How to wade

[blueyakman]

Hi pals,

I've been yak fishing Christmas and West Bay for about two years now, and thinking about getting into wading in from the shoreline. What sort of shoes/boots do you wear? What about stingrays? I see a lot of them from my kayak and would hate to steep on one. I guess I'm too used to the safety of my kayak!

John

[Curmudgeon]

Get some good wading boots. A lot of people like ray guards, but I just shuffle my feet to avoid rays. I've got a pair of Patagonia boots I really like, but the canvas ones Academy sells will get you through a season. Next you'll need a belt: Hookset makes the best on the market. You'll need a wading box for your lures which you can make or buy. You'll also need a good pair of pliers: Hookset sells some great ones but there are tons of variations out there. I'm assuming you've already got a stringer, so the next thing will be a net or boga grip for landing your fish.
It's still a little chilly for me to go wading without waders on but your mileage may vary.
Once you get out into the water, pay attention to where you're going and where you've been. Some times you'll have to backtrack to get out of a hole and some times fog or other weather can roll in. Keep going back to one area until you've learned it's contours and secrets. Enjoy it.

[OR19]

What Curmudgeon said. I would add a good fishing shirt with big pockets...When wet wading I just carry a small plano box in my front pocket that will hold about 4 tops, and a few other hard baits, spoons, pre rigged tails, soft plastics and maybe a new topwater go in the other pocket. Everything else is on a lanyard around my neck or attached to my hookset belt(gerber multi tool, mini mag light, etc). I've got my car key, a back up led, and a compass on some decoy line around my neck...fog can be scary and sneak up on you...most of the time I throw about 10% of the lures I brought with me. I don't like a to drag around a net, but have lost more nice flounder that I want to admit trying to bare hand or boga them. Good luck.

[richg99]

Some guys wear a Tilly or a safari hat. With a piece of wire added, they hold a ton of lures far above the water. Don't forget a strap of some sort. You don't want $50.00 worth of lures to blow off and float away.

https://www.theexplora.com/dont-forget-your-safari-hat/

[Fish Jockey]

Over the years I introduced my buddies to wading by going out to a small island or shallow reef. Jumping out and working that area.
I do a lot of wading on oyster reefs. Hardly ever any rays but gotta have good boots. Them shells are sharp.
Also consider your pole length and backbone... Need one short enough that you can reach the fish but long and stout enough to keep a ray or shark off your body when you catch one. I keep fingernail clippers around my neck for cutting line.
Use a stringer with a float that keeps the fish away from your body.
I wade with the bare necessities unless I plan on a long distance trip one direction.
As Rich said: yes a good hat is your best friend. And for me its a good place to hang a lure in a pinch.
G.

[TroutSupport]

You'll also need to secure your kayak to the shore via a small danforth anchor and some chain, or put the kayak up on the bank and make sure the incoming tide won't allow it to float off. I always deploy the anchor even if I'm parking it somewhere high and dry.

Keep it simple. Wading boots, Small plastic lure box with a shoulder strap, a lip gripper or yoga, line scissors, and canvas shoes is all you need. Shuffle your feet as Curmudgeon said. This means that they never leave the bottom.. sort of like ice skating gently slide your feet along the bottom, rays don't want to be stepped on, if you bump them with a toe they'll scoot out of the way. And while I'm a proponent of keeping the sun off, respectfully I must say that big hats just blow off and insecure trebles seem to find a way into what you don't want them too. Keep it simple and sound and you'll enjoy your wade. Use your feet to look for scattered shell or deeper holes, wade the grass drop off and drop off from shell. Note where the fish are holding in relation to what you are feeling on the bottom with your feet as well.