FS Digest

A few years ago I was steelhead fishing alone on the Rogue river on a bend, hooked a big chromer that immediately shot down stream. In my brilliance I decided to try and cross a river I had no business crossing while fighting the fish, not really considering it was spring and we’d had a few days of rain.

Legs kicked out. Into the wash I tumble. Waders completely fill up. Last thing I remember before losing my balance was yelling “oh no” and then the sight of two white faced men pulling me out of a pool about 75yrds down stream.

I learned my lesson that day. But since then ANYTIME I wade, even fairly calm water, I get shaky legs, super nervous, jittery and generally fish like garbage because of it.

Has this happened to any of you and how did you come over it?

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by Yromemtnatsisrep

FS Digest

Make better decisions moving forward. You’ll get back in the right mindset.

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by redsox90210

FS Digest

Yeah, over 30 years ago I tried crossing a river I had no business crossing. Changed me forever, I don't take risks on big water, no fish is worth dying for.

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by bisleykid

FS Digest

I wear waders but a few times a year, partly for this reason. I know that’s feasible everywhere but it’s a good way to cut down on this concern.

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by mistaaT

FS Digest

You must fail to move forward.

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by BrockHoliday

FS Digest

Many years ago I stepped out of the company truck into a hole. Turns out somebody had removed the cast iron cover from the water meter by the street and I tumbled out in front of a bus, that fortunately stopped in time. A year later it was determined that I had torn 3 ligaments in my ankle and they finally went in and did arthroscopic surgery to clean up what was left. There wasn't much they could do. I can literally step off my foot. (And that just makes me sick to my stomach.)

Wading in even a moderate thigh deep flow on rocky terrain is very treacherous. One wrong move and I have no support and fall on my ass or face. I bought hiking sticks and eventually a very expensive very heavy Net Staff which is a combo net and hiking staff. I've found it gives a false sense of hope and can lead to wading in water I should just avoid and isn't really tall enough to help in pools or stable enough in the rapids.

After several embarrassing spills, including one in front of a very nice young female park ranger, I've kind of lost my nerve for wading in fast water.

These days if its fast or above my calves I try to paddle. Not a great solution, but, hey, I'm not in salmon or steelhead country anyway and the bass don't care.

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by Independent

FS Digest

Yeah, mine just happened recently actually. I was on top of a boulder, got a good size rainbow, needless to say the fish went down in between some rocks and got stuck, so I decide to take off my waders and the korkers I just got x.x and wade/move across the river using rocks to move along top of them, I slipped and fell into the river, the current took me about only 10 yards and luckily I got wedged in between two rocks before the water fall ( was only like 10-15 ft drop ) and I was able to climb out, came out with a broken toe and hit my back pretty hard. Scared me pretty bad and had me on edge for a bit, but honestly I'm just not gonna mess around ontop of boulders and take my time crossing rivers. It really has been more of a mental thing to conquer with me now.

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by ElGrandeOso

FS Digest

Start slow with some small creek or Stillwater fishing. Get your feet wet without having to worry about taking a plunge. Eventually you'll be fine again, if not a bit more cautious.

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by FLORI_DUH

FS Digest

I went in last November. The water was high, and the trail was washed out. I had seen some guys wading this bend a month earlier in similar conditions. I slipped and kept slipping and couldn’t get a footing. My waders filled up, and I couldn’t pull myself up onto a rock because it was so slippery. I was just kind of stuck there for a while until I finally got a good grasp on the top of a rock along the bank and pulled myself out.

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by nottaprodigy

FS Digest

I wear a life jacket when wading, every time. I started that after a similar wash out. There are some fishing-specific vests that work well. People sometimes give me funny looks, but I’ll take that over the feeling of being pulled under and bashed on rocks in heavy current.

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by SuperiorLake

FS Digest

I used to wade fish an old spanish fort that was very sharky with poor visibility. Inevitably, a big one would come in and give you a good bump and it's pretty terrifying to anyone with any sense. Well, this is going to sound bad but, I used to keep a couple beers in my pack to calm my nerves while I talked myself into wading out again. I'm not suggesting you get drunk on the river but, well...you asked.

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by YourDrunkGrampaw

Spiritof27 Loc: Lincoln, CA

Dude it's called post traumatic shock syndrome PTSD and it doesn't just affect combat veterans. Depending on how badly it is interfering with your enjoyment of fishing, you might want to seek counseling. I'm 71 years old and I don't do any serious wading because I'm not that steady on my feet walking down the sidewalk. Small streams and shallow water for me. Hang in there and keep on fishing.

FixorFish Loc: SW Oregon

I wear a suspender-type inflatable PFD (Mustang) when wading anything but a knee-high riffle, especially when alone. Not sure what advice I can help with to bring your confidence back except maybe carry a wading staff to give you a heads up when the river bottom changes.
I must say, my ears perked up when you mentioned the Rogue River. Been living in the Rogue Valley for 35 yrs. Fished it from above Beckie's Cafe where it comes out of lava tubes, to Lost Creek Reservoir, Casey Park, Dodge Bridge, Touvelle, Fisher's Ferry....all the way to the estuary at Gold Beach.... can't think of a single place along the entire 120 or so miles that I would try to cross wearing waders. Swim, yeah.. maybe..done it a few times... not easy....cold and fast...year round. I have dumped a Tahiti or a raft, more than once (usually @Powerhouse !), so I understand your trepidation....water is powerful. And an experience like yours is scarring. Spirit27 has it right...PTSD....mild form, of course, but still leaves an imprint. Just use that memory to remind yourself to be more aware of your surroundings and situation. Good luck and please, don't let this ruin river fishing for you.....we Oregonians have the obligation to fish ALL the lakes and rivers of our beautiful state as much as we can...no exceptions allowed !!!

hhager23 Loc: Hatteras NC

Scary stuff. But don't any of you guys wear a belt over and around your waders?

As a surf fisherman I wouldn't wear waders without a belt over and around them and a jacket to keep waves out of the top of the waders.

Bass face

I’ve been surfing for a better part of 40 years and I must say I’ve had my ass handed to me more times than I’d like to admit. A 15 foot wave has the force of 5 tons of water crashing on your head! So, do I stop surfing because my ass gets handed to me once and awhile..... no, I face my fear and paddle back out 🏄🏼‍♂️🎣