Being safe while fly fishing for trout

I am a regular reader of and contributor to the Trout Unlimited Community Forum where I find great tips on everything from destinations to gear recommendations. One string of posts relating to satellite messengers/tracking devices had me thinking about the things I do (or should be doing) to ensure my safety while fishing, especially in remote areas.

Firstly, and regarding satellite messaging devices, I agonized for a year over the value of having yet another fishing gadget, but it was the one my wife frequently asked that I strongly consider. I wasn’t sure that it felt necessary as I rarely fished alone but came to the realization that this was not the point. All it would take is one accident in an area of treacherous and remote terrain to regret not having this device.

Garmin inReach Mini clips to my chest pack

The Garmin inReach seemed to be the go to option, but I was reluctant to be cornered into yet another Garmin product. So, I included two other options in my research - Spot and Zoleo. Well surprise (!), I decided on the Garmin inReach Mini because it was cheaper in the long run (initial device cost + annual subscription) and reportedly had the better support and reliable service. This latter point has proven to be better than expected, in fact! I find that I am using it on most of my fishing excursions, so have opted for the basic monthly subscription service, rather than the flexible option (which costs more) that allows me to enable or disable the subscription at will. Given that I find myself in remote territory at least once a year, I now purchase the search and rescue (SAR) plan at a very reasonable cost.

I do a lot of wade fishing and many of the waters I fish have very rocky riverbeds that often are uneven or slick. Here in Northern Virginia we have a milder winter climate, so I can fish year-round even in icy or snowy conditions. As such, having a good gripping wading boot (and increasingly, a wading staff) has been critical. Because I only had one pair of boots in the early days, I purchased a product called Yaktrax ICEtrekkers Diamond grip cleats. These cleats are secured to a rubber harness that is easy to slip on or off the wading boot and the gripping ability of the rotating alloy cleats is phenomenal.

felt soles on this slippery river bed were essential

I now have two pairs of boots, a pair of Simms with studs embedded in the soles, and a pair of Korkers with several interchangeable soles, including the standard rubber Sticky Sole, Felt and the Studded Kling-On Sole. The felt soles are reliable on slick stream beds, but there are several jurisdictions where I fish that prohibit these, so felt soles can easily be traded out for studded soles. I also have found out the hard way that wearing felt bottomed wading boots in winter can be counter-productive when frost, snow or ice are present.

the mobile phone tether (in orange) is a handy way to secure my mobile device

I take all my own photography for my blog and rely quite a bit on my handheld mobile phone for this (although I also use a Go Pro Hero for underwater videos). At first, I kept the phone in a waterproof case, but this proved impractical as it was a nuisance to remove it from the case and then return it every time I wanted a picture. A few years ago, I discovered a device that secures the phone via a silicon bungee or tether that grips the corners of the phone. I find it very convenient to be able to take a quick picture with the tether secured to a carabiner hooked on my wader or vest.

Finally, I have found the Cocoons fitover sunglasses a very convenient (and economical) option to prescription sunglasses. To begin with, these wrap arounds cover more territory around the eyes and face and provide great protection from errant back casts. I also am not shelling out for expensive upgrades every time my prescription changes.

Tight Lines!