Wading Safely While Fly Fishing

While it may be tempting to come across a new beautiful river and get out your fly fishing gear and waders, there are times when you should take some precautions. Flowing water can be dangerous and there are times when a pretty river can be hazardous.

Before you step into the river with your waders on, you should take a long look from the bank, and watch it. Watching a river before you fish it has at least two advantages and one of them has nothing to do with safety. By spending some time just watching, you can learn where the fish might be. You can observe the local entomology and see what might be hatching and that the fish might be taking. Also, just watching a river can often be relaxing and provides relief from stress.

But for safety’s sake, you should also watch a river and look for possible hazards. Although a river can appear to be shallow enough for safe wading, rivers often contain hidden drop offs and current changes. Scout along the bank and around any bends for where currents might suddenly get strong and where extra caution is required.

There are some rivers where it is imperative to have a wading staff with you. Wading staffs are available in several styles and sturdy telescoping models are available which can be very handy should you find yourself in a situation where it is required, and yet can also be stored in a small place. Wading staffs can be made from a variety of material including graphite and aluminum which helps to keep them light. Some come with a pouch that is easily attached to a wading belt, and the telescoping staff is easily deployed when needed.

A wading staff can offer you support when you need it, as well, you can use it to poke the river in front of you to see how deep it might be. There are times when a drop off in a river can be sudden and totally unexpected. One year, while wading the Six Mile Water River in Northern Ireland, I was astonished at just how deep some of the drop offs could be, and how unaware I was that they existed just a couple of steps away.

It is at times like this when it is handy and probably a good idea to hire a guide for at least the first time you fish a river. A guide can help point out river dangers that you wouldn’t otherwise know about.

Another river hazard is the fact that many great fisheries are on tailwaters below dams. When fishing these tailwaters, the angler needs to take extra precaution and watch the water flow for increases in the speed of the current. Sometimes, these dams need to be opened up to allow more water through and no warning can be given. This situation can create an enormous danger for anglers who are unaware of a dam upstream.

Wading can be an enjoyable and effective method for angling with a fly rod. But bare in mind that it can be dangerous. Take precautions to ensure your time on the water is a safe one.