Panick/Fear your greatest enemy.

[Korrie]

A Little story about an incident that happened to me on my trip in Scandinavia

We were fishing a river, about 80 meters wide.
The water did not look so strong, but once I got into the river I realised, it is PUMPING.

But determined to fish the river and seeing a submerged rock three quarters across, I dediced I should make it across and will be able to nymph the fish behind the rock,
Normally in the very fast waters, there is always a fish behind a rock.
As I was fishing and wading across, almost at my "destination" I stepped into a little hole, but as you see from the photos, I was about crotch deep.
A little step in a hole about 10cm deeper provided the extra boyancy and push from the water to get me mobile.

This step by step photographs were taken by my Norwegian friend Alex Borge Ostwald.
It took me about 200 meters to get out, further down stream.
The water was about 7 degrees, air temp 5 degrees.
I have to admit the first 30 to 40 meters I wanted to start panicking.
But then common sense kicked in.
But hopefully this will provide some advice that might save someone elses live.

a. I did have waders on, and you hear all these stories about waders filling up and drowning people. A lot of those stories flash thru you mind in the first 50 meters.
b. I did have a wading belt on.
c. I did have a wading jacket on
d. I did have a fly vest on.

The sum total of water in my waders after floating/drifting/washing 200meters of a huge river less than a cup full in each of my wading trouser legs.
Water cannot enter the waders that easily.
Water pushes from the outside to press the waders against your body. So water cannot "RUSH" in.
The wading jacket was also pushed against my body, so water cannot easily get into the waders.
There is some byoancy from the air trapped in the waders and jacket.
Dont fight the water, just flow with it.
Steer yourself gently to the side.
ALWAYS USE A GOOD WADING BELT.
Having experienced the "drown and across" method once or twice before, but in much smaller rivers, did help.

[Korrie]

A good couple of forumers will have a good laugh at me, but if this helps ONE person, it is worth it.

[Korrie]

Somehow the captions did not work with the photos.

photo 1, Nymphing/wading in very fast water.
Photo 2. Oeps, starting to move.
Photo 3. Wait, might get my footing back.
Photo 4. Maybe not getting my footing bac,...
Photo 5. This is getting deeper and deeper..
Photo 6. This is very very deep and very frightening.
Photo 7. Just keep a cool or a cold head, you are floating...
Photo 8. I might get out of this alive and kicking
Photo 9. Is this a bit of terra firma I am feeling...

[briansflyfishing]

The main thing is you are alive to tell the story. Thanks for the lesson Korrie.

[Korrie]

We had a good chuckle afterwards, about me being washed away and him getting the shots.
I asked him what would he have done with the shots, if I did drown.
He calmly remarked, without blinking, "I have not thought about it, probably sold it for a couple of dollars, to pay for my next fishing trip."

[Ryan]

Shussuss boet... you look like live cattle crossing a river.. One has to be careful out there! For me, something which I find far more important...Always go out and fish with someone.. It is always going to be the far safer option. That is how I see it and will always try to head out with a fishing partner for the day.

[Korrie]

Hi Ryan
I floated/drifted past 2 friends.
As they said, there is nothing you can do. The river was so fast and strong. The one took photos and the other just looked at me.
The photographer was 50m down stream and the other 100meters.
There is noway, they will jump in, the river would have washed them away with me.
In serious waters the only thing your friend can do is call the search party.
If they jump in, they might be a another casualty.

[dizzy]

Hi Ryan
I floated/drifted past 2 friends.
As they said, there is nothing you can do. The river was so fast and strong. The one took photos and the other just looked at me.
The photographer was 50m down stream and the other 100meters.
There is noway, they will jump in, the river would have washed them away with me.
In serious waters the only thing your friend can do is call the search party.
If they jump in, they might be a another casualty.

Sorry, but I dont agree with this.
By the time the search party gets there - you're gone

I can swim, and I would go after a mate if he was in serious trouble.
Funny thing is that you never really thought you were in trouble anyway, so they (your friends) never picked up the panick in your body language.
If you were sure you were going to drown, what were you holding onto your rod for?
Where is your wading stick? Have you learned nothing from the Vaal?

[Andre]

Korrie, were you fishing "drown and accross? again?

[Korrie]

Sorry, but I dont agree with this.
By the time the search party gets there - you're gone

I can swim, and I would go after a mate if he was in serious trouble.
Funny thing is that you never really thought you were in trouble anyway, so they (your friends) never picked up the panick in your body language.
If you were sure you were going to drown, what were you holding onto your rod for?
Where is your wading stick? Have you learned nothing from the Vaal?

Hi Dizzy
that is why I said "search party" to search for your body.
As mentioned, the panick started to creep in, for the first 30 or 40 meters.
There after I calmed down and steered myself to the side.
As mentioned, I have had one or 2 previous experiences, which did help.
As for swimming, you can't really swim with wading boots, waders, wading jacket, thick clothes under all and a fly vest.
As for the Panick in my body language, I realised that PANICK is the worst to do, stay calm and see what you can do to get out.

This is what I am trying to get across, dont panick, stay calm and work a plan.

I grew up along the sea and once or twice got swept out by a strong current. Dont fight the current, stay calm and swim with it.
The same with the river, STAY calm, don't fight the water.
as for a wading stick, did not have one with me.