Wading staff... re-visit

Jeff Taylor wrote:
Late September I found myself in a predicament standing in the N.F. of the
Clearwater, with that uneasy feeling of a Full Reid if I took a step in any
direction. I made it out without a dunking, however told myself it was time
to look for a wading staff.

I looked through the archives, although the information is a bit dated. Are
there any on the market that you would suggest and or stay away from?

I took a look out on e-bay and found the following:
http://tinyurl.com/47v53

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...

I recently bought my first collapsible wading staff -- made by Simms. Go
ahead laugh, if you like. It cost $99, if I recall correctly. Ha, Ha. It
saved by ass from a dunking on "Milly Creek" a few days ago, as Willi
photographically documented. Compared to other collapsible staffs I've
seen, it's well made and rugged, with a double-pin positive locking
mechanism. In the past I've relied on an old ski pole, which is a royal
PITA. I don't mind paying top dollar for a product that delivers, and
that is backed by a reputable company. After all, this is FISHING. It's
IMPORTANT, and a wading staff can get you to more places, relatively
safely and relatively dry.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

From: Ken Fortenberry
Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 22:01:55 GMT
Local: Thurs, Oct 21 2004 3:01 pm
Subject: Wading staff... re-visit




Wading staffs are just an excuse to go wading where you shouldn't
be wading. Besides that, they're a bother and a nuisance.

Follow the Fortenberry Rule of Wading, to whit:


Thou shalt not wetteth thy balls.
Ken Fortenberry

Well, I can't say I disagree with your rule...

I don't see the staff as something I would use all the time, more as a
fall back if I found myself in trouble. In the particular situation I
mentioned in my first post, I made it about 3/4 of the way across the river
( I could have easily made it to the far side of the river) when I decided
it was time to head back. Not sure if I was tired or what, however I was
having a hell of a time trying to get back. I ended up walking to the far
side and up river about 200 yds. to a safe crossing.

Thanks,

JT

One nice thing about a plain old side-of-the-stream stick, I find at
least, is that it can be a bit easier to plant on the bottom of the
riverbed. The expensive folding metal wading staff I have has a
tendency to "float" on me a little bit - I have to use a bit of extra
force to get it to planted firmly when I'm wading. I also feel that
it's lack of heft makes it a bit harder to get a really good grasp on
it. Whereas a nice water-logged or otherwise dense branch I find
easier to keep it properly wedged down, and offers a good solid
something to grip. (In fact I kept one particular stick for almost
all of last season. I was traumatized when it finally got swept away
one evening. Wish I'd thought of Riverman's nylon string trick.)

I also second the various complaints about the bungee cord folding
staff. It has a tendency to come apart at the split second you need
it most - if it's wedged between a couple of rocks and you suddenly
slip, say, the entire thing can come apart. Has happened about a
half-dozen times to me this season alone. (I often wade where I
shouldn't, wading staff or no.)

Tim

One nice thing about a plain old side-of-the-stream stick, I find at
least, is that it can be a bit easier to plant on the bottom of the
riverbed. The expensive folding metal wading staff I have has a
tendency to "float" on me a little bit - I have to use a bit of extra
force to get it to planted firmly when I'm wading. I also feel that
it's lack of heft makes it a bit harder to get a really good grasp on
it. Whereas a nice water-logged or otherwise dense branch I find
easier to keep it properly wedged down, and offers a good solid
something to grip. (In fact I kept one particular stick for almost
all of last season. I was traumatized when it finally got swept away
one evening. Wish I'd thought of Riverman's nylon string trick.)

I also second the various complaints about the bungee cord folding
staff. It has a tendency to come apart at the split second you need
it most - if it's wedged between a couple of rocks and you suddenly
slip, say, the entire thing can come apart. Has happened about a
half-dozen times to me this season alone. (I often wade where I
shouldn't, wading staff or no.)

Tim

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Jeff Taylor wrote:
Late September I found myself in a predicament standing in the N.F. of
the Clearwater, with that uneasy feeling of a Full Reid if I took a step
in any direction. I made it out without a dunking, however told myself it
was time to look for a wading staff.

I looked through the archives, although the information is a bit dated.
Are there any on the market that you would suggest and or stay away from?

I took a look out on e-bay and found the following:
http://tinyurl.com/47v53

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...

I recently bought my first collapsible wading staff -- made by Simms. Go
ahead laugh, if you like. It cost $99, if I recall correctly. Ha, Ha. It
saved by ass from a dunking on "Milly Creek" a few days ago, as Willi
photographically documented. Compared to other collapsible staffs I've
seen, it's well made and rugged, with a double-pin positive locking
mechanism. In the past I've relied on an old ski pole, which is a royal
PITA. I don't mind paying top dollar for a product that delivers, and that
is backed by a reputable company. After all, this is FISHING. It's
IMPORTANT, and a wading staff can get you to more places, relatively
safely and relatively dry.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Totally agree with rw on this one. I had a LL Bean ash staff that was
*always* in the way. I finally broke down and spent the coin on the Simms
staff. My ass is worth *way* more than $99 to me; and taking a "full Reid"
in fall water in the 40's isn't appealing. The Folstaff is OK...the Simms is
better, IMO. (And, interestingly, you'll get a LOT of opinions on ROFF G.

Dave M

"rw" wrote in message
m...
Jeff Taylor wrote:
Late September I found myself in a predicament standing in the N.F. of
the Clearwater, with that uneasy feeling of a Full Reid if I took a step
in any direction. I made it out without a dunking, however told myself it
was time to look for a wading staff.

I looked through the archives, although the information is a bit dated.
Are there any on the market that you would suggest and or stay away from?

I took a look out on e-bay and found the following:
http://tinyurl.com/47v53

Thoughts, ideas, suggestions appreciated...

I recently bought my first collapsible wading staff -- made by Simms. Go
ahead laugh, if you like. It cost $99, if I recall correctly. Ha, Ha. It
saved by ass from a dunking on "Milly Creek" a few days ago, as Willi
photographically documented. Compared to other collapsible staffs I've
seen, it's well made and rugged, with a double-pin positive locking
mechanism. In the past I've relied on an old ski pole, which is a royal
PITA. I don't mind paying top dollar for a product that delivers, and that
is backed by a reputable company. After all, this is FISHING. It's
IMPORTANT, and a wading staff can get you to more places, relatively
safely and relatively dry.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Totally agree with rw on this one. I had a LL Bean ash staff that was
*always* in the way. I finally broke down and spent the coin on the Simms
staff. My ass is worth *way* more than $99 to me; and taking a "full Reid"
in fall water in the 40's isn't appealing. The Folstaff is OK...the Simms is
better, IMO. (And, interestingly, you'll get a LOT of opinions on ROFF G.

Dave M