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Enjoy your wading,
Enjoy your wading,
It can be done safely.
It can be done safely.
Your wading staff is your safety assistant.
Your wading staff is your safety assistant.
Always be careful!
Always be careful!
Listen and learn from others.
Listen and learn from others.
Respect the dangers.
Respect the dangers.
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LISTEN TO PROFESSIONALS DISCUSS SAFE WADING
LISTEN TO PROFESSIONALS DISCUSS SAFE WADING
At the Orvis Podcast by Tom Rosenbauer, with guest wading specialist, Lindsay Kocka: "How to Become a Better Wader, with Lindsay Kocka"
At the Orvis Podcast by Tom Rosenbauer, with guest wading specialist, Lindsay Kocka: "How to Become a Better Wader, with Lindsay Kocka"
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READ: How to Wade Safely and Get Out of Dangerous Situations
READ: How to Wade Safely and Get Out of Dangerous Situations
By Ralph Cutter
By Ralph Cutter
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FOR GUIDES: A wading staff is your third hand, use it to steady your client. Plant the Ron Hart's River Stalker firmly, and tell the client to grab your wrist and take a step.
FOR GUIDES: A wading staff is your third hand, use it to steady your client. Plant the Ron Hart's River Stalker firmly, and tell the client to grab your wrist and take a step.
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BEFORE YOU GET TO THE WATER
BEFORE YOU GET TO THE WATER
TRAIN YOUR BALANCE: Daily, stand on one leg for a minute. Learn to balance with your eyes closed.
TRAIN YOUR BALANCE: Daily, stand on one leg for a minute. Learn to balance with your eyes closed.
IMPORTANT: CAN YOU GET UP WITHOUT USING YOUR ARMS WHILE LYING ON THE FLOOR? It's hardest to recover when falling in two feet of water. Exercise weekly to strengthen your core muscles.
IMPORTANT: CAN YOU GET UP WITHOUT USING YOUR ARMS WHILE LYING ON THE FLOOR? It's hardest to recover when falling in two feet of water. Exercise weekly to strengthen your core muscles.
YOU WON'T SINK: Jump into a swimming pool with your waders and boots on. Let them fill with water. Swim to the side and get out without using the ladder or steps.. Raise your confidence.
YOU WON'T SINK: Jump into a swimming pool with your waders and boots on. Let them fill with water. Swim to the side and get out without using the ladder or steps.. Raise your confidence.
TWO BELTS: Ralph Cutter and others recommend using a second belt up high to keep water from rushing in when you fall under water.
TWO BELTS: Ralph Cutter and others recommend using a second belt up high to keep water from rushing in when you fall under water.
STUDS ARE A MUST: Traction brings steadiness and confidence.
STUDS ARE A MUST: Traction brings steadiness and confidence.
FISHING ALONE? FAST CURRENT? FAR FROM VEHICLE? TRY A PULL-CORD INFLATABLE PFD: Yes, fishers do that.
FISHING ALONE? FAST CURRENT? FAR FROM VEHICLE? TRY A PULL-CORD INFLATABLE PFD: Yes, fishers do that.
GET GOOD SLEEP: Don't wade when tired, your balance system will let you down.
GET GOOD SLEEP: Don't wade when tired, your balance system will let you down.
POLARIZED SUN GLASSES: Less dizziness, less fatigue.
POLARIZED SUN GLASSES: Less dizziness, less fatigue.
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BEFORE YOU GO = Mentally prepare--Decide if you wet your waders why you will return immediately to your vehicle. Panic makes poor decisions.
BEFORE YOU GO = Mentally prepare--Decide if you wet your waders why you will return immediately to your vehicle. Panic makes poor decisions.
IF YOU FALL & WET YOUR WADERS: Hot days = Plan to dry everything: remove waders and clothes. Let your body dry in the sun. TIP: Bring a couple of small mcro towels in a ZipLock bag.
IF YOU FALL & WET YOUR WADERS: Hot days = Plan to dry everything: remove waders and clothes. Let your body dry in the sun. TIP: Bring a couple of small mcro towels in a ZipLock bag.
IF YOU FALL & WET YOUR WADERS: Cold days = Immediately head for your vehicle. Hypothermia will start arriving in minutes, and you might not reach your vehicle (read SCARY STORY ). Live to fish another day (So you can tell your story and laugh with your buddies). Bring a fire starter in your vehicle and small wood to start the blaze you will need.
IF YOU FALL & WET YOUR WADERS: Cold days = Immediately head for your vehicle. Hypothermia will start arriving in minutes, and you might not reach your vehicle (read SCARY STORY ). Live to fish another day (So you can tell your story and laugh with your buddies). Bring a fire starter in your vehicle and small wood to start the blaze you will need.
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AT THE WATER
AT THE WATER
PLAN YOUR RETURN ROUTE: What will be your path to return through the water? As you start crossing, turn around often. Memorize your safe steps for returning, and what obstacles need to be avoided.
PLAN YOUR RETURN ROUTE: What will be your path to return through the water? As you start crossing, turn around often. Memorize your safe steps for returning, and what obstacles need to be avoided.
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE: If you fall and get swept downstream, where and how will you get to the bank?
PLAN YOUR ESCAPE: If you fall and get swept downstream, where and how will you get to the bank?
STRETCH BEFORE WADING to get your body ready to quickly rebalance.
STRETCH BEFORE WADING to get your body ready to quickly rebalance.
STAY HYDRATED: It helps avoid fatigue. If you have to swim, you'll need extra engergy.
STAY HYDRATED: It helps avoid fatigue. If you have to swim, you'll need extra engergy.
WADE WITH A BUDDY: To grab you when in trouble (hit your head, have a stroke, heart attack). All those have happened to even the most experienced wading fishers.
WADE WITH A BUDDY: To grab you when in trouble (hit your head, have a stroke, heart attack). All those have happened to even the most experienced wading fishers.
WATCH WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE WADING ACROSS: Learn from their experience.
WATCH WHERE OTHER PEOPLE ARE WADING ACROSS: Learn from their experience.
SURPRISES WILL HAPPEN: Without warning, rocks move, currents shift direction, and water flows rise. Prepare your brain for a reaction.
SURPRISES WILL HAPPEN: Without warning, rocks move, currents shift direction, and water flows rise. Prepare your brain for a reaction.
PRIDE FALLS: Everyone slips. And gets older. Each year our inner ear balance system starts to hesitate a fraction of a second and the wobbles begin. Better to have a third leg to help you balance.
PRIDE FALLS: Everyone slips. And gets older. Each year our inner ear balance system starts to hesitate a fraction of a second and the wobbles begin. Better to have a third leg to help you balance.
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IN THE WATER
IN THE WATER
GRADUALLY GAIN CONFIDENCE: Each day on a stream, plan to wade a bit more into the water that you are trepidatious to try.
GRADUALLY GAIN CONFIDENCE: Each day on a stream, plan to wade a bit more into the water that you are trepidatious to try.
STOP BEFORE FATIGUE ARRIVES: When you sense that you are starting to get tired, you are done. Enjoy your wading day of victories and lessons. Return to your vehicle, and smile on the drive home.
STOP BEFORE FATIGUE ARRIVES: When you sense that you are starting to get tired, you are done. Enjoy your wading day of victories and lessons. Return to your vehicle, and smile on the drive home.
REMINDER: LOOK BEHIND WHILE CROSSING SO YOU REMEMBER HOW TO RETURN. Do not count on experimenting during your return.
REMINDER: LOOK BEHIND WHILE CROSSING SO YOU REMEMBER HOW TO RETURN. Do not count on experimenting during your return.
PROBE BEFORE YOU STEP! It's often deeper than you think! Is that dark spot deeper than you are tall? Is that quicksand under those leaves you are about to step onto?
PROBE BEFORE YOU STEP! It's often deeper than you think! Is that dark spot deeper than you are tall? Is that quicksand under those leaves you are about to step onto?
FOCUS ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING, NOT THE WATER: Avoid getting disoriented by focusing on the moving water. Pick stationary objects such as large exposed rocks and the far bank while you work on keeping your balance, choosing your footing, and positioning your staff.
FOCUS ON WHERE YOU ARE GOING, NOT THE WATER: Avoid getting disoriented by focusing on the moving water. Pick stationary objects such as large exposed rocks and the far bank while you work on keeping your balance, choosing your footing, and positioning your staff.
KEEP THE STAFF ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE: So you can push on it when you get off-balance.
KEEP THE STAFF ON THE DOWNSTREAM SIDE: So you can push on it when you get off-balance.
SIDEWAYS TO THE CURRENT: Keep your body turned so your upstream leg shields the lower leg. That reduces pressure on your body and adds stability with agility when moving.
SIDEWAYS TO THE CURRENT: Keep your body turned so your upstream leg shields the lower leg. That reduces pressure on your body and adds stability with agility when moving.
MOVE SLOWLY: It's all about getting over there without falling, so who are you racing?
MOVE SLOWLY: It's all about getting over there without falling, so who are you racing?
SHUFFLE ALONG THE BOTTOM, NO HIGH LEG LIFTING: Keep your center of gravity low. Save energy. The slowest water is at the bottom.
SHUFFLE ALONG THE BOTTOM, NO HIGH LEG LIFTING: Keep your center of gravity low. Save energy. The slowest water is at the bottom.
ONE AT A TIME: Move just ONE of your three legs at a time. Before moving either foot or your staff, be sure to anchor your other two weight bearing points securely.
ONE AT A TIME: Move just ONE of your three legs at a time. Before moving either foot or your staff, be sure to anchor your other two weight bearing points securely.
TRIANGLE WADING: Keep your wading staff in front of you, ready to put all your weight on it with both hands on the grip in case you suddenly need to stop a fall that has begun.
TRIANGLE WADING: Keep your wading staff in front of you, ready to put all your weight on it with both hands on the grip in case you suddenly need to stop a fall that has begun.
YOU ARE GOING TO FALL SOME DAY: Everyone does, even guides. It happens. Accept it, learn from it, and try again another day.
YOU ARE GOING TO FALL SOME DAY: Everyone does, even guides. It happens. Accept it, learn from it, and try again another day.
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READY TO FISH
READY TO FISH
POSITION YOUR FEET FIRMLY BEFORE STARTING TO CAST: So you do not fall on your first cast -- because one boot slipped on that rock it was balancing on.
POSITION YOUR FEET FIRMLY BEFORE STARTING TO CAST: So you do not fall on your first cast -- because one boot slipped on that rock it was balancing on.
WHERE WILL YOU NET THE FISH? Plan ahead, avoid needing to move and take a risk to net that beauty.
WHERE WILL YOU NET THE FISH? Plan ahead, avoid needing to move and take a risk to net that beauty.
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WHEN YOU FALL
WHEN YOU FALL
DON'T PANIC: You can recover! You will float, not sink like a rock, even with full waders. Say a prayer and start using your brain.
DON'T PANIC: You can recover! You will float, not sink like a rock, even with full waders. Say a prayer and start using your brain.
START THINKING: Stop threshing the water, lift your knees, let the water get you buoyant, that will get your head up, Then begin feeling for the bottom with your feet.
START THINKING: Stop threshing the water, lift your knees, let the water get you buoyant, that will get your head up, Then begin feeling for the bottom with your feet.
IF SWEPT DOWNSTREAM
IF SWEPT DOWNSTREAM
YOU MAY HAVE TO ABANDON YOUR ROD: Better to lose a few bucks than your life. You will be surprised at how well an experienced guide can return to your spot and locate your gear, stuck to the bottom, dancing in the stream. So can you.
YOU MAY HAVE TO ABANDON YOUR ROD: Better to lose a few bucks than your life. You will be surprised at how well an experienced guide can return to your spot and locate your gear, stuck to the bottom, dancing in the stream. So can you.
FLOAT HEAD FIRST: It's important to see upcoming obstacles. It keeps the stream from pushing more water into your waders.
FLOAT HEAD FIRST: It's important to see upcoming obstacles. It keeps the stream from pushing more water into your waders.
W0OD SWEEPERS: Those are dangerous. The tree limbs hanging from the bank into the water. If you are pushed under one, you may not recover. Headfirst swimming lets you get two hands onto the limb so you can lift yourself over it, away from danger.
W0OD SWEEPERS: Those are dangerous. The tree limbs hanging from the bank into the water. If you are pushed under one, you may not recover. Headfirst swimming lets you get two hands onto the limb so you can lift yourself over it, away from danger.
START PADDLING AND KICKING: Gradually make your way to the bank. Aim for a spot downstream to stop your drift, and from there you can decide on how to get out of the water.
START PADDLING AND KICKING: Gradually make your way to the bank. Aim for a spot downstream to stop your drift, and from there you can decide on how to get out of the water.
WHEN YOU FINALLY CAN GET YOUR BOOTS ON THE BOTTOM TO WADE, MOVE SLOWLY TO THE BANK: Avoid rushing and falling in again.
WHEN YOU FINALLY CAN GET YOUR BOOTS ON THE BOTTOM TO WADE, MOVE SLOWLY TO THE BANK: Avoid rushing and falling in again.
ONCE ON THE BANK, YOU WILL BE THANKFUL YOUR WADING STAFF WAS CLIPPED TO YOUR BELT: It's there to help you get up on your feet, through the brush, and give support as you recover.
ONCE ON THE BANK, YOU WILL BE THANKFUL YOUR WADING STAFF WAS CLIPPED TO YOUR BELT: It's there to help you get up on your feet, through the brush, and give support as you recover.
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And always remember:
And always remember:
MAKE YOUR WADING FUN
MAKE YOUR WADING FUN
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DANGEROUS
IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE DANGEROUS
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