true enough.
in regards to river drownings I have been on both sides of the coin. I have witnessed one guy jump off the KW bridge but trip as he went to jump and landed flat on the water knocking himself unconscious, he was lucky there was about 20 people fishing in shorts that ALL jumped in to help him. the very last guy just happened to bump into him underwater and saved his life. He was on the phone 5 mins later telling a friend and laughing about it, what a moron !!
I was also at Lickman the day the older gentleman fell in near Peach road and was pulled out there at Lickman. That was my very first taste of a drowning on the Vedder. extremely terrifying !
the other two were both my own. one was me jumping into water deeper than I thought to try chasing a hot Red Spring on opening day. I went over my head twice before hitting solid ground.
second one found me waist deep in heavy current trying to traverse my way under a log that lay across the entire run we were fishing. it was Feb 2nd and I have a very large steelhead on. As I was going under the log my main line blew up sending me crashing into the frigid water over my head and quickly downstream. Had my dad not been there with me to help grab me as I jostled my way toward shallower water I probably would not be here. I did however know how to deal with the situation and knew to go feet first and keep my head above water, I did not however toss my rod to give me to free hands but instead relied on using my feet to kick against rocks sort of jumping myself to shore rather than back swimming.
Every single one of these events were different for a multitude of reasons. I know lots of other guys that have gone in doing even dumber things and even some of the simplest things. watched a guy jump in after a fish that slipped from his hands in the Fraser, crazy !
I now will not wade past my waist in medium current and nothing over my knees in heavier current unless there is 2 or more of us to lock together. I have learned a few lessons the hard way and I can guarantee my lessons are not over
We all need to be aware the river is unforgiving and will grasp your life from you given the chance. be smart out there and learn what to do if you do find yourself in over your head or going downstream.
If you can then wear a PFD at all times or at the least in areas you know could get out of hand fast. A vest that auto inflates is best because even if you smash your head on the fall it will still inflate
keep yourselves safe out there