On Sat, 24 May 2008 12:57:24 -0700, "asadi"
wrote:


"jwh" wrote in message
...
I've got a problem with my legs that makes wading a little unstable a
times. I use a wading stick for stability but sometimes I am concerned
about falling. I have read about the small Mustang (or similar) vests
that inflate if you get submereged. I was thinking about one for that
just in case moment. They look like they would not interfere with
casting.
The water that I wade is not too deep ore fast but has some holes etc
like most rivers in Michigan. Anyone used one of these vests for
wading or any other thoughts?

As a person trained in breathing apparatus and such stuff, if you think you
might one day need that vest..practice with it.

Buy some spare cartridges, locate a swimming pool or pond where you can
control your depth and do it thusly..

At home practice with either hand going to the rip cord or lanyard or
whatchacallit...then with your eyes closed..then with you eyes closed and
you head tilted all the way back...

Then hit the shallow water (where you can easily stand up) dunk your head
and practice with either hand...)..drill fashion and finally pop your cork..

Then do a live drill...(follow Dave's advice on having a friend with a
rope)..maybe stand on a rock..eyes closed .. and have a friend push you
over..by this point you should have practiced you drills well enough to know
to take your time...be calm..and pop your cork.

For added measure, take said friend and aforementioned rope and hit a rapid
with a deep hole..if you have no problems, can keep your wits, take your
time and calmly pop your cork you are ready to go fish solo.

Believe or not, learning to pop the cork is " A complex psycho-motor skill"

That's how we were taught...more or less. You want to develop the 'habit' of
finding your cork and calmly popping it.

John ...(specialty diver, rapid response and rescue)


Good advice from John.

Another thing about the Orvis vest: it has a manual blow up tube.
You could put a couple of breaths of air into the bladder and fish
that way. Should float you well. Again, practice in a safe manner
before going in over your head.

Dave