04-16-2006, 05:22 PM
I think the safest thing one can do before any situation ever arises, is to close your eyes and envision what you would do and how you would react.
I have thought of the safety of waders in the past and the best info I can give you, and know someone who has used this, is to carry a sharp knife on you at all times in a very accessable spot, ON YOUR PERSON! If I was to go under, I can have my knife out within 2-3 seconds and be cutting. Same for deep sea fishing, you get a line wrapped around you and you better be able to cut it within 4 seconds! Otherwise you can get pulled under.
A friend of mine was walking about 15 feet from shore and walked/slipped off a ledge in the water. His waders started filling up and he pulled his knife immediately and slit from ankle up on each leg using the gut hook. As soon as he did it, he said he could feel a bunch of weight dissipate. The spot he stepped off of went from about 3' to about 12'. He has said it may have well been 300' deep to him. When he went under he said the only thing on his mind was, knife & cut.
Now, I have never been in an 'ohh shoot' situation while wearing waders but have been in other OS situations where the following has literally saved my life. Situational awareness is the #1 thing that can help prevent you from getting into a situation in any environment. Whether in the city walking a dark street, drinking in a bar, elk hunting 6 miles back country, or sitting in a boat. A person should ALWAYS be thinking about what could happen and how they would react. Where is the best route out, what items/things in the area could help me, what is the #1 thing I need to get done to ensure my safety. You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Situational mental practice will save your butt if things happen to go too far.
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I have thought of the safety of waders in the past and the best info I can give you, and know someone who has used this, is to carry a sharp knife on you at all times in a very accessable spot, ON YOUR PERSON! If I was to go under, I can have my knife out within 2-3 seconds and be cutting. Same for deep sea fishing, you get a line wrapped around you and you better be able to cut it within 4 seconds! Otherwise you can get pulled under.
A friend of mine was walking about 15 feet from shore and walked/slipped off a ledge in the water. His waders started filling up and he pulled his knife immediately and slit from ankle up on each leg using the gut hook. As soon as he did it, he said he could feel a bunch of weight dissipate. The spot he stepped off of went from about 3' to about 12'. He has said it may have well been 300' deep to him. When he went under he said the only thing on his mind was, knife & cut.
Now, I have never been in an 'ohh shoot' situation while wearing waders but have been in other OS situations where the following has literally saved my life. Situational awareness is the #1 thing that can help prevent you from getting into a situation in any environment. Whether in the city walking a dark street, drinking in a bar, elk hunting 6 miles back country, or sitting in a boat. A person should ALWAYS be thinking about what could happen and how they would react. Where is the best route out, what items/things in the area could help me, what is the #1 thing I need to get done to ensure my safety. You need to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Situational mental practice will save your butt if things happen to go too far.
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