An Approach to Wading
Avoiding a free fall in the freestones
by James A. Capes

It’s always the same embarrassing scene. As I get back up, shirt sleeves soaked, water rolling down my arms, I sheepishly look around to see if anyone noticed my graceful tumble.  If you wade in slippery freestone streams, the occasional fall, slip, tumble, or “header” is going to happen. However, with a sound approach to wading, you can greatly reduce the frequency and severity of such mishaps.

In my opinion, wading a stream is a skill unto itself and is overlooked in much of the literature aimed at the beginning fly/wade angler. Many new fishermen enter into the water thinking they can just “walk” around from one spot to another without any techniques to protect their equipment and, more importantly, keep themselves dry and safe.

The consequences of poor wading run the gamut from comical to fatal. Season and air temperature can turn a refreshing dunk in summer into deadly hypothermia in winter. River size and flow rate also need to be well measured when determining your wading style. Falling in a small mountain freestoner may cause your buddies to have a funny story to tell back at camp. Fall in a powerful tailwater and your buddies may be reading about you in the newspaper. As I write this, the latter has just sadly occurred on one of New York’s famous Catskill streams. A tragedy that may have been averted by smarter wading.

The three E’s of safe wading

Equip------Evaluate------Execute

Equip

Wading Boots

The first step someone needs to take in order to wade safely is to be equipped with appropriate wading boots/shoes. Whether you are wearing bootfoot waders, stockingfoot waders, or wading "wet", today’s wading angler has several choices of what to put on the bottom of their feet.

Some waders/wading boots still come with basic rubber soles. Wearing rubber soled boots without any additional cleats or studs is the most dangerous option by far.  Rubber soled boots offer no gripping power and rubber on algae and silt covered rocks can be as slick as ice. Avoid this situation at all costs.

Felt-soled boots offer good traction on slick, submerged rocks and are relatively lightweight, depending on boot style. The downside of wearing felt is experienced on the banks. A flat felt sole does not offer much gripping surface and can be downright slippery when trying to climb up a bank or trying to get good footing on a downed tree or root. Also, during winter fishing snow sticks and piles up on felt soles very quickly. After walking a short distance through snow, you will suddenly be wearing platform shoes and will need to stop and knock this accumulation off. 

Over the past few years, some manufacturers have introduced wading boots which have felt soles but also have metal studs integrated into them. These boots offer the “stickiness” of felt with the great grabbing power of studs, which help both in and out of the water. Although this option tends to cost a bit more, I feel it is the safest all-in-one wading boot available.

If you currently have rubber or felt only soles, you can always attach cleats to improve your present boot. Korkers brand cleats are by far the most popular, and are very durable and effective. The main downside to Korkers is the added weight, which, when you're fishing from dawn to dusk, can fatigue your legs.  

Wading Belt

No set of waders is complete or safe without a properly adjusted belt. Remember, a wading belt is first and foremost a functioning "water tourniquet" and may be the difference between life or death should you fall in deep, swift water.  If you are wearing it loosely, you might as well not be wearing it at all.

Wading Staff

First, if you feel that a wading staff is only for aging anglers, you are wrong. A wading staff is a great addition to everyone’s approach to wading and can really save you in certain situations. With a wading staff, you have a third point of contact with the streambed which greatly aids in balancing. In addition to improving balance a wading staff can also: check water depth (very important), test the stability of a rock you are about to stand on, push streamside brush out of the way and occasionally dislodge a snagged fly or two.

When using a wading staff, it stays out of your way by hanging downstream.

PFD’S

Wearing a self-inflating personal flotation device, or PFD, is a great idea, especially when fishing “big” water or fishing alone. PFD's are lightweight, relatively compact, and can save your life! Some manufacturers are now integrating then into fly vests. This is a great option for those fishermen who avoid them because they don’t want to be seen wearing their “swimmies."

A Type III PFD/fly vest combo by Extrasport

Evaluate

Prepare your body and mind for a safe day on the water

Evaluating your wading situation happens on two levels. First, before you begin fishing for the day. You must ask yourself the following questions: “What is the size of the river/stream I will be fishing today? Is it flowing above, at, or below normal? Is it a tailwater in which the flow could increase while fishing? What is the current water/air temperature? Can my presentations include long casts or do I need to wade close to the fish? What is the streambed composed of? Silty mud, sand/gravel, typical freestone, submerged boulder field, or a combination?” This pre-fishing internal monologue will make sure you arrive at your destination with the most appropriate gear and the correct mindset knowing how you can safely wade and what is at stake if you fail to.

A prime example of “high stakes” wading. When wading in these winter conditions, stay close to your vehicle and other anglers whenever possible.

Execute

Your boots are on, wading staff tethered and your rod is strung. You stand at the stream's edge and are ready to enter the water. The following rules for wading are short “sound bites” that I play through my brain while I am in the water. 

 

• “Do I know this water?” A heightened sense of caution must be exercised when fishing new and unfamiliar water.

 

• “Where am I headed, and can I comfortably stand there when I arrive?” Countless times I have seen fishermen trudge into a stream without considering either of these questions, only to get themselves in a dangerous situation.

 

• “Spot an ‘oasis’ or two and mentally plan your route through them.”  An oasis to the wader is a patch of gravel/sand, eddy or other current break where standing is much easier. Use your polarized sunglasses to spot light colored spots (sand) on the bottom.

 

• “Never move one foot until your other foot is unquestionably planted.” When we walk on land, we do not do this. We take for granted that the soles of our shoes will grip the surface we are walking on; this is a big mistake while wading.

 

• “Never have faith in the gripping power or balancing ability of only one foot.” This has done me in several times. You get one foot planted well, are in position to fish, but there is no place for your other foot. The best thing to do at this point is backtrack a step and find a spot than can accommodate both feet.  These situations when one leg is doing all the work can end in disaster when trying to re-engage the other foot to move on.

 

• “Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty or wet!” While wading, you can greatly increase your stability in certain situations by using your hands as a third balance point. Specifically, by holding on to rocks, both above the water and slightly submerged (these are the ones most overlooked.) Another benefit of reaching down for balance is that you automatically lower your center of gravity, which inherently makes you more stable.

Getting hands wet on a submerged rock for balance.

• “If you feel the wading is easy, and you can simply ‘walk’…don’t!” This is a classic scenario for falling in. A fisherman is leaving the stream and is in calf-deep water. The bottom seems fairly flat and they have their eyes fixed on the far bank. They abandon their "one foot at a time" wading technique and simply begin walking out.  Regular walking puts most of the gripping and balancing responsibilities on the heel and rear areas of our feet. This normal stride just doesn’t cut it when on slick, algae coated rocks.

Finally, should you have a bad fall at a bad time, have a contingency plan and the supporting supplies on hand. For example, a piece of equipment you should always carry is a spare set of clothing back in your vehicle. Extra clothes can literally be a lifesaver during winter fishing.  In addition, carrying a cell phone in a zip-lock bag is a great idea and source of security we now have at our disposal.  Most importantly, always make sure someone knows where you will be fishing.

Above all, use common sense and good judgment while wading. No fish is worth serious injury or death.  As a fly fisherman, wading is one of the unique, special aspects of our sport. Wading a river or stream allows us to physically enter our quarries' world and have a truly enriching experience. However, we must always remember that we are the clumsy visitors, not the graceful residents we chase.

James Capes is a custom fly tier and river guide from New Jersey.  He can be contacted through his website: http://www.autumnbrookangling.com/