I'm getting tangled up.
When I am wading I use a Vision collapsible staff.
This would be in my left hand, with the attaching line fixed to my waders
and I would be casting with my right hand.
This set up is fine if am just short casting.
The trouble comes when I need to use my left hand to pull off some line.
What do I do with the wading stick? Where do I put it?
Do I just let it go and then retrieve it after every cast or do I try and
wedge it somewhere ? (No rude remarks please) I have tried that and it
feels a bit awkward.
I have been fishing at Wolfclyde so I don't really need it, but it does
help me get up and down what little bank there is.
What makes things worse is, I also have a scoop net.
The magnet is fixed to my fishing vest at the back of my neck with the
chord fixed at the bottom of the vest.
The one and only decent fish that I have caught requiring netting,
produced one big tangle.
Staff line,net line and fly line- I nearly fell in - could have broken
my rod and lost the fish.
Is it because I am just a novice and it takes time to get use to? Is the
set up wrong? Or am I just an awkward sod ?
All comments would be appreciated.
A Happy New Year - hope to see you all on the river bank in 2010
Peter

Either a lanyard around your body so it falls to the downstream side of you ready to be retrieved;

Wading Staff Lanyard - £7.86 : Dog leads and collars, Rope dog leads, Dog Lead Shop

Or a large zinger type retractor such as this;


Wading Staff Retractor

__________________
http://www.flyfishinglessons.co.uk
http://www.aapgai.co.uk

Hi,
At least you haven't got it between your legs and tripped over it yet .
I have my staff on a lanyard long enough for my arm to fully strech out. I only use it while moving and achieving a secure stance. Then either let it go downstream or wedge it between the small of my back ( or lower ) and the river bed. It helps if the staff has a bouyant handle.
Cheers
Bill

Try a retractor - Sportfish sell them under the name of Gear Keeper -

Hammerhead Net Retractor - Sportfish

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[I]"I still don't know why I fish or why other men fish, except that we like it and it makes us think and feel."[/I] Roderick L Haig-Brown

[url]www.wildfly.net[/url]

[url]http://www.gameanglinginstructors.co.uk/[/url]

If its any consolation I have the same problem. The more things you have attached the more likely you are to get a tangle such as loose line wrapping round the wading staff in the flow of the river.

Once I am satisfied with my foothold in the river I tend to try and put the wading staff behind me so it rests against my back but its not ideal as this can get in the way if you need to remove a net from your back, you need to remember to move the wading staff first.

What I try to do now is have the least equipment necessary attached to my body. If I know a pool is reasonable underfoot and the flow is not too strong I will leave the staff on the bank. If there is a gravel bar where a fish can be beached I will do the same with the net. If I have to carry everything, well its just too bad, it's a question of making the best of the circumstances.

There must be more experienced fishers on the forum who can give better advice, I will be interested to see.

Incidentally I always wear a bouyancy aid when wading.

If you meet me on the clyde you will see me sitting on a shooting stick in the river due to a bad back. I as you say have it tied to my waders ,you will get in a bit of a tangle now and again ,when i hook a fish if its a good one i just stand up and come out of the water as i have had fish go through my legs or round the stick, you can have it on your waders with a quick release clip ,just take your time and come out of the water keeping a tight line ,i normally fish dries so dont have a lot of line if any around me anyway
i use one of these
http://www.amazinghealth.co.uk/shooting_sticks.htm


elite shooting stick

__________________
GAIA INSTRUCTOR

I think everyone must have trouble with too many dangly bits. What I have evolved to is to attach a scoop net to my waders belt using a magnetic clip. I do this as I found it difficult to detach and attach via the usual clip at the back of the vest without juggling the rod. So the net now hangs at my side and is easy to access, not that I use it that often as I prefer to bring the fish to hand wherever possible. The staff I attach via a lanyard to a clip on the front of my vest. When I am in a safe position I put the staff over my right shoulder where it dangles in the river out of the way and without dragging the bottom or swinging around in the current. Unless I know the bit of water I am wading well, I never leave the staff on the bank as one inevitably wades a bit too far or find the current to be stronger than envisaged at some point. Works for me, but I am always looking to improve the set up. ATB, Alan.