Safe Wading Tips with Tom Rosenbauer 

I would add (from a very painful experience) , don't wade and cast simultaneously! I fell a few years back while trying to move and cast to a rising fish. I slipped on an algae covered rock in 6" of water . When I landed my pinkie finger went between two rocks and snapped in half. I spent the rest of my day in the ER and yhe next 6 weeks doing rehab exercises.

That was a fantastic episode. Thank you very much for sharing this with us all.

I buy cheap aluminum walking staffs from discount stores and zip tie a climbing ring on my hip pack like a scabbard. In Oregon there are lava tubes some rivers where a wrong step you are over your head.

Glad you mentioned PFD's. I feel I should provide an underline to that comment. EVERYONE should use a PFD, not just non-swimmers. If you go down, bang your head and go unconscious, having 3 Olympic swimming gold medals won't save you. The CO2 cartridge inflatables are a good option for those who find the traditional PFD unworkable because of weight and bulk.

Good tips! When you wade for the first time, it's easy to underestimate how fast and deep the waters can be. Just take your time, and I recommend getting polaroid glasses to help you see bottom better.

Excellent tutorial SAFETY TIPS Tom 🎣👍

One important thing is also to loosen up your packs and have a plan to ditch your gear if you have to. My friend had his pack on while crossing the Gunnison. He slipped on a rock and the pack started to float putting him face down into the water. Lucky he was able to get out and I recovered his bag down river after we got him to safety. Things went bad really fast.

Well done as usual! Thank you.

Also, before you start make sure to check what’s downstream of where you are crossing. Is there a log jam or rootwad?

These are great tips, thanks so much! :)

Great tips, thank you.

While Salmon fishing, a couple crossed up stream and called their dog across. Their dog got caught in the current and was coming quickly toward me. They shouted for me to catch him. When I tried to grab their dog, I slipped and we both headed down the current. First time I’d been off of my feet fishing and was surprised how even what seemed to be a mild current was so powerful when not in contact with the ground. Impossible to get back on your feet.

Some good tips there Tom. One thing I have found however is that the belts that come with waders (including my wonderful Orvis waders) are typically stretchy. These do a lousy job of keeping the water out if you get dunked. I replaced my belt with a non-stretch tradesman's belt and keep it firmly secured. It takes much longer for a big quantity of water to get in, should you go under. The non-stretch belt also holds up other stuff like a wading staff without it sagging too much.

Your comment about walking upstream is important. I remember working my way downstream towards a bend and almost stepped into a gravel hole. Pretty scary and lesson learned. Don’t repeat.

Im a very clumsy wader, i live in western Montana and its almost all bowling balls to stand on, walk on, move through. Its exhausting and even using a staff i fall alot, slip, clack the rocks. I dont have any confidence that im sneaking up on anything and indeed, im rarely successful at fly fishing

Tom, I'm curious your experience / opinion using cleated boots. I switched from felt to screw in cleats (not spikes) and I fall a LOT less now. They also work in the snow better than felt, as you pointed out the cons of felt in the winter already. Haven't done dedicated spikes, nor studded felt. Thanks for another great video.

Sound advice

No mention of studs? I use rubber souls with studs.

The scariest danger is getting your foot trapped between large rocks and being swept over and held under. In fast water stick to the cobbles and rocks smaller than your boot. Watch for v shaped piles and cracks. Logs are always slimy and dangerous. Know about strainers, undercut banks,keepers and low head recirculating dams. Before wading consider swimming and where the dangers and best exits would be. Look at eddies,riffles, beaches and low grassy banks for best exits. Avoid brushy banks and submerged trees. Icy water is always life threatening especially when it looks easy. Cloudy, murky low visibility water should not be done if the rocks are grabby. Flood stage with bent over branches and big water is tricky. Be aware of possible upstream dam releases of water. If the river goes underground or through tunnels under a road or there's a waterfall you need to know about it. With chest waders when you get deeper you become bouyant and as you float you lose pressure on your feet and get swept. Don't go deep. The deeper you are the more body area there is for the water to push against and foot locks become fast and lethal. Swimming in fast rapids get your feet in front and shallow. Protect your head. Also protect your tailbone by laying back flatter and scull with the hands for stability. Don't try to stand as that's either a foor jam or shin wack. Aim for the preplanned exits. Wadeing with a buddy or having a friend keep an eye from shore are always good ideas.

If you're brand new to fly fishing, and you're an old codger that can barely walk across your kitchen to the refrigerator because of adverse health issues or out of shape, DONT EVEN TRY TO WADE FISH. Drift boat or raft it or find a location to stand on bank and learn to roll cast. PLEASE!