Saving a TRAPPED angler on the island - when the water comes up

[Phil Lilley]

911

That will get the water patrol the quickest. There's isn't a good local number for MWP at all, only the Jeff City #.

[Danoinark]

Ok, Gotcha...figured probably that would be the answer. Down this way its quicker to the call the individual agency since 911 transfers you there anyway....Thanks...Dano

[Snow Fly]

I was reading an article the other day concerning the dangers of wading, which are there for sure. The article mentioned that waders should carry a whistle in their vest for these types of emergency.Would come in handy if you got trapped on the bank in tailwaters and you needed to get the attention of a passing boat, or end up floating down stream and attempting to get peoples attention.

[SilverMallard]

OK. That sounds a LOT better. The way it was originally told, it sounded pretty odd. I'm glad Brian was situationally aware enough to realize what was going on. And I commend him for taking appropriate action. While "spending the night out there" might seem sort of....hmmmm...appropriate punishment to some for not heeding the warnings and using good judgment, some people could have real problems in such a situation: dehydration, diabetics who need food/meds, etc. So it is prudent to render assistance.

The first time I fished below Norfork Dam I was wish a guy who had fished there a few times before. We were too far downstream to hear a horn. We got caught by rising water. We took a dunk trying to get to the side our vehicles were on. We got out by not losing our heads. We lost/damaged no gear. But we were wet and stuck on the wrong side of the river. A guide w/clients came by and asked if we were OK. We asked him to ferry us across to the parking area. He did and we were very grateful. So I sort of know how this dude must have felt. Man, that water down there comes on FAST if you can't hear the horn!

[Snow Fly]

You are right about how fast Norfork comes up. The horn they blow is not the loudest in the world either.

[Guest lbt]

Ok I will say I'm sorry, I just think that Brian should of thought about it befor he typed it. Just like myself. I hope in the future we ALL will do that. I wish though Brian would have got on here and defended himself instead of Phil. Enough said or typed lets move on to the next item of busisness.

lbt

[kctroutman]

This is a really silly argument. A guy made a bad decision, and didn't head the warnings, and got stuck in a bad situation, which apparently you can get fined for. It is a matter of opinion on whether that fine should be enforced, and frankly i don't care either way. I am just happy the guy was ok, and I am glad that Brian at least did what he safely could to help the guy. I have fished with Brian many times, he is one of the most courteous people on the stream, always helping people with technique or fly selection or anything else possible. I think it is out of line to shame him for thinking somebody should recieve a fine for making a poor decision, especially one that apparently you can get fined for.

[RSBreth]

I got stuck on the island about 10 years ago right after I moved here. Horn sounded, I started to try to wade back but was already on the downstream side of the island so the water was pushing me towards the rebar hole. Got back out and ran (waddled) to the upstream side, but realized the water wouldn't get high enough to wash me off.

This was before everyone in the world had cell phones. Sure enough, a boat ran up and the fisherman in the front had a shocked look when he cast a rapala up near where I was standing. They offered a ride across, I said to come back in a while if the water didn't go down, I fished for about an hour.

Water went down, I waded back across, lesson learned.

[Kayser]

How was the fishing during your little "island getaway"?

Rob

[SilverMallard]

That law is on the books for protesters and enviro-terrorists and such. It isn't going to be enforced against a fisherman unless he becomes a "fixture" about it.

Seems to me there might be a little island campout high-water fishing excursion in the near future for some.

High water fishing along those islands can be pretty spectacular and yields some large fish and big fights! Take some grub, some sunscreen, some adult beverages, and a PFD. A good 6-7 wt rod w/some big heavy flies and 5x tippet. A couple of guys could have the whole place to themselves all day in July - Sept!