Fish and Game New Zealand has been quick to support coroner Richard McElrea in his call for anglers to wear life jackets.
Otago operations manager Ian Hadland yesterday said Ken Copland's death highlighted the dangers of wading around river mouths.
He described Mr McElrea's advice as ''timely'' with the high-country trout fishing season beginning today. Mr Hadland said Mr Copland's death was a tragedy and anglers needed to heed the coroner's ''sage advice''.
''An inflatable buoyancy aid is a good idea for anglers fishing river mouths or fast-flowing water. And if you've never worn waders, prepare mentally and physically to respond calmly in the worst-case scenario.''
Mr Hadland suggested anglers do a ''wader drill'' in safe conditions.
However, he cautioned that even with all the appropriate equipment, ''if an angler ends up in deep water, they are in real trouble''.
''Emergency services are invariably a long distance away and even in summer, the water is very cold.
''It's better to avoid swift rivers and fishing at the very edge of large deltas unless you are fully equipped.''
