How long does it take to wade fish 1 mile? Waist deep water.
Depends, how’s it fishing? Type of bottom? Water clarity? I’ve spent all day fishing a small stretch of river that was fishing well. Probably only moved a 1/4 mile, if that far.
upstream or downstream?
depends on how many fish i catch where i entered the river/stream
is this one of those fuzzy math problems 
Longer moving upstream than moving downstream.
There’s an interesting twist to this sport, making it a timed event.
Whose waist?
What’s waist high to one, may be knee deep to another.
To many variables, anglers physical condition, current speed and most importantly the " to wade fish " part of the question. How many casts and drifts are made, how long was spent in each section or hole?
If there’s a definitive answer to this question, I’ve got to read it.
Best, Dave
getting in and out of the water–2 hours to a lifetime.
downstream all in the water–1 hour to a lifetime.
upstream staying in the water? what are you thinking? get out, sit on a rock, eat your sandwich, and remember time on a river is elastic.
or is this part of a mystery story plot?
I fish a lot in an area where the only legal access to the water is at bridges. I would allow at least 3 or four hours to fish between two bridges that are a mile apart. I often fish upstream from where I get in for a couple of hours and then turn back and return to the bridge in less than twenty minutes. If you are nor familiar with the river allow even more time before darkness makes things difficult. Wading strange waters in the dark is very slow or very wet.
Crappiecrazy, if you are fishing limestone bottom streams, then take into account that there can be very substantial drop-offs that might not be easy to see. One creek I used to fish had a drop of 3-4 feet and the stone was undercut. If you weren’t paying attention, you were in chest deep water with one step. In 5 steps you were on gravel knee-deep. In a few more, you were in ankle deep water.
Rounded rocks that get under a flag of fieldstone make for very interesting wading in one small river that I fish. It is a very real teeter-totter event to step on the flagstone. It is also a potential injury to a foot or ankle.
Take your time and consider a wading staff. Not only are they handy for wading and exploring the bottom, but you can do more damage to a cottonmouth or copperhead with a stout wading staff that a fly rod, or at least you can do the damage much faster.
Ed
As long as it takes.
Too many variables to give a meaningful answer. Did I mention leeches?
Well, I guess I get the dumb question of the month award! I have been fishin a strech of river that I contact the landowner for permission. Instead of bugging him once a week, I thought I would try another section that had public access near bridges. I measured the distance on the “new” section with some mapping software and was just wondering about how long it would take to fish it.
It’s not a stupid question, it’s just one that is hard to answer.
I’ve spent a full day fishing 300 yards of water, and I’ve spent a half day fishing almost a mile. It really depends on how many fish I catch, how I’m feeling that day, how much I stop to just sit and watch the river go by, how many times I have to relieve myself, how many times I stop to eat or smoke a cigar, etc.
If you’re covering the water fast and just exploring and fishing as you go, you can probably cover a mile in about a half day. If you’re really probing the water and trying to understand it and catch fish, it may take you all day to cover the same ground.
Hope this helps.
Jeff
Jeff,
Maybe I better stay on the section that I have been fishin. I got this email from a warden that I used to work with. Happened on Tuesday and I was fishin downstream a few miles the Sunday before. Sad!
This newspaper story is concerning the lady who has attempted to prosecute wading fishermen for trespassing for years in south Logan County, KY.
Shooting in South Logan by Woman arrested for assaulting teen
06.26.09 - 09:27 am
An Adairville woman was arrested Tuesday after shooting an 18-year-old male one day earlier.
At approximately 3:30 p. m., Monday Nicolas Islas, 18, and Brittany Islas, 18, both of Springfield, Tenn. along with some friends were floating along the Red River when confronted by Elizabeth Watson, 53 of Adairville, according to a report from the Logan County Sheriff?s Department.
According to the report, Watson told the teens that they were getting ready to go over the dam and they better make their way back up stream.
The rafters started to get out of the water onto the bank and Watson advised that she owned the land on both sides of the river and that they would be trespassing. She then fired a shot from a .22 caliber rifle and hit Nicolas Islas in the left leg.
The rafters made their was back to their vehicle and transported Islas to NorthCrest Hospital in Springfield and then he was transported to St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville, where he was monitored over night and released the next day.
Detective Robbie Matthews of the Logan County Sheriff?s Department investigated the incident and arrested Watson on Tuesday, June 23.
Watson was lodged in the Logan County Detention Center and charged with first degree assault and two counts of first degree wanton endangerment.
Wildlife Crime Investigations
Law Enforcement Division
Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources
I’ve never made it a mile, not even close, I usually stay within a few 100 feet of where I enter the water.
OMG
How many fish am I catching?
Am I hungry and did I pack lunch?
Is there a rock I can sit on while I eat?
Am I trying to figure out what the fish are eating?
Can I catch some bugs?
Darn I missed another fish!
I’m going to stop and change my fly. Again!
Upstream or down?
Fast or slow?
Rocky, muddy, clear?
I knew I should have bought a wading staff!
I’m hungry again and I already ate lunch.
Can I reach the granola bar in the back of my vest without taking everything off?
Crap, I dropped my rod!
I hope my wife remembers to pick me up.
She’ll probably be late so I can slow down.
Better not she’ll be pissed if she has to wait.
But she’s shopping.
It’s not starting to rain is it?
Way too many variables. But fun to think about.