Wading staff.... is it a must have piece of kit?

H

hockeyref

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Feb 24, 2010
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So here's another newbie question....

How important is the wading staff?
How\when do you use it?
Do you have a full length that's on your back or floating in the current?
Do you have a collapsible? And how do you deploy it quick if you need it?
Better to buy or make one? I have several graphite Driver shafts laying around that might fit the bill for a one piece but may be a little short at 43" or so...
 
On the very rare occasions I feel I need one, I fashion a unique wading staff from streamside deadfalls. I did make one for myself for the Smokies from an old ski pole, but I didn't like dragging it around. I would like a sturdy collapsible one that would stay out of the way unless needed, but I haven't prioritize it as a purchase.
 
Like Jack, only on a few occasions have I ever felt I needed one. Last year it came to mind on more than one occasion. The type of water you regularly frequent plays a big role of course. I put it on my list of things to get for this year, just have not gotten there yet.

If you are just getting started probably not a priority.
 
I highly recommend a wading staff - not just for wading but to improve your footing out of the water. I'd say your stick would work at 43." Make sure you have a clip with lanyard so you can clip it to your belt freeing both hands for fishing. I used mine a lot yesterday as I was shoreline fishing and the banks were very muddy and slick and the stick helped keep my balance. My hip boots have felt soles and these really don't perform well on muddy banks. Many trout streams have trails along them but to get down to the water you'll have to scamper down a brushy slope, often with loose gravel/rocks. A wading staff/walking stick is very handy. I use an old broomstick.
 
I don't own one and have never carried one. There are times when having one along could have been useful, but I can easily get along without. I just don't think any advantage it gives you outweighs the hassle of carrying the dang thing. With a few exceptions, I feel the same way about nets.
 
I've fished since I was a kid and have never used a wading staff until the Jam last year. First time! (that dang fire ring will get you every time.....) :pint:
 
Like Jack, on the rare occasion that I really need one, I pickup a natural wading staff.
Even though my knees have gotten pretty creaky lately, I just can't bring myself to carry one around yet
 
I got one to help me walk out of the water and for wading just before I had my knee scoped a few years ago. It was a tremendous help during a 10 day trip to the ANF. I can't imagine that I'd have lasted without it.

Collapsible trekking pole is what I have, it was under 20 bucks. Shock pole with 2 locking adjustments and a strap on the handle to which I've attached a carabiner. Then just clipt it to my wading belt. Before I got this, I too looked for deadfall and would use that. It worked just fine.

As others have mentioned, the streams you fish will dictate whether or not you should use it. Not a requirement but never hurts to have one.
 
For me, its a bit of extra insurance. The first time I needed one, I didn't have it.

So, I carry a collapsable one on my wading belt (something else I didn't bother with at first, either). Its there if I begin to feel uncomfortable, and so far I've used it 3 seperate occasions this year alone.

Perhaps its not essential for many, but as a man who doesn't trust his wading, it is for me.
 
I carry one when wading higher flows on tricky streams like penns or the salmon river.

They are very helpful in crossing angry rivers.
 
I have a collapsible hiking pole that I got at one of the Mart stores that cost about $10. It has been really useful a few times and I just feel better knowing that I have it. It is also surprisingly useful for hiking :)
 
I never carried one because I read and felt that the noise scared native fish. That has changed since last year when I fell. I use one now and today it even saved me from a fall. Now I would sooner scare fish than swim with the fishes.
 
Believe it or not , i'm an amputee , i lost my left leg below the knee in an accident in a steel mill , when i can get away without it i do , 'cause i find it gets in the way. When i do need one , like JackM , i find something , although over the years now i gotten many as gifts and use them too. I guess i'd say in answer that they have their place.
 
I guess I'm cheap because I could never convince myself to buy a 50 or 60 dollar folding wading staff, that being said I have found myself in situations where I wished for one. Certain rivers like the Yough., Little Mahoning and the Erie tribs can be quite tricky for the wading fisherman even if you are wearing studded felt soles. Last year I discovered a carbon graphite golf club with the head busted off in the back of my buddies truck ( I guess he had a bad day of golfing) and I asked if he would let me take it and he did. I took it home and epoxied an empty .35 rem. case with a stainless steel screw set through the primer pocket and attached an old cell phone charger cord to the shaft and the other end to a carabiner to clip on my wader belt. It turned out to be the Bee's Knee's of wading staffs! It is so light that you forget it's on your belt while fishing and it's sturdy enough to really put your weight into it when your struggling to move upcurrent in a rocky bottom streambed. As I grow older (and wiser, I hope) I find that I'm not as nimble as I was 10 years ago and it is a good safety feature to have that extra support when I'm alone on fast moving piece of water. I don't take it on every outing that I go on but if it's water I've never fished before, it's in the truck should I see the need to deploy a wading staff.

JA
 
The ones in the truck are like that piece of rock candy in "Little Big Man" just for lookin at.
 
I wouldn't be without one, can't remember when I didn't have one with me. The older I get the more use I get from it. The last two years my wading has really suffered( for reason I won't get into.


It's like having a third leg!

PaulG
 
As a kid and young man, just a few years ago.... I never felt as though I needed one....I'll be 50 this year and to be honest up until 3 weeks ago on the LJ I never thought about getting one. I guess it depends on the person and how nimble you are on your feet. And yes I do realize that anything can happen to anyone at any time. Good question as far as the timing goes for me. For me the wading staff was kinda the fashion statement. But then again I thought nippers and the little flip down magnifiers were a fashion statement too at one time. Nippers are good and the magnifier is not only good it's needed as may be the time for the staff. It is on my mind.....
 
i have one, barely use it unless im crossing some really raging waters , or high fast rising water . like elk at the steelhead jam almost made it all the way back , lol .
i would say a collapsable would be best that way you always have it if you need it . now on deployment of the collapsable is simple it works just like a corded tent pole; just whip it out give it a lil shake and pow your ready to wade.
one drawback on it though they get stuck in mud and tend to want to come apart .
 
So I have several graphite golf shafts that are candidates for conversion to a wading staff. What should I put on it for a tip?
 
If it's snapped off right at the head of the club, a .35 caliber shell casing should slip over the shaft which you can epoxy right to it.
I drilled out the primer pocket of the one I used and ran a stainless steel self-tapping sheet metal screw through with the screw point produding about and inch and then affixed it to the shaft. I've used it several times and it is serving me well.

JA
 
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