forget the tether on your rod, lifejacket AND a tether on those kids !!!
lifejacket does no good if they fall in and get swept out of reach in a matter of seconds. what do you do then ?? watch them float away screaming, jump in after them so they can watch a parent drown (assuming your not wearing a pfd) ??
I have not had my son on the river with me other than where its shallow for quite a ways from dry land and even then he is normally in his pfd OR he never goes deeper than his kness because i stay back shallow enough he can stand with me if he wants. taking your own life in your hands is your decision but dont risk your kids thinking your ok, worst things normally happen before you even have a chance to react.
nice sturgeon
HOOK - if my sons are near moving water thats deep quickly they will be in pfd's and tethered to my waist (not my waist belt). they might hate it but at least they wont vanish suddenly