These Safety Tips Can Help Ensure That Your Fly-Fishing Trip Stays Memorable
Hiring a professional guide is money well spent when you're traveling to a new area for some fly fishing. The advice of this expert can increase your chances of landing the "big one," which is likely the main goal of your trip. In addition to steering you toward high-volume fishing spots, your fly-fishing guide will also inform you about any safety issues in the area you're traveling in. While his or her advice will prove valuable, you'll occasionally find yourself on your own as the guide is fishing elsewhere on the river, and you'll need to make sure that you're safe. Here are some tips that you should always remember.
Position Your Body at the Right Angle
When you're fishing in a new area, it's easy to get focused on the pursuit of the fish and even captivated by the natural beauty around you. One of the mistakes you should avoid making, however, is positioning your body so that you're in alignment with the current. It's better to always stand perpendicular to the current. In this orientation, the water is putting pressure on less of your body, which will help you keep steady in the water—even when you're wrestling a big fish.
Keep Your Feet Planted
It's easy to end up being brushed off your feet by the water's current and swept away, especially if you're fishing in an area that is new to you. While your guide will point out areas in which the undertow is especially strong, you should always take the precaution of keeping your feet planted as much as possible when you move. This means that instead of stepping from one rock to another, you should try sliding your feet. The felt bottoms of your fishing waders will allow you to do so, which means that both feet will always be contact with the river bottom, and this will provide you with better traction.
Keep Your Stance Wide
Just as you should always stand perpendicular to the flow of water and keep your feet planted, your stance should always be wide. Standing with your feet too closely together can lead to instability, and a surge of water could possible knock you off balance. You're better off standing with your feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart, as long as it feels comfortable. Your fishing guide can provide you with other specific instructions based on his or her knowledge of the body of water you're fishing in.
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