Concrete Pete
Senior Member
Hello all,
I’m knew to the forum, but had something happen yesterday.
I’m adding a post about it just in case someone finds it helpful someday.
I was wading near Jone’s Bridge maybe 2 miles down the trail from the parking lot.
Everything was going normally until I decided to go for an impromptu swim in my waders.
I was convinced that there were more trout on the other side of the river. I would later find that this was a delusion.
So I began making my way across. I like to go crab style with my back to the current. This lets me keep my weight on my back foot while I probe with the leading foot. I also feel like I’m not going to get pushed onto my back if the current knocks me over in this position.
I haven’t been wearing a pfd (unless required like between the dam and highway 20) and I usually use a stick I find in the woods.
Yesterday my stick broke really early on so I had no aid when crossing to the other side of the river.
I got across fine and was with a streamer close to the other bank. I was crabbing from rock to rock parallel to the bank with my body positioned sideways to the current.
After working from rock to rock for a bit I got overconfident and started taking longer steps.
At one point, I got chest deep and then made a bad step. Down I went.
I’ve never gone in like that before and always believed that getting water in your waders was a death sentence as many have stated.
Despite this I was able to remain calm. This is crucial. I found that my belt slowed the filling of the lower portion of my waders enough to leave some air in the legs.
I was able to keep my head up with back strokes and get my feet pointed down stream. The biggest hinderance to my swimming was actually my boots. Swimming in waders was like swimming in normal clothes.
I was able to reach a point in the river where I could stand after maybe thirty seconds (thank God).
The one nearby angler watched the whole show with what I imagine was disgust. I deserved it and felt the requisite amount of shame.
I made my way back over to the other side safely. The weight of the water trapped in the legs of my waders was a significant hinderance when it came to getting up the bank and I had to crawl in the mud on all fours. My shame intensified as the mud squished through my clawing fingers.
According to my wife, I’m a stubborn person. I secretly agree with her. This was the only way I was going to learn.
To make matters worse this was one of the few times I was able to talk my wife into going with me. She saw the whole thing and is now mandating that I wear a pfd at all times. I am in no position to issue a counter argument so it looks like I am wearing one from now on.
Had it been December, I feel like I would’ve frozen to death given the distance I was from my car and the heater therein.
I’m going to keep a mylar blanket, towel, and extra clothes stream side this winter just in case.
In sum:
1. Don’t go in past your waist.
2. A real, folding wading stick is a good idea.
3. The waders aren’t going to weigh you down like cement shoes and will become buoyancy neutral when full.
4. Know where you’re putting your feet and your limits.
5. If you go in, tuck up like you’re doing a cannonball. Keep you legs above the water high and the air trapped in your waders will help you float on your back (see Youtube for videos).
6. Stay calm.
I hope the results of my little experiment are helpful to someone.
I’m knew to the forum, but had something happen yesterday.
I’m adding a post about it just in case someone finds it helpful someday.
I was wading near Jone’s Bridge maybe 2 miles down the trail from the parking lot.
Everything was going normally until I decided to go for an impromptu swim in my waders.
I was convinced that there were more trout on the other side of the river. I would later find that this was a delusion.
So I began making my way across. I like to go crab style with my back to the current. This lets me keep my weight on my back foot while I probe with the leading foot. I also feel like I’m not going to get pushed onto my back if the current knocks me over in this position.
I haven’t been wearing a pfd (unless required like between the dam and highway 20) and I usually use a stick I find in the woods.
Yesterday my stick broke really early on so I had no aid when crossing to the other side of the river.
I got across fine and was with a streamer close to the other bank. I was crabbing from rock to rock parallel to the bank with my body positioned sideways to the current.
After working from rock to rock for a bit I got overconfident and started taking longer steps.
At one point, I got chest deep and then made a bad step. Down I went.
I’ve never gone in like that before and always believed that getting water in your waders was a death sentence as many have stated.
Despite this I was able to remain calm. This is crucial. I found that my belt slowed the filling of the lower portion of my waders enough to leave some air in the legs.
I was able to keep my head up with back strokes and get my feet pointed down stream. The biggest hinderance to my swimming was actually my boots. Swimming in waders was like swimming in normal clothes.
I was able to reach a point in the river where I could stand after maybe thirty seconds (thank God).
The one nearby angler watched the whole show with what I imagine was disgust. I deserved it and felt the requisite amount of shame.
I made my way back over to the other side safely. The weight of the water trapped in the legs of my waders was a significant hinderance when it came to getting up the bank and I had to crawl in the mud on all fours. My shame intensified as the mud squished through my clawing fingers.
According to my wife, I’m a stubborn person. I secretly agree with her. This was the only way I was going to learn.
To make matters worse this was one of the few times I was able to talk my wife into going with me. She saw the whole thing and is now mandating that I wear a pfd at all times. I am in no position to issue a counter argument so it looks like I am wearing one from now on.
Had it been December, I feel like I would’ve frozen to death given the distance I was from my car and the heater therein.
I’m going to keep a mylar blanket, towel, and extra clothes stream side this winter just in case.
In sum:
1. Don’t go in past your waist.
2. A real, folding wading stick is a good idea.
3. The waders aren’t going to weigh you down like cement shoes and will become buoyancy neutral when full.
4. Know where you’re putting your feet and your limits.
5. If you go in, tuck up like you’re doing a cannonball. Keep you legs above the water high and the air trapped in your waders will help you float on your back (see Youtube for videos).
6. Stay calm.
I hope the results of my little experiment are helpful to someone.
