Safety
Fishing is one of the safest outdoor activities you can do — but only if you know the basics. Hooks are sharp, rivers are powerful, and the PNW weather can turn fast. None of that should keep you off the water. It just means you go prepared.
This lesson covers the five things every junior angler needs to know before heading out: hook safety, water safety, wading, weather, and wildlife.
Hook Safety
Hooks are the most common cause of fishing injuries — and almost all of them are preventable. Most hook accidents happen during casting, not while fighting a fish.
- Always look behind you before you cast. A backcast that hits a person is a serious injury. Do a full visual check — 360 degrees — every single time.
- Keep hooks covered when not fishing. Hook covers (small rubber caps) cost almost nothing. Use them whenever you're moving around or putting a rod down.
- Never run with a rod in your hand. A trip and fall with a hook in play is how the worst accidents happen.
- Keep the bail closed and line tight when walking with a rigged rod. A dangling hook swings with every step.
- Watch out for other people's casts. If someone nearby is casting, step back and wait until they've released before moving around them.
Don't yank it out. If the barb hasn't gone through the skin, back it out the same way it came in. If it's buried, stay calm — most fishing hooks are not medical emergencies. Get to an adult and then a clinic. Do not try to push a barbed hook through yourself. Keep the wound clean.
Water Safety
Washington's rivers, lakes, and saltwater are cold year-round. Cold water changes everything — it affects how long you can swim, how fast you get tired, and how clearly you can think. Treat any body of water with respect regardless of how shallow or calm it looks.
Washington law requires children under 13 to wear a USCG-approved life jacket at all times on a vessel underway. Even on a dock or near the water's edge, wearing one is smart. A life jacket only works if you're wearing it when you go in — not if it's sitting in a bag.
Rivers and tidal currents can knock you off your feet without warning. Always face the current when near the bank and never step closer to moving water than you need to.
Always fish with a buddy or an adult — especially near rivers, the ocean, or any water where a fall would be serious. If something goes wrong, you need someone there who can get help.
Before you head out, tell a parent or trusted adult exactly where you're going and when you'll be back. If you don't return on time, they'll know where to start looking.
Most Washington rivers and Puget Sound stay between 45–55°F year-round. At 50°F, the average person loses muscle control within minutes and can become incapacitated in under an hour. That's why staying out of the water — and wearing a life jacket when near it — matters so much.
Wading Safety
Wading — walking into the water to fish — is one of the best ways to reach fish, but it requires real judgment. Rivers that look shallow can be moving fast, and wet rocks are slippery even when they look dry.
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Use a wading staff — a sturdy stick gives you a third point of contact. A cheap wooden staff works just as well as an expensive collapsible one.
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Shuffle, don't step — slide your feet along the bottom instead of picking them up. Feel for stable footing before shifting your weight.
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Never wade above your knees without an adult — thigh-deep water in a moderate current can take you off your feet. Knee-deep is a safe limit for most kids.
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Face upstream — wading facing the current gives you stability. If you slip, you want the current to help you brace, not sweep you.
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If you fall — roll onto your back, feet downstream, toes up. Don't fight the current. Float to slower water and work your way to shore. Trying to stand up in fast current is how people get pinned underwater.
Felt soles can carry invasive species like New Zealand mudsnail from one river to another. In Washington, felt-soled wading footwear is prohibited. Use rubber-soled wading boots with studs, or old sneakers with good grip.
Weather & Sun
The PNW is famous for rain, but sun exposure is a real hazard too — especially on open water where UV reflects off the surface. And weather in the mountains or on the coast can change in under an hour.
| Condition | What to Watch For | What to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Rain & Cold | Wet clothes lose insulation fast — hypothermia can happen in 55°F weather | Layer with wool or synthetic base layers, bring a rain shell, change out of wet clothes immediately |
| Sun & UV | UV reflects off water — you can burn faster on a lake than on a beach | Wear SPF 30+ sunscreen, a hat with a brim, and UV-blocking sunglasses |
| Lightning | A graphite fishing rod is a conductor — you are the tallest thing on open water | Get off the water immediately at first thunder. Wait 30 minutes after the last thunder before going back out |
| Wind | Wind on open water can pin a small boat against a shore or flip a kayak | Check the forecast before launching. Head in when winds pick up — don't wait for it to get bad |
Check the weather forecast the night before AND the morning of your trip. In the mountains and on the coast, conditions 10 miles away can be completely different from what you see at the trailhead or launch ramp. NOAA's weather.gov has point forecasts for specific locations.
Wildlife Awareness
Fishing in the PNW means sharing the river with black bears, cougars, rattlesnakes (east of the Cascades), and wasps. None of these are reasons to stay home — they're reasons to pay attention.
- Bears at the river: Bears fish too, especially during salmon runs in late summer and fall. Make noise as you move through brush. If you see a bear, don't run — back away slowly and give it plenty of room. Bears near rivers are usually focused on fish, not people.
- Cougars: Rare encounters, but they do happen. Never run. Face the animal, stand tall, make noise, and back away. Pick up small children immediately.
- Rattlesnakes (east of the Cascades): Watch where you put your hands and feet — especially when stepping over logs or rocks. Most bites happen when people try to handle or kill a snake. Leave it alone and it will leave you alone.
- Yellowjackets and wasps: Nest in riverbank brush and under logs. If you disturb one, move away calmly — don't swat. Running through brush can take you right into the nest. Know if anyone in your group has a bee allergy and carry an EpiPen if so.
If you're fishing remote rivers during salmon season in bear country, bear spray is a smart addition to your pack. It's more effective than a firearm in most surprise encounters and is legal to carry anywhere in Washington.
Safety Checklist — Before Every Trip
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Tell someone where you're going and when you'll be back | So someone knows where to look if you don't return |
| Charged phone | For emergencies — even if there's no signal, 911 often connects on any carrier |
| Rain layer | PNW weather changes fast |
| Sunscreen + hat | UV off water is stronger than you think |
| First aid kit | At minimum: bandages, antiseptic, tweezers for hook removal |
| Life jacket (near boats or docks) | Washington law requires it for kids under 13 — always wear it |
| Hook covers on spare hooks | Loose hooks in a bag or pocket cause preventable injuries |
| Buddy or adult | Never fish alone near rivers or open water |