WATER SAFETY!

*Stay alert for changes in the water level. *Know your physical limitation and abilities. *Wade with caution and carry a wading staff. *Wear anti-slip soles, spikes or other effective "grippers". *Wear polarized sunglasses to spot hazards (and fish). *Keep wading belt tight and never get into a situation in which waders can flood. *Stay well away from dams, discharges and water intakes.

 The Salmon river is a hydroelectric river, the CFS (cubic feet per second) or water flow can change at any time. The varying water levels combined with the constant motion of the water changes the river bed. What was safe and firm footing today may not be tomorrow. This is particularly a problem in the Spring. Ice floes during the winter carve out new channels and the Spring flood waters dig them deeper.

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Crossing the River and Safe Wading

A wader belt is a must, especially with the new baggy style of the breathable waders. if you should fall in the river it would take only a matter of seconds before your waders took water and you downstream. The river bottom is slippery year round. If you are not contending with moss and mud, then it is shelf ice. This leads us to another suggestion - spiked foot wear. Here are some good examples of different kinds of spiked foot.

SIMMS offers: "The AquaStealth Guide Boot". These have a hard rubber sole with carbide-tipped steel spikes.

KORKERS offers: "Wading Sandal" This sandal can fit any shoe or boot. These have a hard rubber sole and carbide spikes.

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PROTECTIVE EYE WEAR

 When light is reflected off a flat surface it is concentrated in a horizontal plane. This concentration produces bothersome glare. Polarized lenses effectively eliminate horizontally reflected glare and the sun's harmful ultraviolet ray's. The end result is greater clarity, definition, brilliant color transmission and reduced eyestrain. The most important reason for wearing glasses is SAFETY!!! We have seen our share of eye injuries on the river every year. They will also help you spot hazards on the river bottom. So please make sure to wear some kind of protective eye wear.

Whitaker's is an authorized Action Optics dealer. Action Optics offers a variety of polarized lens tints and frames. They offer premium lenses made of (ophthalmic) borosilicate glass, which is optically ground and polished. They also manufacture polycardonate lenses, providing complete UV protection, high shatter resistance, light weight and a great value!!