Stream Safety

by Jim LeBlonde

Know the Water You’re Fishing…

Is it a tail water, spring fed or run off? If it’s a tail water, call and find out if dam will be generating or if they anticipate any changes in flow during your time on the river. Find out if there is a Website that you can check to see current and forecast water flows. If the river is fed by run off and surrounded by farmland, it may tend to cloud more quickly than a spring fed limestone stream. Cloudy water requires more care in wading, as you can not see the bottom structure or judge the depth.

It the bottom sandy or rocky, are they pebbles or boulders? Is it a shale shelf? The Nantahala, The Cumberland, and The Conneaut are all examples of different types of water and stream conditions dictating different approaches.

Wade with a buddy and a staff. But don’t let the staff fool you into feeling invincible.

Shuffle your feet in small steps, walk around obstacles, minimize your leading our upstream surface area, and pre-measure your crossings carefully.

Know the Weather…

Watch the local weather forecasts and extended outlooks. If there are storms in the forecast, prepare for a quick exit if you decide to fish. Do not chance encounters with lightening or flash floods or other severe weather. Dress accordingly.

Remember hypothermia is a matter of temperature and time. The colder the temperature the shorter the time frame needed to trigger hypothermia. You can still get hypothermia on a nice day. So, if you get wet, get dry.

On the other hand, heat stroke and sunstroke can be real problems. Be prepared. Be cognizant of this. Think about how you have sometimes felt on long walks on hot sunny days etc.

Know What to Wear…

Adjust your clothing to the weather you’re expecting. Remember to layer clothing, which will allow you to remove layers as the day warms. Always bring extra clothing and keep it in the car. Remember you have two separate temperatures to account for, the water and above the water.

Avoid cotton fabric, and other items that stay wet. Opt for Polartec and man made synthetics with wicking abilities and faster drying times. Wool also works. If they get wet, take them off and ring them dry.

Choose your waders. Neoprene Waders and Boot Foot Waders may keep you warmer. Breathable waders may make you more comfortable, a little more agile and perhaps produce less fatigue. Bring a patch kit, accelerant and duct tape.

Hats are extremely important, they can provide increased visibility, shade, heat, as well as repel bugs and rain.

Know Your Equipment…

Know where it’s located, check it and make sure it’s all in working order prior to the trip or entering the stream.

Pack light, take what you need with you for that day, leave the rest. If needed, have additional items in the car.

Adjust your footwear according to the weather, and know your footwear’s strength and limitations. Felt doesn’t work well in snow, ice, silt and shale. Studs or over shoes may be more appropriate in some situations.

Know Your Abilities & Know Your Body…

Don’t wade where you’re uncomfortable. Just because you saw someone else do it, doesn’t mean you should.

Know when you’re tired. Take breaks and rest. When you are tired you may be more likely to make a mistake.

Dehydration is a serious risk. Drink lots of water and snack frequently to keep up your energy.

Pay more attention entering and exiting the streams.

Be Cognizant of the Environment and Changes around You…

Local wildlife can pose a threat, so be mindful of it.

Did the water change or rise? Changing water conditions may require different exit strategies, a warm steady breeze may signs of a storm or that the dam upstream just started generating! Watch the flows.

Watch for barbed wire, broken glass, jagged pipes etc.

Take Safety Equipment and Use It…

Polarized Glasses, wading staff, sunscreen, whistle, first aid kit, spare keys, etc. may be your most important items.

Know Your Light Source…

You may be so excited with the dusk hatch that you loose sight of the fact that after the sun sets, the woods are pitch black. Bring a flashlight.

Read The Water…

Know where to cross and where not to. Depth, water velocity, time of day and terrain should all affect your decisions.

*** Practice Safe Wading and Always Fish with a Friend ***

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The Buckeye United Fly Fishers, Inc is a non-profit corporation organized under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, incorporated in the State of Ohio
for the preservation, conservation and wise use of our fishing waters and game fish; and to assist in the protection and improvement of our natural resources