I lost a good friend many years ago in the Snoqualmie, he was wearing waders, a loose belt but no PFD, this is a recipe for disaster. He tried to remove the waders without success because water creates suction around your feet making it almost impossible to remove, this left his waders stuck around his knees and sealed his fate. The moral of the story is don't take foolish risks, always wear a PFD and a tight belt, if you go in follow the advice previously posted. Good luck and be safe!