09-06-2010, 03:11 PM
This is off another forum but I thought you all might like to read this...you might recognize the name,
"idahofisher :Not trying to be argumentitive with you but I kinda gotta disagree. You can swim in waders, trust me, from experience. You don't want to fight the current, it is a losing battle. The trick is to get on your back with your feet out in front of you, while using your arms in a backstroke for changing direction.
If one does not understand river hydraulic's, one might mistakenly think that a fallen tree/sweeper might offer protection not danger. The persons health/strength/swimming abilities could have possibly have played a role in his demise also. It obviously is speculative on my part on what actually happened without knowing all of the details. Cheers
Jake H : The technique of lying on your back with your feet downstream is standard operational procedure whether you are wearing waders or not. This allows you to suspend your feet and "hopefully" keep them from being hung up in underwater debris while simultaneuously scanning your exit as you travel. When the river takes a dominate turn you then backstroke to the weak side and find your footing. Being swept into Microburst this time of year would give a window of opportunity to save yourself that is measured in milliseconds no matter what you are wearing. Floating and fishing RC at these flows is very common , this is a tragic event that could have been much worse as two people survived against very high odds. I can only speak for myself here but I am certain that had I been the guide I would never be able to guide again. I feel for everyone involved in this.
Lets be careful out there.
idahofisher : Jake good comments. "
And this quote from a very close friend,
"Posted by ARW
It is looking like that in this case Rob let himself get distracted form his responsibilities as guide/captain of the boat. One of the clients stated he got his line wrapped around the oar and Rob was trying to get it untangled, and it appears he let the boat free drift into a willow/sweeper.
This is not meant to bash Rob, everyone has metal lapses in judgment, but calling a spade a spade is an important learning tool to save lives in the future.
When you are on the sticks, you number ONE priority is the safety of the boat and thus the people inside...PERIOD, nothing else is even close. I don't care if dbag's line is wrapped around the oar and getting chewed-up in the oar lock. I don't care how big the fish is, that dbag wants you to drop the oars and net right now. In fact anytime there is a distraction like that, I take a few seconds and do an extra vigilant survey of the entire situation before I do anything."
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"idahofisher :Not trying to be argumentitive with you but I kinda gotta disagree. You can swim in waders, trust me, from experience. You don't want to fight the current, it is a losing battle. The trick is to get on your back with your feet out in front of you, while using your arms in a backstroke for changing direction.
If one does not understand river hydraulic's, one might mistakenly think that a fallen tree/sweeper might offer protection not danger. The persons health/strength/swimming abilities could have possibly have played a role in his demise also. It obviously is speculative on my part on what actually happened without knowing all of the details. Cheers
Jake H : The technique of lying on your back with your feet downstream is standard operational procedure whether you are wearing waders or not. This allows you to suspend your feet and "hopefully" keep them from being hung up in underwater debris while simultaneuously scanning your exit as you travel. When the river takes a dominate turn you then backstroke to the weak side and find your footing. Being swept into Microburst this time of year would give a window of opportunity to save yourself that is measured in milliseconds no matter what you are wearing. Floating and fishing RC at these flows is very common , this is a tragic event that could have been much worse as two people survived against very high odds. I can only speak for myself here but I am certain that had I been the guide I would never be able to guide again. I feel for everyone involved in this.
Lets be careful out there.
idahofisher : Jake good comments. "
And this quote from a very close friend,
"Posted by ARW
It is looking like that in this case Rob let himself get distracted form his responsibilities as guide/captain of the boat. One of the clients stated he got his line wrapped around the oar and Rob was trying to get it untangled, and it appears he let the boat free drift into a willow/sweeper.
This is not meant to bash Rob, everyone has metal lapses in judgment, but calling a spade a spade is an important learning tool to save lives in the future.
When you are on the sticks, you number ONE priority is the safety of the boat and thus the people inside...PERIOD, nothing else is even close. I don't care if dbag's line is wrapped around the oar and getting chewed-up in the oar lock. I don't care how big the fish is, that dbag wants you to drop the oars and net right now. In fact anytime there is a distraction like that, I take a few seconds and do an extra vigilant survey of the entire situation before I do anything."
[signature]