Waders and emergecy dunking.

[riverdog]

I have to agree 100% with FG. Waders aren't going to save you from the current and undertows. They may not pull you under but they aren't a PFD. I went for a ride several years ago on the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone with my breathable waders filling up. Pointed my feet downstream and no harm done as the ride ended when I entered a patch of slower water. I was not pulled under by the waders. I didn't even notice the waders had an effect compared to if I hadn't had them on. Now when I got to shallow water and stood up you could feel the weight of the waders with water. I was new to fishing rivers at the time and didn't have a belt on. I wear one now so if it happens again I won't have such wet clothes not because I think a belt is somehow going to save me. I'd jump any day into a pool with waders. It's the current. Reminds me I was fishing a small creek in Idaho with my dogs when someone on horseback came by on a trail a ways up with a dog. Their dog barked, ran down and attempted to cross the stream toward us. Only problem it picked a tight bend with quick water and got pinned down against a log on the bank. The person on the horse couldn't see this from above the bank. After about 30 seconds of struggling I was afraid it was going to drown so I headed over to try to pull it out. Fortunately it finally got out before I reached it. This was a tiny stream probable 10 cfs and the dog was probable 40 lbs. I was surprised the forces of the water could be that strong but the dog picked a spot that I would never have tried to cross. I'm pretty sure if the dog had waders it would have still been pinned just it could have blamed the waders in that case[].
We need to be careful whether we have waders on or not.
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