Dangerous Sandbars Can Be Deadly.

[Clayton Will]

Have any of you had a sand bar collapse under you?

A friend of mine went under water for half a block when the edge of a sand bar unexpectedly broke off under his weight. It threw him into current and he was lucky to touch bottom so he knew which way was up. He thought he was done for.

[fishinwrench]

Haven't experienced that situation but I have been stuck in quicksand on the Mississippi.

My brother and I used to play in it and thought it was funny.... It wouldn't be one bit funny if you were by yourself with nobody to help you get out.

[Wayne SW/MO]

Yeah we used to spend a lot of time on the East Grand, AKA the Thompson Fork and it wasn't unusual to have to back peddle in a hurry to get off a bars edge that was unstable. Can't say I ever remember one collapsing under us though. I don't think any river with a sand base is what it seems. We would set trotlines in shallow eddies one evening and come back the next morning to find them current and too deep to wade.

[creekin bassnerd]

I tried to step out of my canoe onto a sandbar the other day to fish a spot real quick, my foot instantly sunk into the sand up to my knee. I about flipped my canoe trying to pull my leg out of there. lesson learned.

[Midwest troutbum]

Same type of situation can occur with rotting plant matter along river bottom. One minute your on solid ground. The next second your over your head in water with your waders filling up. Thanks for the tip. Use quick release suspenders to give yourself a fighting chance. Most of all if wading try to fish with at least one other person and use extreme caution. And good judgement.

[ozark trout fisher]

You have to be a bit careful on the Little Piney around Lane Spring. Admittedly, I've never experienced that myself but I have heard stories that make me keep my eyes open. And no, I am not just trying to scare people away, though it's possible that someone was just trying to scare me away with a tall tale. I have had a few interesting moments with this wading the lower Meramec. I think these situations have more potential to become serious if you're wearing waders as opposed to wet-wading. Just one more on a long list of reasons why I pretty much never wear waders when I can help it.

[Clayton Will]

Thanks, I've had lots of feedback on how dangerous it can be with the sandbars, muck and quicksand. My brother and I played around quick sand holes down by the river also. He did get stuck to the waist one day and i had to use a stick to help pull him out.

[John Andrews]

_{if you wear waders, use the kind with a waist belt. These will not fill with water. Yes water will seep in but you got time to get outta trouble}

[Clayton Will]

I agree on the waist belt. Thanks.

[Clayton Will]

It's that time of year again so stay safe/