Working in fast moving water

[freediverND]

here's some thoughts.. several of us around here frequent some pretty fast rivers.. mostly below dams.  I have done some white water in montana.. but we do it all while freediving.  There is a river I'm hoping to get to yet this year that has pretty poor vis and had a super fast current last time I was on the shore there.  I'm considering doing it scuba, as it's easy to get winded while snorkeling/freediving in current and so bottom times can get pretty short.  I'll not be lugging a 30lb camera around taking pictures.. but will be looking for lures.

If I do it scuba.. I'll not take a b.c... rivers that I'm in are shallow.. usually less than 10', and if you're doing trout or salmon streams/runs you might be in 3' or less of water most of the time, and the more streamlined you can be in the current the better.  I'm not sure just how I'll deal with the tank yet.. but it will be a small capacity tank.. dealing with the tank is still in the "I'm thinking" stage.  Lots of lead.. even while snorkeling, in shallow, fast water, you need a lot of lead to stay on the bottom, especially being so shallow.  The current on the bottom can be very minimal compared to the current just above, so that is the place to aim for.  I'll have everything setup so that I can get to the surface if I need to.. and to be able to release whatever I need to without losing it.  Most rivers that I do have less current off to the sides than down the middle, or in the main channel, so that may be the case in this river too, so I should be able to work my way into the worst of the current.  I also think that a quick scout of the river conditions while snorkeling might be in order before dealing with the tank and all.

When I did the white water in montana, I was surprised that the boulders weren't a problem.. I was prepared for crashes, but the fast current actually took me right over the rocks.. they were not an issue.  And again, when I went to the bottom, I could actually hold my own pretty good against the current.  Freediving fins were a big help, and grabbing onto anything that was grab-able was good.

I usually have my hands free so I'm able to use the substructure to hold me or to pull me against the currents when it gets tough.  I know you won't have that option trying to run a camera.  Maybe something so simple as a screw in anchor, a line, and there you go.