COLUMBUS, OH - Now that spring has arrived and the peak of the annual walleye run is nearing in the Maumee and Sandusky rivers in northwest Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) encourages fishermen wading in streams and inland rivers to observe some common sense safety tips.
Thousands of anglers head to the Maumee and Sandusky rivers each spring for the fantastic fishing offered during the spring walleye run, said ODNR fisheries biologist Larry Geodde. We encourage anglers to review some basic safety tips to help assure a safe and enjoyable fishing experience.
Here are some safety tips for wading fishermen from ODNR:
-- Wear a life jacket;
-- Be properly dressed for the water temperature which is often 20 degrees cooler than the air temperature; wear clothing such as wool, synthetic fleece or polypropylene to help preserve body heat when wet;
-- Wear a good quality pair of chest waders and tighten a cinch belt at the waistline outside your waders to help prevent them from filling with water should you fall in the river. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon and can make walking from the water to the shoreline extremely difficult if waders fill with cold river water;
-- Carry a large walking stick or wading staff to help provide you with balance while wading in a river or stream;
-- Let friends or family know of your expected departure and return times while on a fishing trip or out on a boat;
-- Be prepared to handle an emergency should one arise with you, members of your fishing group, or other anglers and boaters;
Additional safety tips, and boating and fishing information is included on the ODNR Internet web page at ohiodnr.com