What About the Wading Staff?
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
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Product links to the staff and the retractor are in the companion Troutbitten article, here . . .
troutbitten.co...
*NOTE* I mistakenly said 12 pound retractor in the video. I should have said 12 ounces. The linked article shows the correct Gear Keeper.
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The key to catching trout is covering water. Find the hungry ones. However, wading a river effectively is often difficult and sometimes impossible. But using a wading staff, adding a third point of contact, is a game changer.
If you rig a wading staff the wrong way, it slows you down. But if you rig it the right way, a wading staff opens new worlds and speeds you up. It gives you access to you places that you couldn't wade before.
But it has to be rigged the right way.
This wading staff system makes strong waders stronger and fast waders faster. It simply allows all waders to reach more water.
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Fish hard, friends.
Dom
Loved this, but instead of using zip ties, I used the webbing from the wrist strap to fashion a very short loop for the handle and a belt loop for the retractor. On the retractor, the loop goes through the top plastic loop on the retractor and then I used a drop of glue and a small self tapping screw to attache it to the bottom of the retractor housing so it doesn't dangle so much. Decided to do this after my first trip with the staff.
Good stuff. For me, it's all about keeping the slop out of the system. Whatever works.
Literally changing my fishing life with every piece of content.
Ha. That's good!
@@Troutbitten I agree with Mark - you've shortened my fly fishing learning curve tremendously - let me know when you start making golf videos :).
I went on a trip with Dom, thinking my game was pretty tight. Boy did I learn. Dry droppers, micro leaders, wool indicators and all. Great trip, highly recommend.
@@Jon626 My son and I are booked with Dom in November. Amped, to say the least.
@@markleone6700 I'd be amped too! Hope you and your son have a great trip!
Read the article and rigged a staff just like this. It’s a valuable addition to my system. Not sure how I fished with out it before.
Good stuff.
Thank you for taking the time to create this video. You are very detailed and I will definetley utilize your great ideas. Tight lines!
Cheers
The zip ties are a great idea. I’ve set mine up this way and it is a game changer. Thanks Dom.
Excellent.
Very nice. That is how I eventually set up my staff as well. Though I like the line attached just below the handle. I would add rather than making the fast faster, it makes the old and lame, not younger, but at least more steady! 🤣 And I always use it in my line hand too. Well, unless I am out fishing with a broken wrist on my line hand, then I have to trade back and forth....
Good stuff.
The Staff, is also good for reaching out to unstick flies, from the bottom ;) Don't leave it behind, helps you cover water fast, whether you'v an injury or not.
Right on
I reads this in your newsletter a while back and it is great advice, PLUS changing the staff to line hand is mega practical. Thanks
Right on.
Good tips! I use the GearKeeper for my net but had never thought of using on my wading staff. Your affordable collapsible option is great! Thanks for the tips!
Cheers.
Pretty convincing video. Might have to add this to my setup
Do it.
Woah!! That barrel roll at 6:22 was impressive haha.
Ha. Good call.
This is a really cool system, but I have to do a lot of waterfall climbing and bushwaking where I fish now. The current is strong and I often need a staff to ford the river, but I would put in my bag. I usually try to find a stick.
Again, you and I just have different situations and different goals. This staff solution is very package, very light and very much not in the way. Tree branches and sticks are never there when you really need them. They're also unpredictable, heavy and inconvenient.
@@Troutbitten What's certain is that I don't need to buy a special wading staff. I have trekking poles and will bring one with me next time.
FYI - putting the zip tie around the pin after removing the straps of my collapsible trekking pole was a little hard to figure out. I couldn't feed the zip tie to wrap around the post, so I finally tried knocking the pin halfway out, which gave me room to slide a zip tie loop around it and then tapped the pin back into place. It probably depends on the brand of trekking pole you use but thought I would share with you in case anyone else has the same issue.
Right on. Those pins don't always want to come out. You can get the zip tie to go around the pin by bending and kinda curling the end of the zip tie a bit. It'll go in there and make the 180 turn to come back out. I'll show that someday, but it would have been too much to squeeze into this video. THANKS.
A wading staff is on my "must have" list when leaving the car/camp. It's even easier to walk to/from the stream with a walking staff at that stage. Personally, I never leave mine folded. It's always at the ready, and using Dom's system with a retractor, it's right where you want it.
Nice
I've resisted getting a staff forever. It's time. BTW... listened to the podcast and your grandfather's "Hey, can we still be friends if I ask you to give me more space..." Pure gold! For every boundary crossing situation, not just those on the water. Also, loved the episode on "efficiency." I've since made multiple time-saving changes. The same goes for no longer using 6X for everything. It's crazy how bad habits form and stick. Troutbitten videos, podcasts, and articles have been a constant mirror that have led me to identify and question dozens of well-worn, unchallenged, practices that have kept joy, ease, and fish at bay. Thank you!
Love that.
I add a champagne cork to the end. Find it grips better, dosen’t slip on rocks. Easy to do if you have a drill press and a range of spade bits.
Interesting. People tell me that rubber ends and such things grip better. But I find it hard to beat the built-in tungsten carbide point on these wading staffs. Just like boot studs, it grips better than cork, rubber, felt, etc.
Outstanding Tips... Thank you!
Cheers
I’m a new subscriber but your philosophy to the sport is similar to my own. I appreciate the effort you put into your videos. You may have mentioned this in one of your videos; I’m still catching up on them, but I was curious what vest you wear in most of your videos? It doesn’t seem to obstruct your vision as the ones I’ve tried do.
Welcome aboard. I agree, the best is excellent. Here's my review on the Simms G3. Can't beat it.
troutbitten.com/2021/01/12/100-day-gear-review-simms-g3-guide-vest/
Thanks again. Good stuff
You bet.
Nice video!! I remember reading your article. Have a staff just don’t use it.
Cheers.
Amazingly simple, I stopped carrying a wadding staff because of all the slack line in my way, forever tangling and being too hard to grab when I really needed it.
Right on. This should work for you.
I had two nasty falls last night. I got a few scratches on my brand new Ross Colorado and my body is bruised. I never fall! I tried a new freestone creek and it was slick as hell with little to no sand or silt bottom to dig in. My Korker felt soles usually preform well but they were completely defeated last night. I came home, sat in hot water to warm up and ordered G4 boots and cleats. Now I'm buying a staff.
Good
Just a treasure trove of great information and advice from you. Thank you and thanks for your low key classy approach. I have your Troutbitten sticker on my Yeti cooler and I think it’s time to buy another hat. Is the one you are wearing in this video in stock? Looking forward to getting a few mono rigs from you too, although I have gotten pretty good making them myself per your formulas.
Thanks, that's nice. Those hats will be back up in a few days. And the leaders will be back in July. Thanks for asking. Cheers.
Thanks for the educating vide. I really enjoyed it and putting your suggestions into practice will make me safer. One question: Where do you keep your bear spray?
If I needed it, that would be on my belt as well.
Thanks for the great video. What is the model of your gear keeper. I have the wading staff, and a good belt. I just need to tether it right. The 12 lb retraction force is what I would like.
Hi Dorothy,
Thanks for asking. Link to the companion article with all the product links is in the description.
Cheers.
Hey now. I’ve got this gear now for my wife and me. Good stuff. Question: I guess you let the staff dangle behind you when you’re in conditions that might call for its use, while leaving it folded and behind your net when you know you won’t need it? Cause obviously if you start to stumble, you’re not going to want to assemble a folding staff. How often do you find yourself unfolding and refolding the pole on a given day? Cheers!
Fair question, but I guess that has a lot to do with your own preferences. For me, I usually keep it unfolded and ready, once it's out. Then at the end of the day or on the walkout, I fold it back up. Somedays, too, I never unfold it.
@@Troutbitten Great-thanks for that. I assumed that might be the case but I was just making sure I wasn’t missing something. Wouldn’t want to be in efficient or have slop in the system, as someone has said.
@@Troutbitten any secrets for threading the zip tie around the pin in the handle of the trekking pole? Feeling pretty dumb over here.
Never mind. Banged the pin out with a hammer and nail and then stuck the zip tie loop in and replaced the pin through it. Feeling like a genius over here all of a sudden.
@@andrewstager1378 Check out the companion article on Troutbitten. It's linked above. I usually just curl the end of the zip tie a bit, then poke it in there and reach in with forceps to bring it back through. Works quite reliably.
Having just taken 6 weeks off due to a fall on the river I was keen to follow your video and would like to know where I can obtain one of those robust looking retractors. Just subscribed and looking forward to more content.Thanks from down-under in NZ.
Gear Keeper is the brand. They can be had on Amazon in the US, hopefully, they're available in NZ
Hi John,
Thanks for asking. Link to the companion article with all the product links is in the description.
Cheers.
Can certainly buy them in Aus. mate. Gear Keeper have a S. Pacific store
On Trade Me
Hi Dominic. I really like your wading staff setup - Keep it light, neat and simple. I try to use that mantra with all my gear when fishing. Just one comment or question. When wading I have always thought that you should hold your wading staff downstream which means switching hands when crossing a river depending on whether the upstream side is on your left or on you right shoulder. So, I presume you just unclip when you need the staff on your left side and return it to the clip whenyou have finished? Would you consider having two retractors one for left and one for right?
Hi Lindsay. Fair question, but I disagree with your premise that you need the staff on the downstream side. I don't give any thought to that, and I do fine. But yes, there are times when I will unclip the staff for some reason. At that point, sure I could switch hands. Then I'll clip it back on when ready. Hope that helps.
Cheers.
Dom
@@Troutbitten Hi Dom. First thanks for kindly taking the time to reply. Love your videos. Only found them recently and have really enjoyed the information you share and your philosophy. Really enjoying the great conversations on your podcasts too. Some real gems of information and 'well, I didn't know that's' and 'oh, yeahs!'.
Ok back to the topic. Yes, I was once 'educated' for not using my staff correctly and that to cross a river think of using the staff and stance as a tripod or triangle. Leg-staff-leg with the staff as the downstream apex to maintain balance and something to put some of weight on to counterbalance the force of the water when up to the knee especially on freestone rivers . It has become a second nature to me. My style I suppose. Anyway, I have copied your staff storage idea, sorted out the staff and retractor belt attachments. Love it. Totally agree, why didn't I do that before.?
BTW, have you any plans to talk about your approaches to nymphing on windy days or high water dirty water days. I would love to hear your approach/thoughts.
Keep up the great work, Dom. I am really grateful to you and your other fishing podcast contributors/buddies for so kindly giving up the time to share the knowledge, thoughts and experiences so that a mug like me can become that little bit better the next time we go out on the river.
Fish and smile.
Thanks any recommendations on the treeking poles
Please find links to all of that in the video description. Cheers.
My problem with all ‘zingers’ even gear keepers on swift water like the Delaware at times the staff is almost out of arms reach.
Respectfully, that's just because your staff is too heavy or your retractor is too weak. The gear in this video solves that problem. I fish in some of the heaviest water around, and that does not happen.
Cheers.
Dom
Thanks Dom.
Could have used a close up of how the staff attaches to retractor, just not clear how thats done.
Good point, and I agree. Tough to get everything in one video. Decided not to, because there are pictures in the companion article on the website. Check that out. Cheers
Thanks article helped!
Hi, I have a pretty flimsy OEM belt that came with my Simswaders. Can you tell me is that an aftermarket wading belt you’re using?
You are in luck. :-) Here's a full video about that...
ua-cam.com/video/Y-zW_mZESUQ/v-deo.html
I was doing that without knowing I was doing that
Good stuff
Hi Dom,
Love your articles and videos. I always find something useful.
Any tips on getting the zip tie around the pin in the handle. When I insert it , it hits the back of the handle and doesn’t curl back around the pin. I’ve tried needle nose pliers, and small screwdriver they are too big to get in there.
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Hi Scott. Try pre-curling the end of the zip tie. That works really well for me.
@@Troutbitten Thanks Dom. I’ll give it a shot.
Do you extend your staff upon arrival / necessity, and then just let it hang for the remainder of your day, or do you collapse it periodically throughout your day, as you transition from spot to spot? I've been experimenting with this method, and so far the only annoying part is the dangling staff as I travel from spot to spot on a river trail.
Yeah, I just use it when I need it. Often that is for a half day or a few hours. It's easy to fold up when I don't need it. But I also don't fold t up just for ten minutes either.
Do you have a link for the 12 lbs Gear Keeper retractor? I can't find one listed as 12 lbs.
Right on. 12 lbs was a mistake. I listed that in the description, but it's easily missed. 12 OUNCES is what you want.
I'm dumb. Ha
You wade deeper and faster water than I will
Okay
Doesn't need to be either deep/nor fast to benefit from a staff.
What brand staff is that? Thanks for the video!
Check the description he has a link to everything.
Hi John.
Thanks for asking. Link to the companion article with all the product links is in the description.
Cheers.
Hey buddy will a gear keeper key holder work with your idea or will it be to small
What is a key holder?
It’s a key retractor with a belt clip that holds a lots of keys a janitor wears one
@@guymarasco6451 Thanks. I understand now. I think it would be too light. I would recommend a 12 oz retractor at least