A wading staff is very important to have aswell. I don't just use one to help my balance but also to determine my next step. Many places around here it is often hard to see the bottom clearly and sometimes worse are the places were the water is crystal clear because the water can be much deeper than it appears. Another use is in still water wear the muck from rotting vegitation can be several feet deep and can be almost impossible to get out of if you step in it.