Wadding Staff
#6550951
06/07/19 09:00 AM
06/07/19 09:00 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,516 La Crosse, WI
Macthediver
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,516
La Crosse, WI
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Got paged yesterday afternoon to go to a stream couple miles down the road.. Guy was trout fishing, got him self stuck in stream, in mud almost to his belly button..Called 911 on his cell said couldn't get out. I know the place been there couple times some years back..I got there worked my way down stream bank got as close as I could without going in mud over my boots..got a strap on him..He wasn't injured just stuck and knew not to fight to much..Once FD showed up we basically got some tension on the strap, with little coaching, he was able to crawl out basically self rescue. We've had so much flooding last two summers and this spring stream banks are pretty unstable. Lots of sand and dirt has moved around and not really had chance to settle get firm. When I got out of my truck to head to the creek. I grab my bag rope and straps,and wadding stick. This stick is literally just a old long heavy wooden mope handle I bolted a rubber knob on the end.. The guy that was stuck had even told 911 dispatcher people need to be careful coming to get him. Said was lots of deep mud spots along bank. I worked my way down the bank poking my stick as I went. Had to go around a couple soft spots wanted to suck me up,, but was able to get to about 8-10 ft from the guy..
So Anyway.. We got this guy out no harm no foul and hosed off mud, No he hadn't caught any fish. I didn't talk to this guy about why he didn't have a wadding staff.. I believe if he'd had a staff and knew how to use it he might not have gotten stuck. Also he may have been able to free himself with a staff.. I have to admit I didn't always use a wadding staff especially when I was younger and still don't in some places now.. I know it seems like it's in the way to have one sometimes. Ties up your hand when you want to be using it for something else..I carry my mope handle in the truck all the time now along with my life vest and few ropes. I used my mope handle in the flash flooding two summers ago. Wadded in on one of them cars swept off road when people just have to drive threw that water across the road. I have to say that while duck hunting I don't always use a wadding staff. But will admit that I've more than once got out mud using my Mossberg 500 for what I should have had a wadding staff.. Kinda wondering how many you guys out there regularly use a wadding staff/stick while trapping or fishing? Marsh trapping I've used one for years, stream fishing I don't do much any more. I do trap along the upper part of the same stream this guy was stuck in. I use my wadding stick regularly for many years stream trapping..Really just for balance and hooking traps, poking around marsh grass over hangs. Have to say though that simple stick saved me from going over my boots, or on my butt many times..Since my hips are now both mechanical I use a walking stick or stick even on dry land now. I got my mope handle and actually several other various sticks used mostly in water. Old age and my bad hips made me realize I should have been using the stick/sticks on dry land hikes years ago. What your Stick/Staff story or stories? do you even use one? know how much you can do with one?
Mac
"Never Forget Which Way Is Up"
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Re: Wadding Staff
[Re: Macthediver]
#6551002
06/07/19 10:30 AM
06/07/19 10:30 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951 rogers city mi.
jeff karsten
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 4,951
rogers city mi.
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Several times over the years I had to leave my waders or hip boots in the mud to be retrieved when I was on safer ground still not a fan of ankle-fit boots Hopefully i'm wiser now but every now and then I take a refresser course
olden tyred
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Re: Wadding Staff
[Re: Dirty D]
#6551005
06/07/19 10:46 AM
06/07/19 10:46 AM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,174 IL - Shawnee Ntl Forest
ShawneeMan
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 2,174
IL - Shawnee Ntl Forest
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When I'm trout fishing if I need a wading staff I grab a branch or stick and am good to go.
Very seldom need one tho. The river I fish is mostly rock, very few soft areas.
Use them only when crossing deeper faster sections for balance.
Some rivers I have fished I wouldn't go without one.
Same here - especially fishing tailwaters - seems they all want to generate as soon as I get on the other side of the rivers.
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