Wading Safety by Dick Galland
Excerpted from Fly Fisherman Magazine
Submitted by Dougald Scott
Good wading skills are essential to becoming an accomplished angler, no less important than the other fundamentals, presentation and reading the water. Here in northern California, skillful, aggressive waders catch the best fish in the freestone waters of the Pit and McCloud rivers. In his classic book, Nymph Fishing for Larger Trout, Charlie Brooks admonished his readers to fish the difficult lies, the fastest waters, and the midstream boulders that most anglers pass by because they are difficult to reach.
The reality is that few anglers are prepared physically or mentally for the challenges and consequences of wading. It can be fatal to underestimate the dangers of wading swift rivers. Few of us have had any formal instruction; still fewer know what to do if they take a spill in swift water. In this article I'll cover the essential skills of wading, developed through more than 20 years of fly-fishing schools at Clearwater House on Hat Creek.
Wading well involves two decisions. First, you should determine if wading is necessary and appropriate to the water you are about to fish, and second, determine how to wade safely in a way that minimizes your impact on the ecosystem and other anglers in your area.
It's important to understand the pros and cons of various types of waders and wading gear. I'm a big fan of neoprene waders. They insulate you from the cold water, cushion your legs against bruises, and provide some floatation if you take a spill. In this respect, they are the safest waders. They typically fit snugly, preventing a great deal of water from getting inside if you go down. Their disadvantages are that they can be hot in warm weather, and they are bulky in the gear bag.
All other waders - coated nylon, rubberized fabric, or the newest breathable materials - present a real risk of filling with water and making it difficult to move once you are immersed, unless you are wearing a properly-adjusted wader belt. A strong wader belt should be a fundamental part of your wading equipment, and, like a seat belt, you should put it on whenever you don your waders. Make it part of your routine, like lacing up your boots. I prefer a broad elastic wader belt so I can breathe easily.
If you wear moisture-wicking clothing underneath your breathable waders, you should have no problems with heat or moisture building up inside. You should wear your belt around your waist in moderate water and cinch it high on your chest when you wade into deeper water. This allows you to trap as much air as possible and prevent your waders from filling if you wade over the top.
If you fall into the river and get swept away, spread your arms to keep your head above water and point your legs downstream so that you can push off rocks as you drift. A wading belt tight around your chest (left) will slow the rate at which your waders fill with water. Waders full of water become heavy and make it difficult to move. Water pressure will squeeze the air out of the waders but will not keep water from entering them.
Editor's note: In future columns, we will cover several other aspects of wading safety covered in Dick's article.