is it safe

Question
I'm from south Texas and i went up north and i was wading in a stream that was 50 degrees the air temperature was 39 and a wind chill factor of 8. All I had were jeans and a hoodie. I stuck it out camping and fishing all day long cause fishing is my life. was it safe to do what i did?

Answer
While it is not something that I would recommend I have done the same thing many years ago.  The fact that you made it without becoming badly chilled means you have bitten the bullet.  If the water was no more than about knee deep there probably wouldn't be too much danger. I would surmise tha the fact that you survived having a problem indicates the water was not deep enough to imerse your trunk.  I waded knee deep in the Big Thompson River at Estes Park Colorado.  Water temp was in 40s but air was probably near 60.  My feet and legs got cold but catching a rainbow trout on a fly I tied myself kept me excited enough that I didn't notice it until I got out of the water.  My dad was on the shore keeping an eye on me the whole time.  I think it would be very foolish to wade a stream in those conditions alone.  In fact it is not really wise to wade a stream alone although, again I have been guilty of doing it many times.  Most of those times, however, the water was quite warm and the air was quite hot.

Certainly if you decide to go ahead and do it please let someone know exactly where you are going and what time you will be coming back.  Another good idea even if you are not alone but especially if you are have a cell phone that will work in that area.  I even take a cell phone in my boat.

You did not say if you caught any fish.  I would like to know how you did and even a little about where and what kind of fish.  You can contact me via All Experts or by e-mail.  

Thanks for calling on me to answer your question.  I hope I have done so to your liking.

I Am

Jack L. Gaither
Lake Seminole, Georgia
[email protected]