistles at once! 
For this, alligator, and other adventures, I suggest buying a pile of Clarke Megs. They’re not bad at all (not to me tonedef ears, anyhow), and they’re only $3 a piece at thewhistleshop.com. At that price, hell, fix the wobble in your tables with 'em! Throw 'em at people you don’t like! My nephew uses his to eat sammiches.
:roll: Now, now! They’re more afraid of you than you are of them . . . taste just like chicken, too. Mmmm!
On the other hand, this is the season for Naegleria brain infections. There have already been several cases in folks who’ve been swimming around in freshwater lakes. Probably best not to stick your head underwater–the little parasites get into your nose, then go straight up into your brain. Death ensues fairly reliably.
Back to the Sinkable Whistle, though. If you’re determined to drop them overboard, why don’t you make them a little flotation device? Particularly in the case of a PVC or other lightweight whistle, only a bit of foam would be required. Perhaps you can take a small block of foam (the picnic cooler white type), make a smallish hole in the center, slide it up your whistle to an area above the top hole (should fit tightly), then whittle off the outside edges until it’s relatively unobtrusive.
If you experiment with this, you can easily determine the amount of foam that will float your whistle. Shouldn’t take much.
A piece of that fabric-coated foam stuff that they make beer can insulators out of might work, too. You can wrap it around and superglue it to itself so that it’s tight.
Or, better still, since the flotation device would still allow it to float away, you can follow the famous military practice of simply tying one end of a string to it and the other to your pants. Perhaps a length of very fine fishing line tied through the bottom hole. Do that with all your loose bits and you’ll never have to worry about losing your wallet, your keys, your pocket knife, or anything else, even if you, yourself, end up swimming.
My question is…how do you get a fishing hook out of an alligator’s mouth? Tin whistle?
I have often wondered the same thing. I was fishing for bass near Florida Power and Light in Miami and an alligator went after one of my lures. I quickly pulled it away from him but I don’t know how I would have unhooked it. Those big Gar are just as bad. I did hook a couple of those. Too bad about the weasel especially since it is not replaceable.
Ron
Cuting the line would probably be a wise decision. The alligator will probably spit it out sooner or later so I don’t think there’ll be much harm done to it.
Yup. Cut the line as close to the gator as possible, I believe. You don’t want to lose an arm while trying to retrieve your lure, nor do you want to be arrested for molesting an alligator, which is highly illegal here. You’ll do less time for selling drugs to kindergarteners. 
If you hook a bird, however, you are not supposed to cut the line. Either take it to a rescue center or push/pull the hook completely through with pliers after cutting off the eyelet end.
That makes sense.
I remember that My Kid was wandering around in garb somewhere (a Ren Faire?) with her whistles tethered to her waist. They were affixed by the bottom hole with pretty ribbon. It did not seem to render them unplayable, either.
My tae kwon do instructor’s daughter was playing re****er in elementary school and when the kids passed a certain milestone, they were given ribbon to tie around the bottom of the plastic instrument. It was curiously similar to my instructor’s belt ranking method. (White, yellow, green, purple, brown, and black, in our sytem.)
M