Most important river wading gear...

[Brian Miller]

I use a ski pole from goodwill. Stout, light, and cheap. And always deployed.

I upgraded from trekking poles to a custom Riverstick. My orthopedic surgeon recommended using a hiking staff to reduce the shock to my artificial hip so it can outlast me. A properly adjusted and worn wrist strap significantly reduces muscle fatigue when when using trekking-ski poles or a wading staff for support. So I had @Herkileez add a wrist strap to the top of the grip, and I added a woven paracord hand grip with an integrated wrist strap below the bicycle hand grip for a lower hand position that is better when using it as a hiking staff.

Post in thread 'Riverstick Custom Wading Staffs'

May 7, 2024

I had always used lightweight aluminum telescoping & collapsing trekking poles for a wading staff but the harmonic wobble they got in any real current didn't inspire a lot of confidence. I do admit though that the wobble served as an alarm bell that made me start looking early for alternative routes and probably did help me avoid wading beyond my ability.

I got my Riverstick in the Spring of 2023 and love the strong-solid-stable and durable feel it has. Rick was very helpful in getting the correct length for my height. Due to many years of realizing the benefit of a wrist strap on ice...

• Brian Miller

• 

Love it!

I used the trekking poles with removable rubber tips for many years, and found some hybrid poles that have a telescoping handle and a "flicklock", plus two folding sections with a positive lock, and come with a belt holster. They worked real well for many-many trips that had long approaches. After getting the Riverstick I wouldn't call them stout; in fact the wobbliness in fast current was an early cue that I could be getting in over my ability and needed to find an alternate way to get where I was going.

 

[Brian Miller]

Without straying too far off topic, what's the opinion on rubber tips for wading staffs? I don't have one and wonder if I'm announcing my arrival with all the noise my metal tip makes on rocks. If you use one, does it affect the effectiveness of your, uhhh, staff?

Only when going up steep, muddy banks.

 

[Brute]

Have nice waders, boots and staff... A buddy is the next must have...

Walking through high flows the other day and found myself on my knees, water just below top of waders, scared as hell and about to wash away... Without my homie... Ton of gear gone and ruined day...

Often in Alaska I would "4 wheel it" with my guide by grabbing each other's wading belt...very effective method to transverse a swift current...

 

[Brian Miller]

Speaking of Korkers, Has anyone else tried their "wet wading conversion"?

It combines their snug-fitting gravel guard neoprene sock worn over bare feet and a very thick closed cell foam insole inserted underneath the standard insole that takes up the extra room in (Korkers, or other brand) wading boots when not wearing waders. The conversion makes for a fairly lightweight, comfortable fit when hiking with my lace up (so I can adjust the lacing pattern for comfort and support, not BOA ) River Ops boots and the very lightweight non-studded Kling-On soles. Then changing to the studded XS TREK soles I have the robust foot protection and excellent traction I want for hiking & wading in one pair of footwear.

I used the conversion several times this past summer and it works great! On the first use I carried a pair of wool hiking socks and dry neoprene socks in case there was chaffing to avoid blisters from wet feet after over two miles of mixed hiking in/out and wading.

But I found I didn't need the extra socks because the Korkers boots, both insoles, and the wading socks (over bare feet), are all designed to expel water when walking on dry land and the boots didn't chaff my feet with the snug fitting neoprene socks.

 

[Eastside]

Without straying too far off topic, what's the opinion on rubber tips for wading staffs? I don't have one and wonder if I'm announcing my arrival with all the noise my metal tip makes on rocks. If you use one, does it affect the effectiveness of your, uhhh, staff?

I have several of the Riverstick staffs offered by @Herkileez one has a steel tip and the other has a rubber cap. I actually prefer the rubber tip because it is quieter and grips the bottom well.

 

[Evan B]

I've been a Korkers user since 2010. Their Studded Kling-On sole is lightweight and worked OK, but I like the Vibram Studded XS TREK much more. When things get real sketchy I change to the Triple Threat Aluminum Bar Sole

Are you sure you mean the non-studded Kling-On????
Korkers doesn't even recommend them... " Ideal for use on land, in boats, and in less demanding wading conditions.
I concur and think they are outright dangerous for wading. I only use them for longer distance hike-ins for their light weight before switching to the Studded XS TREK or Triple Threat soles

Yeah I checked, the ones I'm thinking of aren't even offered anymore. So disregard that. I do have multiple studded ones, but these special traction soles I have for whatever reason don't seem to be around now.

 

[kmudgn]

Before the fishing season:
1. Doing squats, lunges, and leg lifts/raise for strength
2. Single leg stand, head rotation (with eyes closed), and heel to walking for balance
3. Understanding that when you are an old fart no matter what exercise, or routine you perform you just can't "wade like you used to"

 

[SteelHeadDave]

Being aware of rising river levels.

Back in the day, I was winter steelhead fishing with a buddy on the coast. We had hiked in several miles to a remote section that we had never been to before. At one point we decided to cross the river to fish this juicy looking bend. The only good looking place to cross was waist deep and difficult but not that bad. The only problem was it happened to be dumping rain hard all day and we didn’t factor in the inevitable rise in the river level. We only fished the other side for an hour or so. When we went to cross back over the water was nearly to the tops of our waders and the flow had both of us struggling big time, even while holding onto one another. We barely made it across and I’m sure we would have been stranded at best, or something more serious if we had crossed any later than we did. It was a learning lesson for us both to say the least.

 

[speedbird]

Being aware of rising river levels.

Back in the day, I was winter steelhead fishing with a buddy on the coast. We had hiked in several miles to a remote section that we had never been to before. At one point we decided to cross the river to fish this juicy looking bend. The only good looking place to cross was waist deep and difficult but not that bad. The only problem was it happened to be dumping rain hard all day and we didn’t factor in the inevitable rise in the river level. We only fished the other side for an hour or so. When we went to cross back over the water was nearly to the tops of our waders and the flow had both of us struggling big time, even while holding onto one another. We barely made it across and I’m sure we would have been stranded at best, or something more serious if we had crossed any later than we did. It was a learning lesson for us both to say the least.

Sometimes this happens in real time. I was fishing an OP river a couple years ago, waded out to cast to a seam. For the first few minutes, everything seemed fine. I gradually listened to the water get louder and louder as it crashed against me until I tried to turn exit the river and found myself unable to move without my leg lifting upwards. Managed to get out of that one with very big steps

 

[iggie]

This year I am using a kayaker's dry top. Wearing it over my warm winter sweater and belted over my waders.
When my feet get tangled together and I fall hopefully stay.

 

[MCourtney]

Another fan of the Korkers boots. I have two pairs, each with aluminum bar soles and my wife uses the aluminum disks on the soles of her Korkers. I've used these for several years in all kinds of conditions and they have unfailingly provided solid traction on golf ball to baseball to basketball sized rocks, mossy/slimy rocks, and "4 wheeling" up the bank from the riverbed through the grass, stones and mud. I have switched the sole to felt for use in a guide's boat and for fishing in Yellowstone NP.

 

[RCF]

You can not use felt in YNP

Check the regs please

 

[flybill]

I have found the best way to improve my wading, was to improve my balance and reaction time. I use this balance board, highly recommend it. It is called a gib board. Have it in the living room.
View attachment 131385

Let's see, put my foot on that.. call 911 and get the paramedics on the way.. put other foot up.. you know the rest!