Penns creek is a likely place to take a swim. Not many places that are as challenging to wade as Penns in Pa.
Water Level/Stream Gauge Guidance
- Thread starter sam
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dryflyguy
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Are you saying that, during over 50 years of fishing, you've never fallen in?
I have fallen sometimes in shallow water, landing mostly on rocks, which isn't fun. And one time I backed up against a log and sat down in still water along the edge.
But I never fell in and "took a swim." Was never immersed in the water, never had the current carry me down.
If someone is falling in and taking a swim on a regular basis, they should make adjustments to change that, because that is dangerous. You can adjust your gear, and where and how you are wading.
salmo
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We are expecting some rain. I’ll be in north central Pennsylvania Tuesday - Friday. Wish me luck.
wildtrout2
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I can say in the last 20+ years I've fallen (in the stream) one time and got a little wet, not once was I immersed though. The streams I fish, for the most part, don't lend themselves to "taking a swim". If you're fishing big, or bigger water, you do need to take extra precautions to not make it a regular occurence as TB eluded to.
I'm convinced me using felt soles has a lot to do with my lack of slips/falls.
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I would agree with @Schaefer406 and @Swattie87 on those CFS levels for wading. A couple of of other factors would be your age and location on the stream. I used to be able to dance all over Penns when I was in my 20's without a wading staff. Now in my 60's I'm a little more cautious where I fish. Even on a good day, wading on certain parts of Penns is like walking on greased bowling balls. There are a few spots on all these streams that are a little easier in higher water. I need to make better notes of these spots on both fronts.
+1 ^
dryflyguy
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You're making a distinction between falling in, and really going in and being swept away.
If I fall in and water goes over my waders, and I get soaked - I still just call it going for a swim
Schaefer406
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I work in a safety profession, so I always think before making any moves on the river. Here are some articles highlighting why you need to keep your safety in mind on the river, no matter your age or athletic ability. If you fall, your first thought should be protecting your head from rocks and getting yourself back on your feet, rod comes second.
- https://2guysandariver.com/drowning-while-fly-fishing-is-always-on-the-table/
- https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/brit...mishap-leaves-man-dead-woman-missing-1.989899
- https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...g-trip-husband-slips-wife-tries-save-him.html
Not to bring grim examples into the picture, but it is important to learn from incidents others have experienced. Always look out for your fellow FFers on the river and help them if they are struggling. I've come by a guy experiencing bad heat exhaustion before and was able to help get him hydrated and back to the parking access.
wildtrout2
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Probably because there is a distinction? Falling/tripping and getting a little bit wet is not the same as "taking a swim", i.e. falling in deeper water (immersed) and getting totally soaked.
dryflyguy
Well-known member
If you get wet, its pretty much all the same to me.
Especially early in the season when its cold - and you really need to stop fishing, and get out of wet clothes.
Falling in deep water can certainly be very dangerous, for sure.
However, the worst fall I ever took, was in shallow water that was no more than knee deep.
Hit some jagged rocks that put a big cut in my arm and wrist, and bruised my leg pretty bad.
My wrist was so sore, I couldn't even tie a fly on for several weeks.
Deeper water would have certainly cushioned that......
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wildtrout2
Well-known member
Good luck up there! You'll have good stream flows after the expected rains, but the water will be on the colder side. In the last few days Kettle has had nighttime low temps of around 45F and high daytime temps at only 53F. The tribs will be even colder. Ya gotta play to win though.
lycoflyfisher
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Tuesday morning lows were well down into the 20s, very heavy frost throughout much of NCPA.
Swattie87
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The first and best step to minimize the chance of injury from falling is to simply not put yourself in situations where you are likely to fall…Deep water, excessively slippery rocks, big flat slab bottom style rocks, heavy current, etc.
That said, once you realize you’re in a bad spot and you’re gonna fall, step one is let go of the rod, or anything else in your hand at the time. It’s better for both you (frees up your hands to brace your fall with) and there’s less likely a chance to break your rod by dropping it, than by landing with your weight on it. I often half toss the rod clear away from me if I know I’m going down.
Next, try to just essentially sit down and land on your butt if you can. What it’s there for and the area on you that has the most padding. Not always possible, depending on your orientation when you fall, but your butt, if possible, is the best thing to land on.
Once you do go down make sure you get up with solid footing. Falling once and being wet, is better than falling twice and being wet.
Most of my falls occur in shallow, relatively benign water near the bank, where I’m not really paying that much attention to my footing. The most common denominator in my falls are they most often involve largeish rocks (the size of your boot or bigger) that slope ever so slightly away from you. Just subtly, and not enough that you really notice it, and avoid them. Your lead foot goes down on one of those and slides forward away from you, and you’re going down, no way to stop it.
That said, once you realize you’re in a bad spot and you’re gonna fall, step one is let go of the rod, or anything else in your hand at the time. It’s better for both you (frees up your hands to brace your fall with) and there’s less likely a chance to break your rod by dropping it, than by landing with your weight on it. I often half toss the rod clear away from me if I know I’m going down.
Next, try to just essentially sit down and land on your butt if you can. What it’s there for and the area on you that has the most padding. Not always possible, depending on your orientation when you fall, but your butt, if possible, is the best thing to land on.
Once you do go down make sure you get up with solid footing. Falling once and being wet, is better than falling twice and being wet.
Most of my falls occur in shallow, relatively benign water near the bank, where I’m not really paying that much attention to my footing. The most common denominator in my falls are they most often involve largeish rocks (the size of your boot or bigger) that slope ever so slightly away from you. Just subtly, and not enough that you really notice it, and avoid them. Your lead foot goes down on one of those and slides forward away from you, and you’re going down, no way to stop it.
Nocktavius
Well-known member
Everyone should fall in once in awhile, if for no other reason than having practice to do right things (feet downstream, find stable footing, avoid hazards like strainers and rocks that could underpin you or hit your head on). The human body is remarkably buoyant if you don’t panic and know how to swim. Better to take a little dip on a 70 degree April day and know how to handle yourself than slip in January after a perfect 50 year track record. It’s lack of familiarity that kills people, not dipping it fairly often due to a more aggressive wading style.
I’m not talking about the Yellowstone river here- this is Penns creek, the little J, spring, etc very few places where your life is in any danger if you take a lil swim even at 700 cfs. Gotta wade aggressively to get a good drift- it’s just part of the fun.
I’m not talking about the Yellowstone river here- this is Penns creek, the little J, spring, etc very few places where your life is in any danger if you take a lil swim even at 700 cfs. Gotta wade aggressively to get a good drift- it’s just part of the fun.
6xAdams(Jones)
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Nothing else puckers me up more than having a foot stuck in something 2-3 feet below the surface... full-flow or no-flow.
dryflyguy
Well-known member
My problem is that I'm always looking for rises.
And when I spot one, I tend to focus on it as I move into casting range.
Instead of where I'm walking.
Tough habit to break but I'm trying
I've also grudgingly began to use a wading staff more, since I took that nasty fall several years ago
And when I spot one, I tend to focus on it as I move into casting range.
Instead of where I'm walking.
Tough habit to break but I'm trying
I've also grudgingly began to use a wading staff more, since I took that nasty fall several years ago
wildtrout2
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I'm often guilty of that myself.
Schaefer406
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I get myself in trouble a lot fighting fish (larger fish usually are the culprits) who make their way downstream and I am scrambling to gain control of the fight again. I have taken some short bodily float trips trying to get downstream of the fish
