Saving lives

[Smitty Fish]

Was fishing on the American this morning and had to jump in and save a salmon fisherman. The guy had neoprene waders on, no belt and 2 day packs filled with clothes and who knows what else. He was trying to cross a small channel and he lost his footing. This happen just below the Arden rapids. Lucky for him I was their other wise he would have been fish food.! Be careful out there!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Wonderful news.......

Unlike many of our trout streams, you can down in the Lower American River............................................. .

[Smitty Fish]

I’m just glad I was there to help him. I knew he was in trouble when his head went under.

[Jeff C.]

Right on Smitty. I watched you cross the same side channel yesterday and it was waist deep for you. It would have been up to my armpits! I’d do it wet wading but not in waders!

[Smitty Fish]

Thanks Jeff, but it was just below the Arden rapids on the Rancho side. No doubt the shoot that I crossed can be spooky at times!

[jack_salmon99]

Take a look at this:
https://fws.rev.vbrick.com/#/videos/3acea0c2-b819-43e8-896b-5c75067d221c
It's a wader safety video Utah State University put together. I used the video as part of CalOSHA safety training program for the seasonal aid staff. We rented the local pool and everyone jumped into the pool with wading boots+stocking foot GoreTex and wading boots+neoprene waders. I hope this helps.

[Ralph]

Take a look at this:
https://fws.rev.vbrick.com/#/videos/3acea0c2-b819-43e8-896b-5c75067d221c
It's a wader safety video Utah State University put together.

Excellent video. Thanks, I have never seen that one before. Here is a segment we did for Simms on swimming with waders in MOVING water. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_fS7bzcZZDM

[Smitty Fish]

Thank you Ralph and Jack for the videos. That is some life saving info there. This time of year I’m wet wading on the American Yesterday I was. The gentleman that I rescued had a pair of O’Neill waders on and what looked like tennis shoes on for wading shoes. I told him he should invest in some good wading boots. I hope he took my advice.

[jack_salmon99]

A swiftwater rescue technician course was part 2 for CalOSHA. Those two parts gave our people a really good idea about how to survive an unintended swim in waders in big rivers.

If I may make a suggestion: the fly fishing clubs might wish to show some of these videos, rent some time at the local pool and get their members to go for a swim. Might strip away some misconceptions (like you'll sink like a rock). And maybe save some lives.

[lee s.]

GREAT idea jack salmon!
.....lee s.