Received new Riverstick wading staff: excellent.

[Kms]

I had been using on a Hammers wading staff - which was cheap, but in truth served me well on as I stumbled around the Lehigh - but considering how much I relied on it I felt I should get something more durable. Hence the Riverstick:

Far more stout, clearly. And yes a bit heavier, but of no consequence since it fits easily on my back belt, along with a heavy duty gear keeper tether (I’m using a gearkeeper “super force” handgun retractor with 24oz force, rather than the wading staff retractor with only 9oz, btw).

More expensive than the Hammers at $110 plus shipping, but definitely far, far cheaper than a knee injury.

 

[Kms]

..

 

[mt_flyfisher]

Welcome to the club…er, staff.

I’m on my second one. My first one was a bit longer than I wanted so I sold it to a board member here and promptly ordered another. I’ve never had any problems with mine, other than needing to replace the rubber tip a couple times. I carry several of them with me in my reel bag.

 

[Kms]

Welcome to the club…er, staff.

I’m on my second one. My first one was a bit longer than I wanted so I sold it to a board member here and promptly ordered another. I’ve never had any problems with mine, other than needing to replace the rubber tip a couple times. I carry several of them with me in my reel bag.

The Riverstick also slips into its carrier far more easily than the Hammer’s did its holster. And four pieces is nicer than five.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

The Riverstick also slips into its carrier far more easily than the Hammer’s did its holster.

It’s equally easy to remove the staff from the holder (coincidentally, it’s actually a hammer holster, as you probably know, but not to be confused with your other Hammer wading staff. You’ll appreciate this more if you wade someplace where you want to get you staff out quickly to use it.

 

[cpc1027]

I'm also a recent convert and love mine. It's probably heavier than all of the carbon fiber options out there, but it feels bomb proof. I find myself using it on every trip now as much a walking stick for bush whacking as a wading staff. Fantastic product with easily sourced parts if you need repairs.

 

[Nymph-wristed]

Yo, Mason, if you fish downstream of me enough you can just start a collection of 10 dollar trekking poles!

 

[Mashbill]

thats a piece of equipment! i never hit the water without my staff - ever. congrats!

 

[rancid waders]

The guy who makes them machines them, correct? I'm seriously reconsidering the stick I use.

 

[mt_flyfisher]

The guy who makes them machines them, correct? I'm seriously reconsidering the stick I use.

The short answer is “yes”.

You can read through these 2 fly fishing forums for lots more information:

Riverstick Custom-machined Wading Staffs

www.washingtonflyfishing.com

Riverstick Custom Wading Staffs

I’ve been building my wading staffs for a few years now, shipping them worldwide, and making some great friends along the way. Fishers seem to like them, so I thought I’d offer them for sale here as well. The heart of the staff is the extremely durable, heavy-guage 6061 marine-grade aluminum...

pnwflyfishing.com

 

[Kms]

The short answer is “yes”.

You can read through these 2 fly fishing forums for lots more information:

Riverstick Custom-machined Wading Staffs

www.washingtonflyfishing.com

Riverstick Custom Wading Staffs

I’ve been building my wading staffs for a few years now, shipping them worldwide, and making some great friends along the way. Fishers seem to like them, so I thought I’d offer them for sale here as well. The heart of the staff is the extremely durable, heavy-guage 6061 marine-grade aluminum...

pnwflyfishing.com

I learned about them here:

Riverstick Custom-machined Wading Staffs

Common complaints with most folding wading staffs are that they get stuck, vibrate in the current, or wear out…Not this one…Customers often say that my Riverstick has proven to be the worlds’ strongest and most practical folding wading staff on the market. The heart of the staff is the extremely...

www.theflyfishingforum.com

 

[Skook]

I have one for a few years, and I just ordered a second as a retirement gift for a fishing buddy. Sort of a gag gift implying that we're old, but not really a gag gift considering how well it works.

The included hammer holster works well enough, but I don't always use the staff, and I prefer keeping it more secure when not in use, so I found a "Koolbak" wading staff holster made by a fellow on Etsy. He also makes other things such as water bottle holsters, back support belts, stripping baskets, etc. The 15" Koolbak holster fits the Riverstick wading staff perfectly. He also sells a 10" holster, but I decided on the longer version to keep the staff almost entirely covered.

Below is a link to the holster. I opted for the 2" wide opening (also available with a 4" loop) and use it with a very rigid "tactical" police-style belt from Blackhawk or the like as touted by Dom from Troutbitten. I also have a water bottle holder, heavy duty Gear Keeper retractor with locking button, net holder and O'Pros rod holder on the belt.

Koolbak 15" Wading Staff Holster

 

[salmo]

By these reviews I suppose it’s better than the Folstaff that I’m currently using? At my age I want the best that I can afford to keep my sorry butt out of the water.

 

[Skook]

By these reviews I suppose it’s better than the Folstaff that I’m currently using? At my age I want the best that I can afford to keep my sorry butt out of the water.

It's about 10 ounces heavier than a Folstaff, but I've found I don't really notice the extra weight once I'm fishing. It is very sturdy compared to Leki trekking poles that I use for backpacking, although I can't really complain about the Leki poles. I'm certain they have saved me from a sprained ankle on multiple occasions.

I don't have a Folstaff, but I have read that the sections can be difficult to get apart to break the staff down. I've never had this problem with my Riverstick staff.

 

[rrt]

Post #14. Absolutely right about breaking the staff down, sections not pulling apart. However, when I use it, it has saved me from many tumbles.

Riverstick, huh. Maybe I'll have to look into one of them.

 

[falcon]

My Folstaff sections sometimes get stuck. At the end of fishing I rap the staff against the back of the car tire. The vibration from hitting the tire makes taking it apart easy. Folstaff recommends waxing the connections. I rarely do that and if I do it is a very light application. Too much wax and the staff tends to separate when jammed between rocks or in mud. My Folstaff is old. I purchased it from Walt Dette years ago. Cost was 35.00. Folstaff which was based in the Roscoe area has closed operations. They still.hire a person to handle repairs. The people who owned Folstaff are very nice folks.

Riverstik gets good reviews and if I needed a staff I would likely buy one.

So far the Folstaff is going strong even with the slight curve in it from years of use

 

[bringthepain]

I have one of those Koolback staff holsters, i really like it

 

[salmo]

I do wax my Folstaff and now that I do it comes apart more easily. Got my eyes the Riverstick. I don’t need a broken hip to put me out of commission for six months or more.

 

[Kms]

I do wax my Folstaff and now that I do it comes apart more easily. Got my eyes the Riverstick. I don’t need a broken hip to put me out of commission for six months or more.

I’ve never held a Folstaf, but from the images I’ve seen it appears that the Riverstick tubing is much thicker. I believe both staffs use 3/4” aluminum tubing, but the Riverstick walls are ~1/8” thick. (Folstaf image below)

 

[DomR]

I don't have a Folstaff, but I have read that the sections can be difficult to get apart to break the staff down. I've never had this problem with my Riverstick staff.

Yup, my Folstaff is pretty much always engaged cause breaking it down is such a PITA. It can be done but the effort for me far out weighs the need to pretty much always need the staff even when climbing up and down steep banks.