Wading belt

[madkeen]

From a safety point of view should a belt be worn with chest waders?

[robmason]

I would say no. Would a belt not trap air in the leg portion of the waders such that if you go for a swim your legs float up and your head goes down? Without a belt the waders fill with water, the waders become "weightless" and all of you floats (as long as you can swim!)

I suppose wearing a floatation device changes things slightly.

[beanieboy]

IMO no - if you fall into the water the belt will trap the air from the waist down, this will 'balloon' the lower part of the waders which in turn will float to the top making it almost impossible to get back into an upright position. My brother almost drowned recently due to this very problem.

[williegunn]

If you are totally rigid and cannot bend I suppose it would be dangerous otherwise I think it would help you stay afloat.

[ibm59]

williegunn said:

If you are totally rigid and canot bend I suppose it would be dangerous otherwise I think it would help you stay afloat.

Light end floats , heavy end sinks. Glug ,glug , glug.
The End.

[colliedog]

The usual advice when you fall in is to drift on your back feet first with your legs up until you find a safe spot to crawl out. My feeling is that buoyancy in your legs can only aid this position. Your upper body tends to be naturally buoyant, supplemented with air trapped in your clothing leaving the weight in your derrier to cock you in the correct position!

I wear a belt on the basis that being "heavy boned" I need all the buoyancy I can get.

Funny, no one has mentioned wearing a life jacket............

CD

[ibm59]

Bullseye , CD.
Buoyancy at both ends. Wish I'd had some when I went for a wee swim on Tuesday . Only 18" of water , but fast and it gave me a real fright.
Recommendations for lifejackets will be gratefully received , lads.

[scotsman]

WHEN WADING USE A WADING STICK IT HELPS LOADS, LESS CHANCE OF GOING FOR A SWIM. MAKE SURE THE STICK IS STURDY AND AVOID ORNATE HANDLES THEY GET WRAPPED ROUND LINES ETC.

[salmondan]

I (usually) use a sharpes spey wading stick and have a compass lifejacket (usually left in the car ). The wading stick saved me from swimming at least twice a day during my week on the Spey, WD40'd rocks up there . I should use the lifejacket all the time but for some reason...I promise that from now on I'll use it(probably). Clunk Click every trip.

I wonder how many on here actually do use a lifejacket.

I use a belt with chest waders btw.

[castlikeaghille]

The best way not to get a ducking or worse is not to fall in in the first place. A wading stick will go a very long way toward that; although it doesn't guarantee it. Beware wading down Whale Backs, or where you are fishing with grue in the water, or it is a rising spate with displaced logs and livestock waiting to bowl the unwary over.

However, the three main downsides with wading sticks are:

- they are a nuisance to carry when not in the water
- they forever tangle up with running line (more acute with the use of spey lines)
- when the water is cold you constantly have to put your hand in an icy river to pick the thing up before you move on.

So for the last three or four years we have been using the collapsible ones, particularly the one made by a well known American manufacturer beginning with S.

Initially, I for one, was skeptical about their robustness. However, that skepticism has proved misplaced. They are discrete, and when not in use are stored behind you on the belt out of harms way. It is surprising how little we actually use them, but the very fact they are there gives you tremendous confidence. However, these sticks are markedly improved with two modifications:

1) Buy an extra hammerhead retractor and attach to the top of the handle (the version with the draw cord that tightens is best). When you are actually ready to use it, assemble stick and unclip it from the retractor that attaches it to the sheath. Clip the extra retractor to the D ring on the top of you waders or waistcoat/jacket. The stick will then hold tight to your chest which means it won't catch running line during casting and you don't have to put your hand into a 35 degree river on a February day to move forward. With thanks to P.A.T for that ergonomic tip

2) The make in questions has a spiked tip. I'm sure many of you will have seen war films with the submarine on silent running when the mechanic accidentally drops the wrench and gives away the position to the destroyer above. Such is the clanging sound this particular wading staff makes down the river The solution is to buy a smallish walking stick rubber tip. Place an appropriate size washer in the cap (to stop the spike pushing through the rubber cap), acquasure and then insert the tip of the stick - leave to dry over night. Result, silent running is restored. Just make sure you don't buy a cap that is so wide the collapsed stick won't fit in the sheath.

You should find this set up a total joy to use compared to the old small tree trunk approach. Total cost is about £75-80, but what price vastly improved convenience far less your life?

Regardeth

CLaG

[greenalert]

Interesting article from Orvis on wading belts

www.orvis.co.uk/detail.asp?subject=108&index=11&dir_id=441&cat_id=&group_id&bhcp=1

[sagecaster]

I can only echo what CLaG has said about collapsable wading sticks. There appears to be a misplaced sceptisim against them and I cannot understand why anyone would want a big, cumbersome lead ended half tree to lug around all day!

I have used the Simms stick for 7 years and its fantastic, 99% of the time I don't use it, so its tucked well out of the way on a belt, then if I do happen to need it, bingo, its there to hand.

Quite simply, I found it to be a revolution... everyone should have one.

By the way if you use breathables and a belt, the air trapping problem is obviously not an issue.

[zephead]

Hmmmmmmmmmmm-Easy for Gerry Garcia of Orvis to say "Tie the wading belt around the thinnest part of you......."

Haven't had a thin part in years.

ZH

[davewallbridge]

Actually the 'air in waders' should not be a real problem unless you fall in off the bank.
When wading, most of the air will be pushed out of the waders by water pressure so if you slip then there will be little air to cause the 'legs up' problem.

Dave.

[speycaster]

i have a collapsible wading stick which i never fail to use along with my wading belt since going for a swim last year, i wouldn't be without it now cuts the chances of tripping down by 2/3 ,as for the wading belt being dangerous cant see that myself all the top guides wear them its a personal choice but mine makes me feel secure and solid and its important to feel comfortable in the water if your going to fish to your best ability

[colliedog]

More observations on wading sticks - I use a folding stick because occasionally I like to rove more than 50yds from the fishing hut/car and found a tree trunk impractical for anything other than - well - being a tree.

I have tried three types:

The telescopic collapsible type modeled on the walking sticks favored by ramblers. Note the emphasis on collapsible - thats exactly what they do and are a menace (as are ramblers).

Then I tried a telescopic stick of the type available through several manufacturers for about £25. This was better but is heavy. It also has a fatal flaw - the sections are held together by elastic bungee cord which, if you catch the end between two stones, it stretches, separating the sections and folding the stick in two at the most inopportune moments.......splash.......are you listening Splash?

I have settled on the Simms folding stick because it passes where all the others fail. It is light, strong and the sections lock together. Yes it is expensive but what cost your safety. As an wise old relative used to say you buy cheap, you buy dear.....

If you are not prepared to splash out on a Simms stick, stick to a rigid one!

CD

[speycaster]

i have a sierra stick i payed ten pounds for it because the clip was broken, it is solid dosnt collapse when its not supposed to , the only thing i don't like is the pointed metal tip [noise ] but i shall do as requested and fit a rubber grommet over it i would have liked a Simms but i don't need one as nice as they are it does what it says on the can ps if you get fed up with the simms ill take it of your hands he he