Montana has way too many drowning accidents. This includes summer waters and ice fishing waters. Chilly water can quickly cause the body to go into shock before a rescue is possible.

It only takes a teaspoon of water in the wrong place to stimulate drowning. Once water has entered the trachea, windpipe, you have less than a couple minutes before you pass out and die. 

If you fall into water, there is no guarantee that you will be conscious or uninjured. If a boat is traveling at high speed, if there is a collision, if there are rocks, currents, and other obstacles, a person can be sucked under debris or rocks and die. Even with a life vest, an unconscious person may drown. Slipping and falling may also mean broken bones, sprains, or injury that may prevent you from staying afloat. Instant cold water can shock the victim instantly. Non swimmers are also at instant risk.

Wading Anglers are also at risk. I was once fly fishing along the Madison River below Raynolds Pass access. I heard someone screaming and saw a wader clad angler rolling down the river. He had waded out too deep and lost his footing. His waders had filled with water and the current kept him from standing up. He was trying to use his fly rod as a wading staff without success. Screaming meant that he was getting air and not drowning yet. 

When wading, an angler is facing strong water currents, slick rocks, balancing, and buoyancy. As we wade deeper, we begin to float. This becomes obvious after going waist deep. Your body weight is no longer holding you down. Without a wading staff, turning around to head back to shore or navigate rocks and structures, means a moment without a safe footing. 

I grabbed a long lodgepole pine branch, which was in a streamside log jam. I was wet wading, so I went out into the river using my wading staff as support. The tumbling angler was coming right at me. I placed the log pole into his path and told him to grab on. My wading staff helped me hang on to the angler and log pole. I slowly began backing up with him in tow. Once we were in shallower water, he was able to stand up with my help. We removed his vest and peeled down his waders, to dump out the water. His fly rod was still in his hands but broken.

Mistakes 

No wading staff

No waist belt on his waders

No traction on his boots. Montana rivers are slick and full of slippery round rocks.

Going too deep and becoming buoyant

Panicking, fishing alone

He had been drinking. A beer can was tucked into his vest pocket.

After the rescue, the 50 something year old Californian hoofed it back to the access. I never saw him again. I had later found his hat and net, in the river. When I tried to find him, no one had a clue. 

Booze and water never go well together when hunting, fishing, swimming, and boating. Alcohol slows reflexes and speeds up getting colder faster. People under the influence make poor decisions which result in accidents. Different sized people react differently to alcohol. Just 2 drinks will change your wellness. 

Ignorance is also a poor excuse when engaged in water activities. It is a good idea to have others nearby to help and support you. Mentors and instructors/guides can also add experience to ensure safety. 

No fish, swim, cruise, or soak is worth dying over.
Montana Grant