The last time I turtled was 1964. But yesterday I fell in deep water. I was fishing from a partially submerged rock sitting in my kayak side saddle. I stood up and turned around. Just then the wind gusted, there was a odd wave and the kayak push me off in deep water. I was wearing breathable waders and as always my PFD. The wind continued to blow and I was blown about 20 feet upstream. I tried to get in the kayak, but was unable, as there was too much water in the waders and this kayak is very light. I was trying to get back to the rock I had been fishing from. As I drifted upstream I got my feet on a rock but it was too deep to help and I slipped off. Swimming as hard as I could the wind was still blowing me against the current. Tried using the paddle to swim like I have seen in the videos and that did not work at all. The water was cold and I was shivering.
The wind abated a bit and swimming hard I managed to get back to the rock I had fallen off of. It was difficult to pull myself up on the rock because of the water in the waders, the cold and exhaustion. Got in the kayak and paddled downstream a short ways and had to completely remove the waders to get the water out. Put the waders back on to keep the wind from blowing me cold although the air temperature wasn't all that bad.
Lessons learned:
A PFD is not as useful if it is not buckled.
Breathable waders will fill with water quickly even with a waist belt.
Breathable waders do not float like neoprene.
Anything not secured can be lost or get wet even if the kayak does not go over.
Spring water is still pretty cold.

Glad you are safe! Hearing about others experiences helps all of us plan better. I know I fish a lot during the cold water months, but so far, have not had to deal with this type of opportunity. Thanks again for the info and glad you are safe!

Scary, glad you're safe. No PFD equals disaster.

+1

Thanks for passing on your lessons learned...

Glad to hear your ok. Did you have the cinch tight at the top of waiders and a belt on? I have gone in playing around an almost no water got in my waiders. We put our waiders up last month. The water temp is in the 60's and 70's.

The cinch was not tightened the belt was as tight as I was comfortable with. Air temperatures highs were in the 70s but since the wind was going to blow and there was a chance of rain I chose to wear the breathables.

And, since RealBigReel hasn't turtled since the year after JFK was assassinated, it means he's no amateur at this.

I think what happens, infrequently, is sort of analogous to the events in the book and movie, The Perfect Storm, where several normally insignificant events "stack" up and create a very dangerous condition.

Here, it was the motion of standing up and pivoting, coupled with an odd rogue wave, and a gust of wind . . . and the next thing you know, you are in the drink.

Waders aside, the great moral of his story? Wear a PFD. You may only need it once every 53 years . . . but, when it happens, it just happens in the blink of an eye.

Brad

Glad you made it out and shared your mishap. Perfect timing for everyone to rethink their own WATER SAFETY.

I dread the day it happens to me again. I wear breathable waders on all but the hottest days of summer. The one time I dumped with them on, a lot of air got trapped inside leg to feet area holding my legs high in the water. I never pulled the cord on inflatable pfd as I was so close to shore but I did have problems swimming because the air kept me from being able to submerge my legs. Ended up flipping over on my back and made it quickly to the bank. Hardly any water in waders with pfd strap on snug as was wader belt.

The waders I was wearing at the time had the built in heavy duty loose fitting rubber boots and I'm wondering if that was part of the reason so much air was trapped inside.

Your post got me to thinking about how long its been since I've practiced reentries or practiced using a kayak paddle to swim. I couldn't find article about using a kayak paddle for survival that got me to practice it but did find the video below that gives an idea of how it works. You can also use it while swimming face down. You might also consider not having your paddle feathered when using it to swim. Easy to learn when not in life/death situation.



For those planning on a trip to the coast, here is a good article on rip currents. Read it all as there are different thoughts on the subject but knowing what you are dealing with and knowing your options can only make you more confident and more importantly LESS LIKELY TO PANIC.

https://www.outsideonline.com/2089696/everything-you-know-about-surviving-rip-currents-wrong

If you wear waders while yaking in deep water be aware of the factors that can help you get out of them quickly if need be or have a tight belt you wear around your waist to keep most of the water out.
I personally do not wear anything heavy or waders if I am going anywhere near water deeper than 6 feet. I stay near shore or int he marsh if I want to wade out of my yak.
Practice is the best way to learn but YouTube can be your friend.

Wader Safety

I was trained with re-entry techniques and they were hard even then. It must be crazy tough with the wader on.

I have reentered many times wearing waiders. If you use the tools most waiders have available then minimal water gets in. I always get waiders with a bungie at the top and also a belt. I make sure they are cinched and fully buckle and zip my pfd. Most of the time i got little more than a cup of water out of my waiders after going in. We practice reentry tecniques regularly. So far ive only tipped once, it was in the summer but have jumped in many times to keep skills fresh.

+2

Thanks old timer. Wear that vest yall!
Experience played a part to keeping RBR safe Glad ur still with us dude

Scary