I hold the rod over my shoulder like I'm marching with a rifle. My reel is out of the water and I'm nearly upright in the water. My 7mm suit floats real high. Kick with your feet and paddle with your free hand. Most important thing is to relax once you're floating and control your breathing. I would say the less effort you put into swimming the easier it is. I learned all of this the hard way, of course.
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