MAN DOWN ON THE AMERICAN RIVER - Be careful wading out there!

[STEELIES/26c3]

Just heard from a friend who was on the river and then confirmed with an online report from KCRA News that a man was fishing near the Howe Ave. Bridge and slipped while trying to cross the river.

Evidently, his waders filled up and he went down.

It seems he drowned though reports are conflicting.

I hope that he is in the hospital recovering but fear he may have drowned.

Low flows on the American River are perhaps more dangerous than higher flows.

Anglers tend to not even consider crossing riffles in flows of 2000 and higher but tend to underestimate current in lower flows and then get caught up in the difficulty of turning around and going back which if you've spent any serious time wading you know is much harder (mentally and physically) to do.

Anyway, all my best to the man and his family.

And as for the rest of us... lets all WEAR THOSE BELTS!

[cmcdhuibh]

I put plastic bags over my feet before putting on my waders. This will make it easier to get your feet out. Neoprene bottoms really makes it hard to get them off. I fell yesterday above sunrise but was not in deep water, but the current made it difficult to stand back up. I had the wader top tucked in at the waist but (hot out) had the belt tight, it still scares me. I don't know how some people will get in above there knees.

[Rmacneil656]

I was there a few weeks back when a gear head who hab been drinking to much fell in with his neoprenes on. Had to help him get up (witch was a bad idea cause he almost drug me in). But he had regular shoes over his waders, no cletes, felt or anything for gripping. He then fell again on his way to the shore. Not trying to say anything bad about a tragety, but use common sense when wading. Be smart and use the right gear. Secondly lesson learned: be carful trying to help other people, I could have been drug in and been in danger of drowning myself.

[kylgrn]

Likewise, I saw some gear guys (not that it really matters I guess) cross some pretty intense water, no way I would have attempted it. Sure enough one of them went down, wasn't wearing waders though.

[njbeast]

All my friends laughed when I started using a wading staff...now they all have one. If you don't have one, get one...but common sense should still prevail...and keep those belts tight.

[mattv-mcfly]

My wading rule is if you start to doubt your abilities to be able to wade a part of the river then don't do it. Safety and keeping yourself alive is more important than a trophy fish any day.
Hope the guy is okay

[kylgrn]

Funny, every time I have ever put in that extra wading effort, it didn't end in a trophy fish anyways :(

[winxp_man]

Sucks if he is gone! But hope he is in recover if he made it......

The American river I have no problem with also I can wade pretty good and with the new simms boots with a load of cleats on they are awesome! But up on the cost a whole different story! Also the water not clear in some areas made some tough wading. One minute your in ankle deep water the next like a friend put it once up to your nipples in water:eek: I would say a wading staff is really needed up there!

But like stated above me if your not really sure about your wading dont even think about not have a wading staff with you. Oh and drinking while wading I would say not really a good idea ;)

[Finsane]

I was at a guide school in 03. We were on the Pit and they were going over wading tecniques. We came across a strong run and they wanted students to cross. I was like "no way" not with waders on. The instructors started giving me a hard time. Im thinking to myself, FU. So they get the oldest guy in the class to give it a shot. Probably mid to late 50's' I remember sitting on the bank, preparing for the worst. He didn't make it across, but nothing tragic happened. Having been on a Swift Water Rescue team and knowing what I knew, I lost a ton of respect for these instructors that day. To put someones life on the line like that. Then they wanted a tip and the end of the week. Like the above post stated, "if in doubt, don't try"

[kylgrn]

The American tricked me a bit the first few trips, those patches of weeds or vegetation in the water sometimes do a great job of covering up depth changes.

[Fly Right]

Before I retired I had a career in public safety (firefighter). As a job requirement I went through swift water rescue training. That resulted in a very healthy respect for the power of moving water. As we get older we become less stable and oftentimes overestimate our ability to safely negotiate wading in current. My $.02..........belt if using waders, proper wading shoes, staff, inflatable vest (PFD), common sense. Fishing kills a lot of people every year.

[bigfly]

I wish no one harm.
But since they've outlawed lawn darts, the human population needs a way to thin our ranks....Obesity isn't enough....
Wading is one of those rare activities where you can die just walking around. (I hope they don't outlaw it to protect us..)
I've always pushed the envelope, climbing, skiing, driving , diving, etc....
When I first stated fishing, I swam regularly, now, I'm a bit more careful....
Only two waters I always carry a staff on....the Pitt, and the McCloud.
But I always wear a belt..........
If I drown while fishing, you can say you and I knew it might happen...
If you do, I'll say the same thing.....
Hopefully, we can protect our fisheries, so we always have an excuse to risk a wade.......


Jim

[maebrown]

"So they get the oldest guy in the class to give it a shot. Probably mid to late 50's' " Ouch that hurts as I left my fifties a while ago. I've had a few scary wading mistakes over the years. Now I use a staff, have studs on felt, and go slow.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Me too........69 yikes.

[JD]

I wish no one harm.
But since they've outlawed lawn darts, the human population needs a way to thin our ranks....Obesity isn't enough....


Huh. And you expect to attract clients with this attitude? How odd...

[Finsane]

Sac Bee confirmed he did not make it. His last name was Vang.

Does it make it any easier knowing that he died doing something he loved?

When I think of death, I think of people who have lived a long time, dying naturally. We went to a cemetery on the birthday of my wifes brother. This was maybe the fourth time in a cemetery for me. Apon looking around I was saddened to see how many young people were there. You just don't know when your time is up. I try to live 25 hrs a day, in my own way.

[STEELIES/26c3]

I wish no one harm.
But since they've outlawed lawn darts, the human population needs a way to thin our ranks....Obesity isn't enough....
Wading is one of those rare activities where you can die just walking around. (I hope they don't outlaw it to protect us..)
I've always pushed the envelope, climbing, skiing, driving , diving, etc....
When I first stated fishing, I swam regularly, now, I'm a bit more careful....
Only two waters I always carry a staff on....the Pitt, and the McCloud.
But I always wear a belt..........
If I drown while fishing, you can say you and I knew it might happen...
If you do, I'll say the same thing.....
Hopefully, we can protect our fisheries, so we always have an excuse to risk a wade.......

I like the approach... DARE TO BE DIFFERENT~;) and maybe in a roundabout way, he just said that we all have to go some way, may as well be fishing... and that there is a silver lining to every cloud...

As well, he covers a few more editorials via tongue and cheek, on overpopulation, human stupidity and the importance of our dwindling Constitutional rights....

I GET IT, thanks!

Wow, JARTS are illegal, I remember those... never even got one in the foot. I must be lucky~;)

[Tony Buzolich]

I think as we all get older we focus more on dying. Going to the doctor with all of our aches and pains is one of the most common subjects there is after reaching 50 and even more so after 60 and so on. Think about it. It's the one common thing we all share.

So rather than planning for a long hospital stay, hooked to some IV and breathing apparatus, wouldn't it be nicer to simply go doing what you enjoy doing most? Get your house in order now so you're not leaving a burden behind for those you love.

I find myself wanting to do things I used to do easily like climbing a ladder, or wading, or whatever. But my wife often stops me (saves me) before I get too far into something and hurt (kill) myself. Loved ones often do that. But I still have the wants, and the desires, and forget that these bones are getting older by the day and I'm not thirty anymore.

So, I guess it's best to not be stupid (wear a wading belt) but it's still good to get out there and enjoy as much as you can,,,, while you can.

I think I'll hook up the boat and go down to the river a little bit before breakfast,
Tony

[JasonB]

My condolences to his friends and family. Life is too short and uncertain regardless, best to appreciate the fleeting window we have for what it is and how fortunate we are to enjoy it. Spending time standing in flowing waters is one of the best ways I can imagine to do just that. I don't think there is such a thing as a good day, or good way to die; however given that death is an inevitability to us all, I can think of far worse ways to go than to drown while fishing. Still, we should all take this reminder to take those little precautions such as keeping our belt tight and not pushing it by trying to wade where we shouldn't. The river is very powerful, and it takes surprisingly little sometimes for a stable situation to degrade into an unstable one. For the most part I am always amazed at just how forgiving rivers are to our own lack of precaution and sometimes extreme carelessness, and yet at the very same time just how unforgiving they can be for the smallest of errors in judgement or actions. I've come around to the feeling that we do the best we can, and the odds of serious trouble are low; but the potential is always there for each and everyone of us, no matter what.
JB

[bigfly]

Steelies, I think Tony and Jason said it better than I ever could....
But thanks for watching my back..
JD, my only thought was, we out-number the fish....
It's either we reduce the humans, or stock more......and I for one, am reticent to fish domesticated fish.
Guess you could say I'm on the side of the wild mostly....
But if I come swimming by.....I hope you'll throw a rope.
Best advice, don't wade alone.

Jim

[JayDubP]

I am 66 and was taught many moons ago to wear 2 belts with waders:
1) around your waist and 2) just under your armpits/top of your chest--- that way no water can get into your waders.....

this is not just for anti-drowning measure, but when (not if) I trip/fall into the water, a belt at my waist still allows my shirt to get wet and then it slowly runs down my skin into my pants.... but the 2nd belt high seems to keep my shirt drier..

One thing almost as bad as no belt is to have a ton of air in your waders below your belt... so your waders become a big balloon with the heaviest part of your body (your head) dragging underwater.

Another bad thing is to not wear some type of flotation device.

Disrespect the river and you will pay...

[Jim@293]

I used a NRS Chinook on the Klamath river above Somes Bar. A little clumsy when you wade until you get used to it but you get a lot of confidence because you know if you go down it will be there. No explosion to get you up. A personal favorite and preference, but worth the look. Loaded with pockets.