Into the drink! Now I need one.

I fished the Klick this morning, and after fishing for the better part of the day, as I was trying to cross downstream, I failed to notice the side current that broad-sided me. I was in my Mini-X and was sitting on my knees admittedly a little higher than I should have been. It happened quicker than I could shift my weight to compensate. As I was going over, I thought, "Crap! I'm going over. May as well try an push the kayak back so at least it doesn't turn over." I didn't have my rods leashed in and I didn't want to lose any of them. In doing so, I went under because I pushed so hard.

I came back up with my PFD, but I had only clasped the lowest buckle so it didn't keep me high up in the water. My waders started taking on water quickly because of this even though I had the belt cinched tight above my waist. I grabbed the 'yak and still had the paddle in my hand but was stuck in an eddy that didn't want to let me go. I considered pulling myself back in, but I couldn't put the paddle down for fear of losing it. I started getting a little anxious and looked around to see if there might be someone to help me in case I needed it. There was no one there. I had my whistle with me, but decided to hold off to see what I could do on my own.

I kept a hold of the 'yak with my right hand at the same time holding on to the paddle and side-stroked as best as I could to the west bank.  It's tough doing that in wading boots. I felt like, other than my left arm, I was flailing almost to no end. Finally, I gave one more good push and felt for the bottom. Finally!

I got to shore and started stripping off my clothing to dry it out as best as I could. I kept my wet cotton sweatpants, but got out as much water as I could. I took off my fleece sweatshirt that I had on and wrung it out. It kept me remarkably warm even after it was soaked. I dried out and decided not to fish any further. I had already caught one Chinook and hooked several others, but thought that it was for the best to just head home. Luckily, I had tethered it and didn't lose that fish. I didn't lose any gear, surprisingly.

In retrospect, there are so many things that I should have done better: choice in clothing, putting my phone in its waterproof container (heck, just bringing it), properly wearing my PFD, wearing my kayak splash jacket, sitting lower in the 'yak to be more stable... What I did do well (I thought) was keeping my wits about me after the initial dunking. If the water had been any colder, or I was doing that in the middle of November, I wonder how things would have gone. I had a small survival pack with me in my bag (that was tethered down in the back) that I could have used to start a fire if it came to that. Luckily, I was close to where I had parked and was back in my truck 45 minutes after it happened. I'm considering bringing a dry bag and filling it with a change of dry clothing and some snacks.

Well, that said, I hugged my family when I got home and told the story to my wife who turned a little pale when I was done with my tale. I may take the next day or two off to rest, relax, and reflect on this... But I'll definitely be out again on Wednesday to try and get a few more fish for the freezer.

Be careful out there!

Fred "True" Trujillo

Glad to hear you fared well.  Definitely could have been a statistic.  A drysuit would have made that fall trivial.

Glad you got out of that ok Fred! the scariest into the drink moment i had  was on the mckenzie and i had my PFD real loose because it was super hot, doesn't work loose....

You got that right, Roy. It was like I wasn't using anything since it wasn't buckled tight.

Lee, I've thought about the drysuit, but it seems a bit of overkill when I'm just crossing rivers. If anything, I should have had my 'yak pullover AND tightened up my PFD. Still, I think I'm going to look in to one for my time on the ocean.

Fred "True" Trujillo

Wow, Tru, that's quite a tale! Really glad you're OK, sure could have turned out a lot worse. My drysuit was probably the best thing I've bought for my yak, won't leave home without it unless the water's over 70.

I'm planning on hitting the mouth of the Klick Wednesday but I'll be with a buddy from CA and we're fishing with a guide. Have you fished the mouth? Our guide says he's been limiting out there regularly. It also looks pretty kayak friendly, at least on Google Earth.

I hope to hit Drano on Tuesday or Thursday in the Tandem Island and I'm planning on renting or borrrowing a drysuit for my bud.

Drano now has a four adult salmon limit, native or hatchery, and two poles per angler are allowed. Anyone want to join us this week, we may fish it more than once if things go well on Tuesday.

Fred
Would a 2nd belt higher up have helped keep you drier?  Have read fly fishing forums where they insizt one high and one low is the way to go.

Then again, we have the "Waders of Death" video from Jim Summons that a lot of folks take as gospel too. But personally after a few years of reading accounts such as yours I'm inclined to discount it as merely plausible.

Definitely yes wear the pfd as snugly as you can tolerate. As a multi huli veteran,  I've learned from experience that too loose usually can put my pfd up around my ears or head instead of where it should be. Translation: my stupid ass is probably lucky I'm not a drowning statistic.

 Good to read you were able to overcome a threatening situation and get home to your loved ones.

Glad it turned out okay.  Got a paddle leash? 

Good to hear you kept a calm head and made it back to your truck!  This is a good lesson to learn from as we get closer to the colder months.  The water will be getting much colder and more people will be chasing steelhead in smaller rivers.  Things can go south much more quickly on a small river than in any other type of water we usually fish.  For that reason it's best to go with a buddy.  Thanks for sharing, True!

In addition to keeping you warm and dry, a dry suit contains enough air to keep you afloat even if you aren't wearing a PFD.  I speargun for pike while snorkeling.  On Sunday, October 13, the water temperature was 50 degrees, so I was wearing a lot of layers under my drysuit.  If I didn't burp the air out of my drysuit, I'd float like a cork.  Even after burping as much air as I could out of my drysuit, in order to keep my flippers underwater where they are quieter I was wearing 17 pounds of free diving weights on my back, and 3.5 pounds on each ankle.  Despite wearing all those weights, I'd really need to work to dive underwater, and I snorkeled around for about 4 hours with no concern about drowning. I'm certainly not suggesting that you don't need a PFD if you're wearing a drysuit.  I'm just pointing out that a drysuit adds a lot of flotation.

Drysuit is the way to go in my opinion.  Already had my "sorta kinda near death experience" with waders.  That Jim Sammons video is liability.  He isn't testing a wader system.  He is testing a wader and drytop combo in the video I have seen.

Yah, in one video he jumps in with waders open.  But he doesn't have much clothing that traps water on either.  So if you are dressing exactly like he is, it will work.  On a cold wet northpacific day, if you are wearing anything more than can soak up water, it;s tough to renter the kayak let alone walk on land once you get out.  I couldn't even get my jacket off once it was soaking wet and I made it to dry land. 

Glad you're OK! Rule #1 in all survival situations is keep your wits about you. Glad you were able to do that and make it out OK.

whoa, your story, I felt like I was there.  glad you fathomed the storm.  maybe thigh straps would've helped with the cap size?  glad you are okay.  paddle safe bro.

IH, there were 50 (no lie) boats at the mouth of the Klick when I finished on Sunday. There were 4 at the mouth of the White Salmon. I will probably head out to fish the lower river sans 'yak as I get out of school late and wouldn't get done and out until dark. I'd hate to tip in the dark.

WR, I haven't thought about using a second belt higher up, but I could have probably positioned the belt I had higher up. Still, there was a LOT of water in my waders and I think about how much it hindered me in my attempt to get in the kayak.

Demonick, yeah, but was did I think I'd need it? Nope. I'll be bringing it from this point on.

Kingdingding, I think if I had just been sitting down in the seat that I wouldn't have tipped. I got cocky thinking I would be fine. Yeah... not so much.

Rawk, fishing with a buddy is definitely the way to go.

With regards to the drysuit, I don't think I'd wear one for the smaller rivers. The Columbia and in the ocean, definitely when the weather's colder. I'll probably wear my splash top and cinch up my wading belt and PROPERLY fasten my PFD.

Fred "True" Trujillo

Fred,
Take a look at this belt;

http://www.fishpondusa.com/riogrande-waderbelt.cfm

I was given one as a birthday gift. It's got really really good back support, and is really wide. I know it wont cure all the leakage issues, but it might help.

That's a good lookin' belt. I'm wondering if there is one that would have floating capabilities with it?

Fred "True" Trujillo