Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Wader Boot Safety

Has anyone fallen in the water with waders on? Last night the water was at chest height when one foot got stuck in the muck and I nearly submerged. I got to thinking about what I would do if I fell and the boots filled completely. It would seem that it could be very difficult to resurface and/or wiggle out of the boots. How dangerous is it to use waders at the edge of deep water? Are there any tricks for saving yourself?

One trick if you fall into deep water: immediately pull your knees up to your chest. Air will be trapped, and you will float. You can use your arms to paddle back to shore.

I know this doesn't help with being stuck in the mud, but if you fall into deep water, make this your first response.

My advisor at Colorado State Univ. taught me this trick. He actually had us go to the swimming pool with waders and jump into the pool. Later that year while duck hunting along the Platte River, I was chasing a downed greenhead down the river, jumped in at the wrong spot (too deep), and immediately pulled my knees up to my chest. Although I lost my breath in the cold water, I easily paddled back into shore with my "backstroke."

You could always cut holes in the bottom for the water to drain out. Aw,come on,you knew somebody would post that response

Why didn't I think of that????

As a kid, I stepped into a washed out creek basin with waders on, fishing tackle and shotgun in hand. I had crossed there 100 times before at thigh deep. This time it was well over my head and wide. Immediately went completely under and was being washed down the raging torrent. As much as I didn't want to lose my gear, I had no choice. Dumped the shotgun and fishing gear and grabbed onto a nearby concrete bridge support. While clinging to the side my waders wanted to pull me down. Ended up pulling the waders off and letting them go. Fortunately, there was a kid on a 4-wheeler that witnessed the whole thing and called emergency rescue. Lucky to have survived through a hard lesson.

wow i bet you were scared i would have soiled myself. lol glad you made it. last year i was duck hunting and shot my first duck and at the end of the day the duck floated to the other side. so i went wadding for it and found a hole, went under and came back and paddeled to shore. i then stripped down and swam across to get my first duck. i will never do that again. you only have one first duck.

Years ago, I was in waders setting conibear traps for muskrats at the entrance to their dens in the dead of winter.I foolishly thought I could set one more on the steepest slope in the pond. I slid backwards and under in a flash:lunging up I grabbed a small root that held long enough for me to get out. I was a nervous wreck the rest of the day.Thanks Dr.Dave for your great tip,it might save me or someone else in the future! After that episode,I switched to using a boat to set traps. Remind me to tell you about the time I leaned too far over in the boat and to stop from falling in jammed my hand thru the trap and had it close on it. Nah, I'll save that story for another time.

Great(could have been bad) stories. I still think about 20-25 yrs. ago, barreling down a bayou south of H-town to a duck blind with my teenage son, or another person. Layers of clothes and waders. The darkest of nights we would leave the light off, because with no light, could faintly see the outline of trees on each side. What if a floating log or gator was in the way. The Man upstairs was lookin' after us. After a few trips, I at least got smart enough to leavae the waders unbuttoned. Yes, it actually used to get cold in Jan, Feb. in Houston.