Simms Wading Staff

Keepin' it vertical

I much prefer keeping two feet on the stream bed. My wading staff is akin to having a third leg to help keep the dry parts upright and dry whilst scrambling over moss covered bowling balls and greasy, muddy creek bottoms. Up until purchasing this Simms model, I was using a cheaper, non-locking, standard shock corded sectional staff. . . which proved to be utterly dangerous as the sections come apart with the slightest tug from mud or rock wedging. The solid cable and locking mechanism on the Simms wading staff are of excellent design and provide positive security against separating sections and accidental collapse. The shaft itself is sufficiently stout yet fairly light weight, and I really like the comfort of the foam grip. At 6'4" I need the full length of support this staff provides and prefer its simplicity over adjustable models. The 'inch' marks on the shaft are a nice touch, although I prefer colored tape on the shaft to indicate knee/waist depths. I attach the included cloth covered bungee tether directly to my chest pack which gives me plenty of range to position the staff where I need it. I don't use the belt pouch, but it's great for storage and transport. I replaced the aluminum tip with Simms rubber replacement tip, which I would highly recommend. (One note on tip swapping; it was necessary to apply heat at the bottom of the shaft in order to soften the copious amount of thread locker on the OEM aluminum tip in order to unscrew it from the shaft. ) Bottom line for me is that I need and rely on a quality wading staff to keep me safe in the water. I don't want to worry about it failing every time I pull it off the stream bed or creek bottom. I have used this Simms wading staff extensively this season and it has given me peace of mind and zero distraction from the task at hand, fishing and enjoying it safely.

Great Staff

I used this staff on the Henry's Fork and the upper Madison. It helped me wade successfully through the riverbed casting to trout without tripping or falling.

Wading staff

Very strong. It provides exceptional security in fast water and great balance in slippery river conditions.