I was once fishing a river in the depths of winter where the ground was frozen. I had gone across to fish a stream that flowed into the river, that was high due to the tide backing up the water.
The top layer of the ground had defrosted and I slipped. Falling down the banking, hitting the water and sliding all the way up to my nipples into icy water!
The awkward part was trying to climb back out up the slippy banking, rod and reel in hand.
Believe it or not, somehow my rod and reel weren't wet apart from the bottom third of the cork. I, however, was shivering like a nervous fruit jelly. Once back at the car i stripped off and drove off naked and drove home bolloc'o.
Another time, I was stood in the middle of a large river in the process of playing a barbel. I stepped back and sunk like a stone. I must have resembled the Statue of Liberty as I although submerged I kept my rod held up.
I reckon that hole was so deep that when my feet hit the bottom there was several inches of water over my head. I was only submerged for a brief moment, as the instant my feet found bottom I pushed myself back up. I swallowed a mouthful of water, but I also l also managed to keep the barbel on my line:). Luckily for me, that it was high summer and the water felt like hot bathwater.
Back on the bank I landed the fish, released it, before once more stripping off and laying out my clothes on the bank to dry. I can clearly remember lying down on the bank and lifting up my legs allowing all the water to drain from my waders.
I tried wading out in my stocking feet but the stones hurt my feet so I had to put my squelchy waders back on. I recieved several odd looks from people who saw me fishing dressed in just waders and underkecks and then, even more when, I started checking peoples membership cards, lol.