River Snorkeling-The best way to see the fish is to be the fish!
Fisheries biologists often carry out snorkel surveys to assess aquatic habitat and fish populations, survey stream reaches for specific fish species, or document fish during important life stages such as spawning, overwintering, and early rearing. While electrofishing and other capture methods are extremely useful and widely used tools for fisheries biologists, in some situations snorkeling can present a useful low impact alternative as fish don’t need to be captured or handled and stress can be minimized. In addition to its place in fisheries science, snorkeling can also be a great recreational activity.
If you are a capable swimmer and interested in seeing your local water bodies in a whole new light, you should consider calling a friend, donning masks and snorkels (and probably wetsuits) and diving into the underwater realm of river snorkeling.
Snorkeling is a great way to see aquatic habitat in a new light, and a chance to observe underwater critters carrying out their day-to-day activities in their natural setting. In addition to the tried and true fishing and swimming holes in your area, chances are that even the smallest and seemingly emptiest creeks are teeming with species you have probably never seen. Better yet, small creeks and side channels that are hardly deep enough to swim in are also the safest and best places to wet your feet in the hobby before moving up to larger creeks and rivers which can be dangerous even for experienced snorkelers.
Notions of sports fish being the only “cool” fish quickly fade away after watching suckers graze peacefully on the stream bed or a school of whitefish shimmering in the scattered sunlight. A whole spectrum of minnows, sculpins, darters, and other tiny fish too small for the sports angler to target and mostly unknown to the general public display a rainbow of spawning colors and a myriad of fascinating behaviors that would be at home in a big budget nature documentary. Sports fish make great subjects for observation too, and spending some time underwater might challenge some of the ideas you have about the character and habits of your favorite species.
Don’t know anyone who wants to spend their afternoon crawling or swimming around in your local creek? There is a growing community of river snorkeling enthusiasts around the globe, and chances are there is someone in your area who might be able to introduce you to the hobby or join you on your outing, perhaps even a member of your local Trout Unlimited Canada Chapter. Regardless of where you choose to explore or how long you spend in the water, we promise that you will be wet, probably cold, and much more appreciative of our amazing freshwater resources.
If you are considering river snorkeling, be sure to go with a buddy. Know what to expect in the stream you are snorkeling in, and develop some good safety habits such as trip planning and check-in procedures. There are also courses available in swift water rescue as you progress from knee-deep creeks to larger rivers. Don’t let larger aggressive water intimidate you. There is a lot to see in small, gentle creeks!
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