Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Reports => Local Trip Reports => Topic started by: Leedawg on January 26, 2011, 17:54:08 PM

Title: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: Leedawg on January 26, 2011, 17:54:08 PM
Marc's post about a brush with death brought this topic up so here we go. I am an old wore out whitewater rafting guide, fishin guide, and a whitewater kayaker. I hope this is worthwhile and not too boring.

The tailwaiters we fish are dangerous for many reasons. As Kyle said, "Even when they are off". First off, if and when you float, be aware of the current speed and temp. It does not take much speed to flip a boat of any kind. Especially drifters and small pontoons. NEVER float down the river sideways. Forward or backwards and you are fine. I used to toss people out of the whitewater boat in super slow water for fun and to prove a point.  Also know that when your body hits water that cold your muscles lock up and don't want to work. Even strong swimmers are in serious trouble when you hit water that cold.  Be aware of where you anchor. If the current is heavy, you can swamp very easily.

I was in a boat with 3 "guides" on the lower SoHo many years ago in a brand new Clack. Anchored in ripping water on the lower. NICE fish ON. Boat swings upstream and at the same time the guy on the oars and the guy in front go to the upstream side to net the fish. At that second the gunnel dipped low enough to take on water. I countered weight downstream and got ready to cut the anchor rope. NEVER let all the weight shift to the upstream side. We got damn LUCKY that day and it was a minor mishap. BUT we almost got it. Always carry your life jackets and carry a throw rope. Stay center in your boat.

For waders, be aware of what is called "Foot Entrapment" in moving water. Here's how it goes. Your foot slips between two rocks that don't move. Your toes are caught. If you fall at that time you are face down in the water and you are in trouble. The current is trying to take your body downstream, but your foot wont let it. You can't get your weight back upstream to free your foot. Pray you got a friend real close. You can fight it for about a minute before your face goes down in the water. Not good. I saw a lady on the Nolichucky drown in 2 feet of water. Lucky for her, her shoe came off and she floated downstream where we pulled her from the water. When we got her out, no pulse and no breathing. Getting ready to do CPR, BOOM, she comes back. Wasn't her day to stay dead. But she was for about 90 seconds.

Also wear a wading belt and cinch it up. If you do happen to swim, your waders won't fill up near as fast. There are those who have swam and those who will. Never try to cross a tailwater when they are generating. If you get stuck on the wrong side because it came up, stay there.

The TVA will change schedules on you. Be aware of the water and it's changes. It happens FAST! I remember this past summer the seasoned guide that died in Idaho. It can happen to you or I.

Please feel free to add to this and I hope it saves somebody from a mishap. Be safe out there.

Leedawg
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: flatlander on January 26, 2011, 18:56:45 PM
Sounds like sage advice to me 0:0
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: Rod Champion on January 26, 2011, 19:33:40 PM
And please don't drop anchor in running water from a kayak during generation on the South Holston.  When the anchor catches, down she goes. We got first hand vision of that one this year.
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: browntrouter on January 27, 2011, 17:40:08 PM
great advice, its not called a swim in 40 deg water its called its surviving!!
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: Woolly Bugger on February 01, 2011, 22:08:31 PM
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here's a trip that didn't go so well

FORKS -- Three fishermen were rescued Saturday from the Sol Duc River after their drift boat snagged on rocks and took on water.

The men walked through the swift-moving river while holding a rope to reach the boat of hunting and fishing guide Ryan Thomas, a Forks resident who rigged the safe passage after anchoring nearby.

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110130/news/301309991/three-rescued-from-raging-sol-duc-river-drift-boat-snagged-on-rocks (http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110130/news/301309991/three-rescued-from-raging-sol-duc-river-drift-boat-snagged-on-rocks)
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: glassfisher on February 03, 2011, 11:42:55 AM
I would recommend staying of the tailwaters alltogether.  The DH streams are much safer.   ;)
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: diaz dassie on February 03, 2011, 11:56:22 AM
Quote from: glassfisher on February 03, 2011, 11:42:55 AM
The DH streams are much safer.   ;)
:laugh:
The same can be said for blue lines, STAY AWAY FROM THEM :o
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: nerveracker on March 09, 2011, 14:36:24 PM

Sept 5, 2010
FINN ROCK, Ore -- A Tacoma man died Sunday after his boat overturned in the McKenzie River.

Lane County Sheriff's Office Marine Patrol along with Mckenzie Fire and Springfield medics responded to a report of an overturned drift boat with several people in the water. Three of the four occupants were able to get safely to shore.

Mckenzie Fire searched the area and was able to recover 63-year-old Sheldon Cross from the water. Cross was pronounced deadat the scene. He was not wearing a life jacket.

Here's a haunting detail: That very day, I was fishing at Finn Rock on the McKenzie.  A couple of drift boats came by, and a little while later, I was "rudely" interrupted by the McKenzie Fire and Rescue boat as they put in and went screaming down stream @ a mile from where I was.   After an hour or so, the boat came back up with an "extra" passenger that happened to be alive.   I knew nothing of what was going on until a couple days later.   But I had seen the boat float by me that ended up being this story.   
Be careful out there.  Boat or wading.  Here are some things I always try to keep in mind..  You must return from whence you came.  If you find yourself in an uncomfortable place, get the hell out now!
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: RIVERHORSE on September 03, 2011, 22:17:38 PM
 Really good advise on this,but I am confused(not a shock) what is meant by a DH stream and the Blue lines  :D
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: Woolly Bugger on September 04, 2011, 08:26:35 AM
Quote from: RIVERHORSE on September 03, 2011, 22:17:38 PM
Really good advise on this,but I am confused(not a shock) what is meant by a DH stream and the Blue lines  :D

DH = Delayed Harvest

Blue line = refers to the blue lines on a map which are usually unnamed headwater cricks
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: wind_knot on July 22, 2013, 07:58:36 AM
May I be permitted to add a little tidbit here?

A wadding staff.

For those of us that are not in the same shape as the days of our </sarcasm> college football careers <sarcasm> it is a truly beneficial tool that can save you from smashing some useful part of your body onto the rocks. I know it's not the easiest thing to haul around sometimes but there are several collapsible models that make this task a bit easier.

A wadding staff can make it to where you do not have to worry about falling over as much and can also make it a lot easier to reposition yourself so you are no longer completely under water. Providing yourself with a way to push your body back right is extremely useful.
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: Jeffrey7302 on September 02, 2013, 22:05:52 PM
Would you not wade the Toccoa near Horseshoe Bend Park?
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: walt on November 20, 2013, 08:56:11 AM

Blue line = refers to the blue lines on a map which are usually unnamed headwater cricks
[/quote] addendum: usually banjo pickin' going on nearby --- be careful --- and copperheads and rattlesnakes unreal --- bears - big hungry ones
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: walt on November 20, 2013, 09:03:09 AM
Good post Lee --- years ago Lee taught me to row -- the maiden voyage was on the Catawba and wouldn't you know it less than a 1/4 mile downstrean there was a fallen tree, a sweeper,  across the whole river. If Lee hadn't been in the boat I would have most likely tried something stupid like shooting through an "opening," --- a cooler experienced mind prevailed and we hoisted the boat up a steep riverbank --- went and got the trailer --- re-launched downstream. I think I out drank him that day --- it was close. -- Cheers
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: Beetle on November 20, 2013, 10:11:33 AM
I remember that tree Walt.    It was a doozy!
Title: Re: Tailwater River Safety
Post by: DRIFTS on November 20, 2013, 12:32:32 PM
I'm scared to float anything narrow enought for a tree to fall all the way across...glad it all worked out  'c; y; -0-