Snipe,
Don’t think anyone caught that. LOL Good one!
My Grandfather and Uncle worked there. Sure miss the free beer nights on Fridays!
Regards,
Bill
I fly fish the salt because the voices in my head tell me to…
Having beccome disabled a few years ago I now use a wading staff all of the time. If I fall in I will drown period. So it is very important to me.
I have a Simm’s and it is great the way it comes together and all. I like the lanyard to and the case. It is a little hard to get it back into the case but not that bad. Now for the bad of it. I am not a light weight and in heavy water it will start to vibatate real bad if you put pressure on it. That scard me so I am now using a one piece made by Bailey. It is fiber glass real light weight but you can put a lot of weight on it and it never vibrates at all. I do not find it to be inconvenient that it does not fold up. I use it as a walking staff while going to and from the stream and also to push things out of the way if needed. Like brush and limbs. Bailey’s is also making a folding staff just like the one made by Fol-Staff except it has a form fitting rubber handle. It is 3/4 in and very heavy duty. It sells for about $50.00. I have seen and used one and they are good.
Just giving some things I have learned because I have to have one.
Just to show that I am not on any one companys pay roll LOL You can make a good wading staff from and old Ski pole if you can find one. Some of the old cane ones were tough as nails. You can also get very nice walking staff’s from companys for about $50.00 that fold up and are well made to. Lot’s to look at. Just make sure it is a good one so you do not have to worry about it breaking or folding up on you when in heavy use. Ron
I have an older folstaff, loved the idea but it has separated too many times when stuck between rocks or in mud or deep gravely bottoms. Got turned onto a Simms. It locks into place.
After a nasty car wreck two years ago my left leg & foot will NEVER be the same. the Simms makes me feel more secure. I like it!
Later,
Peter
Funny thing, just ONCE, that you wade with a staff, you will not go in again without one.
It is also an age thing, JC. Do you think you would have said that when you were in your teens or 20’s?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of that age use a staff. I’ve seen several of them fall.
lol, wish I had started using one a lot earlier in my fishing life. But NO! MACHO CRAP… Oh well, at least I learned… 
eventually…
More benefits: I have arthritis (RA) that gets my feet, ankles, knees… sore after much wading in boulder & silt land. 1 nearby stream has no paths, so must be traversed mostly in the boulder-strewn water. So after wading up-stream longer than I should have (getting dark, due home…), I can get back much faster and safer with the staff and with less wear/tear on the joints.
I agree with JC I creeped and stumbled without a staff,finally got a Simms and now if my feet are wet I have a staff ready.Only takes 1 slip and it could be your last.
A few years ago I bought a Cabelas bungy style. I got the heavier duty model. Figured if I need it I want it to be strong enough to do the job. Cost was great and the product sems to hold up over time.
I had an older stlye staff. It was made of a wooden sapling. Quite effective and priced right. Its single piece so it won’t collapse or pull apart. The only reason I stopped using it is because I wanted to have something light that I could keep on a belt.
jed
I have a friend who bought a staff for about $28 bucks, as I remember. It broke. He then bought a Folstaff. I am not saying that is the one to get. Simms might be fine as may many others. Just be aware that when you might need it the most (under strain etc) is when things fail. Perhaps, if you are going to invest in one, you might want to re-think your ‘economy’.
Am I the ONLY one who finds my wading staffs streamside? I have two. One is a sturdy dry pine branch I found in Wisconsin and the other is also a pine branch I found in Wyoming. A bit of customizing to each and they’ve served me for years.
Mark
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
I have two staffs at this point…Both different in design…both not high dollar…I like them both and I’ve been eyeing a third, That doubles as a rod tube…But the price of that stick makes the folstaf look most attractive!!..but since I usually find myself mid stream wishing I’d remembered to bring a staff…I think I’ll stick to useing exactly that…A Stick most of the time…I’m not all that old…but I do believe my mind is going ahead of me!
I am 5’8"…looks like I can get a super buy on a 59" folstaf…what about it experts? Too long, or ok? Seems to me the extra length MIGHT be somewhat of an advantage. BTW, the staff I’m looking at is the 3/4" diameter.
Thanks,
Mike
You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!
Mike, repeating myself, but trying to help.
Get a broom handle. Mark 59" on it. Grasp it with the top of your hand about 1 inch below the 59" mark, which would place it in roughly the middle of the Folstaff’s cork handle.
Use it as a staff while you walk around your back yard. See how it feels to you. If you don’t like it, go for the shorter staff.
Mike,
If it’s a really good deal, buy it and learn to love it…haha! Mosey on down to the Clearfork with it and we’ll fish and maybe I can find something to trade for it…then I’ll have a nifty “deep water” stick…another haha.
R
ohiotuber:
I’m between 5’8" and 5’10" depending on which WANTED poster you look at; in any case I have the 50" Folstaf and the length is PERFECT. At 5’8" you may find the 59" a bit long.
BTW make sure to get the 3/4 diameter.
Marco- I agree that a pine branch can help you out but if you have to depend on your staff I want something I “KNOW” will not crack and break. Lot of use older guy’s depend on a staff not breaking.
I am 6’ Tall and I like the longer staff. I find that when wading into the stream you will be going down hill most of the time (Into deeper water)and the longer length helps out a lot. Coming out is no big deal with the longer staff but knowing you have that little extra length comes in handy at times. If you are short it will may a difference but if you are from 5’11 or so and taller then I would go with the longer staff. Just me Ron
Hey Marco,
No, you aren’t alone.
Eric “nighthawk”
American veteran and proud of it!
I’m 6’ tall, and I don’t see how one’s height could improve the taste of cheap beer, but Falstaff has got to be the worst beer I’ve ever had the displeasure of tasting.
My New Year’s resolution is to have more fun…even if YOU don’t.
Silver Mallard…Agreed on the beer!..although while in 'Nam, we sometimes could only get Crown & OB…they are even worse!!
I won the auction!..I figured, as mentioned by RonMT, that I will basically be wading shallow to deeper, & I figure the 59", (or is it 60"?) will work. I DID hit a drop once (in my 20s) & went “down under” in 40+ degree water…lucky to have come up!..With the 60" staff, I could have felt down that slope & avoided a VERY chilly ride home. I picked up the 60", 3/4" diameter Folstaff, used 3 times for $66.75 (total including shipping). Too good to pass up, & if it’s too long, one of my tall FAOL friends will be quite happy. Stay tuned!
Mike
ps:I also “solicited” advice from our Grand Poobah & his BETTER half!
You can call me Mike & you can call me Mikey…Just remember that this site’s about sharing!
[This message has been edited by ohiotuber (edited 04 June 2006).]