Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Wader Boot Safety

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."