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

[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.