PriddisFlyFisher

Thanks SilverDoctor for your tips on wading staffs. You raise some important safety concerns. I can think of a number to times when wading that I could have used the extra support from a wading staff. As Barry Mitchell points out in his book Alberta's Trout Highway, "Nothing you can do while fishing a river will put you in greater jeopardy than wading. Once you get into your waders and into the water you have no one to blame but yourself if you get into trouble. Typically, the bigger and faster the river, the greater the danger." In his book, Barry goes on to tell a story about fishing with a buddy and getting into wading trouble on the Clearwater and having to "hold hands" to safely get out of the river. "Barry and I are lucky to be able to laugh about that incident today, but only because we had each other to lean on. Had either of us tried that stunt while fishing alone, the result could have been tragic. Today we hold hands shamelessly when crossing at difficult spots, and we don't give a damn who's watching." I agree with the tip from "Big Barry" about wading safely with a buddy by holding hands when crossing difficult water. I was surfing the web and also came across a video on wading safety that is worth reviewing: http://www.expertvillage.com/video/18116_f...ater-safety.htm Safe wading fellow fishermen and fisherwomen.

The wading staff sounds like a good idea. I have been having some knee trouble (my physio says that cold water wading may be theraputic) and have been thinking of using a wading staff. Can any one recommend what type is best to use and fish with?