Tips for safe wading

Being able to negotiate a river is one of the most important skills in fly fishing. If you can comfortably and safely wade a river, you'll be more confident and will have more fun on the water. In this video you'll also learn how to choose between felt-soled and rubber-soled wading shoes and how to clean your wading boots between trips so you don't transport invasive species

[@williamfisher2906]

If possible, keep your toes pointed upstream. The force of the water over your feet will force them downward and aid traction. Pointing your toes downstream will put the force of the current against your heels and cause your feet to kick out when you shift your weight.

[@charlesloeffler333]

Nice list, thanks. Three years ago, an extraordinarily generous young man gave me 2/3rds of his liver. During the recovery and for other reasons I could barely eat anything, which meant I lost a lot of weight with a fair amount of muscle. My first time back in a river, I discovered that lot of the strength in my ankles had disappeared. It was easy to recognize the strength loss in major muscle, but this was a surprise. A wading staff was a blessing and since then many hikes on rocky trails. Thanks for you vids and tell everyone with significant liver issue that transplants work and living donors are heroes. If they are near Texas, the UT San Antonio Hospital Transplant clinic are surely the best.

[@hikerdude5265]

I like the bootless waders too so that I can switch out the boots. Love the fish-on at the end, Tom. Thanks!

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

Yeah, get a pair of korkers wading boots, that have interchangeable soles, like 7 different types I think

[@jeremyowen1]

Appreciate the tips. I got into wading this year and became completely addicted. Had a couple nasty slips this fall though so I need to reconsider some choices. I'm wearing rubber soled boots and the river here is like walking on bowling balls. I decided before I go out again I'm gonna get a PFD vest. I have a fly vest but it doesn't have any floatation ratings and I can't swim super great. Well I can swim, I just can't tread. I fell backwards the last time I was out and was barely able to catch myself. I'm still young and think I'm immortal but that river humbled me this year for sure. Be safe out there everyone.

[@awizardstips763]

I’d definitely consider getting a pair of felt boots or shoes that can change the linings, with large slippery rocks felt is much much better. If it’s mostly sandy with smaller rocks I think rubber is better

[@fred101215]

This was super helpful! Getting ready to go to our reservoir to target white bass and was a little nervous to go waiting for the first time this helps me to feel more comfortable on the dos and don’ts thanks so much!

[@FirstCastMedia]

Solid info! I'm relatively new to it still, and I have done my homework, but I still learned something here!

[@jimholland1592]

Thanks Tom👍

[@LetsGoFishin60]

Great tips Tom!

[@frankwilliams5475]

Excellent tips. Thank you.

[@IMKINDOFABIGDEAL13]

Tom it’s funny that you posted this video today because I made a video yesterday right after having a fall in a spot I have crossed about 1000 times minimum a few minutes from my house. Waders filled with ice cold water and I was almost swept into a deep hole. So made a video reminding the guys in my fishing group to keep their wader belts tight and to be very safe. Even a basic routine crossing can become dangerous in an instant, bring dry clothes too, I hade to hike up an almost vertical hill to my truck with about 30 pound of ice water in my waders. and then once I got them off had to drive home cold and soaking wet in my truck with no heater

[@joannebaird4946]

If you see a large bubble or knuckle in the river you can work the rocks that create them. If you wade out to the rocks you find it deeper on the up stream and hard to get footing. Stand down stream but tight to rock,. The rock takes the current from your legs. Bonus sand down side of rock give you footing. You can usually sit on rock for a spell. Tight lines

[@-fishingvideos-liorben-hai2447]

Great video

[@williammiller5449]

One safety add: If you fall in, your $1100 Helios rod is replaceable. You aren't.

[@Grouse2275]

Felt is far superior to anything once in the water..... if you rough up the felt with a wire brush before each outing, they hold even better. As far as invasive concerns, I feel the boots and laces hold much more water. I feel a wading staff is critical especially as you get older.

[@ThePorpoisepower]

They just need to make cross over flyvest/pfd...

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

That stream is a no-brain. Where I fish most rocks are grapefruit to soccer ball size.

[@samharris9559]

I just realized that this isn’t Flip Pallot. (gotta be honest I like Tom more)

[@craigf3624]

Lee Wolff disproved the wader belt myth many years ago..................I use the belt only to hold by pliers and leatherman knife.

[@orvis]

Lee Wulff jumped off a bridge over the Battenkill with waders on in the 1950s to prove that you won't turn upside-down if there is air trapped in your waders. Don't think he was trying to say anything about belt or no belt.

[@craigf3624]

@@orvis He didn't wearca belt when he jumped