After a good value Wading Staff.

[Simon]

Sonia and I have been looking for a good cheap wading staff for a while now, the prices charged by the leading company’s are way beyond what we can afford or want to pay! So, time for a bit of lateral thinking. Many use a telescopic walking stick, which works fine but very flimsy and easily bent. While in London this week, during lunch break I wandered into PC World/Curries. Around the photographic equipment I came across a telescopic Monopod for cameras. Firstly it’s telescopic; light; has a great handle and the main thing is that it’s much meatier than a walking stick! Also you can unscrew the bottom to either have a sharp point or a rubber stub, I didn’t buy it there and then but decided to let the other angler in the house see it first. When I told her about the stick and where we were going to see it, she was surprised! But as soon as she saw it and tried it out it was coming home with us. At the price of £15.99 it’s a bargain, If your passing a PC world and need a wading staff take a look, you’ll be impressed.
Simon.

[phil]

Looks like a cracking solution Simon. Kills two birds with one stone, safer wading and a camera support to boot.

I've often used my Manfrotto tripod as an impromptu support when wading. I have found the sliding sections not able to support too much weight, such as when I lost my balance and found the tripod sections collapsing together as I put all my weight through it, still saved me from a dunking though

Good stuff, I'm going to check out my local PC World, as the monopod / wading stick looks a far better option than the wading stick / tripod setup that I use at the moment.

Cheers

Phil

[adric]

It sounds a good idea. It would be great if you could do a detailed field test to see if it meets the requirements if you slip.

Richard

[fishingcane]

Snowbee do a telescopic staff which I think is weighted at the bottom - very useful in a fast current, it's about £27.00. Cheaper still; cut a suitable length of Hazel - it grows surprisingly straight, wrap and tack some lead sheeting around the base after fitting a rubber walking stick cap to the tip, then cover the lead and rubber cap in rubber shrink wrap, attach a lanyard and away you go!

[springerman]

Simon, Love the Monopod but I go with Fishingcane.  Mine are of Hazel but without the weight.  Rubber tip so they are quiet in the river.  Your Monopod will rattle stones and the like.

[flatsghost]

I go with the natural touch also and use a thumbstick cut from the woods with lead around the base, covered over with cord which is then varnished and a walking stick rubber tip plus lanyard completes the stick. I find I can lean heavily on the 'V' of the thumbstick much better than just a straight pole.
I would be nervous about sliding sections giving way under pressure.
Good winter project?
Cheers
Glyn

[dbl]

Like the tamo makers, I'm waiting for my fresh-cut hazel staff to dry. However, I have improvised a passable staff with one of a pair of walking poles. They were £10 a pair from Gelert a couple of years ago, and I should think not much more now. I only use one for walking myself and the locking mechanism has begun to fail on this one. To ensure it keeps extended I have screwed on a hose clip just below each of the locking rings after extending the staff to my desired length. I also drilled through the joint on the loose one and added a small cotter pin to stop it falling out. A strip of old roofing lead wound round the bottom and secured with Duck Tape finished the job. I want to experiment with the weight to find a happy medium between security and portability! Eventually, I might melt it and pour it into the hollow pole. The bottom is rubber already and the pole has a grip at the top and a loop to keep your hand steady in the grip. I have attached a lanyard to this so I let go of it without losing it. It works well so far and cost almost nothing. I have sacrificed the collapsing capability reluctantly, but the water and the lead weight make the lock mechanism suspect even on a fully working pole. It has quite a slim profile in the water which helps in the current.

[springerman]

Sounds good dbl. Like I said before I prefer Hazel but I have used the poles for walking. I think anything that gives you support and balance whilst wading/walking is a must. A wading stick has saved me many times both on the bank and in the water.  I feel naked without one.  I have a deer antler head that has a curved tine.  Very handing for flies in a tree.  I let my stick float as I have not found it necessary to weight it.  It does get in the way at times but I do not fish large fast flowing rivers as a Salmon fisher might.

Good luck with your stick.

Ian