Wading Safety - Part 3 by Dick Galland
Excerpted from Fly Fisherman Magazine, Submitted by Dougald Scott
Wading is a foundation skill of fly fishing. It is perhaps the only hazard the sport presents. Like most skills, the more accomplished you become, the more success you will enjoy. I measure success by my ability to respond creatively to the fishing conditions I encounter, to present the appropriate fly in the appropriate manner in any fishing situation. Wading well is an integral part of that response.
In big water, buddy wading is an excellent strategy. Two anglers wading together can move in water a single angler would find impossible. With two people, the strongest and largest person takes the upstream side.
Tuck your rod down into the front of your waders or vest. Grab the back of each other's vests at the collar with your inside hand, using your staff in your outside hand. The collar provides a high, solid point of contact that won't slip or move under pressure and keeps you in an erect position. Shuffle along. Talk to each other about your progress. This is a remarkably stable arrangement. With three anglers, the same approach works well, putting the smallest or least confident person in the middle.
The deeper the water, the more buoyant you will become and the less traction you will have. There is a point of no return when you are at the mercy of the current, even if your feet are still touching bottom. Learn to anticipate this point and to stop before you reach it.
Crossing the Yellowstone River some years ago with my twelve-year-old son on my downstream side, we were approaching a midriver island in waist-deep water when he said, "Dad, my feet aren't touching bottom anymore!" One more step and mine weren't either! We lunged into the slack water at the edge of the island and dragged ourselves onto the shore. I had counted on my height and weight and the moderate flow of the current to get us both across, and I had misjudged badly. I should have turned around when Ben's feet left the bottom.
Don't be willing to die for your tackle. It may astonish you to hear that anyone would be concerned for their gear when they find themselves suddenly immersed in a cold swift river, but last year a California angler fell into a local river and drowned in what appeared to be an effort to hold onto his rod as he was swept downstream. If you find yourself swept off your feet, don't risk your life for the sake of a rod or any other tackle. Your recovery will be considerably easier with both hands free.
The key wading skill is judgment. It pays to be conservative as you learn to wade. Pay attention to your comfort zone. When you feel yourself getting anxious, stop and consider your next step carefully.
Give thought to what you'll do if you suddenly find yourself floating in fast water at your wading point. Plan an escape route. Look for the places where you might get into an eddy. Look for those obstacles that might trap you or injure you. The chances of another person being able to help you are slim. Things happen too fast in moving water. You must be mentally prepared to rescue yourself.