Freshwater Wading Tips For Moving Water

In addition to waders, here are the fly-fishing wading gear and accessories that make wading safer and more enjoyable:

Wading Boots

Your wading boots are the second line of safety in preventing falls (after knowledge and experience). You should choose wading boots that will work the best for the type of rivers you’re fishing. This choice is typically a balance of grip, support, and comfort when walking distances.

Felt is a longtime favorite sole material for wading boots, and is very secure on slippery surfaces. But felt soles take a long time to dry and tend to pick up and help spread invasive species of plants. Felt soles are illegal in some states. Check local regulations.



The latest technical rubber soles, often referred to as “sticky rubber,” are a great choice for all-around boots, particularly in mud and sand. They are the most comfortable for hiking to remote fishing spots. For extra traction that’s excellent on slick surfaces, choose rubber soles with metal studs.

Wading Belt

A belt is included with most waders and is designed to keep water from filling your waders below your waist in the event of a fall. Wear it, especially if you’ll be wading in deep water. If you happen to fall without a wading belt, your waders can fill with water, which will cause you to sink. It’s amazing how much water can get into your waders during a quick dip, even if the water isn’t particularly deep.

At best, wet clothes often mean a trip back to the car or lodge—not a good use of valuable fishing time. But the real threat is drowning. Next to a PFD (which wade anglers rarely, if ever, wear) a wading belt is the most important piece of gear you can wear with your waders to reduce your chances of drowning.

Wading Staff

There’s no better way to improve your safety while wading in moving water than to use a wading staff. It improves stability and allows you to feel around and check water depth and the softness of river bottoms. Folding models can be stored neatly in a sheath that hangs from your wading belt and easily deployed when needed. A good substitute is a sturdy stick you find along the riverbank.



The wading staff provides three points of contact when you’re standing still and two points when you’re lifting a foot to take a step. Regardless of whether you’re right- or left-handed, always hold the wading staff on your downstream side so that it can offset the pressure of the current. 

Freshwater current and depth can be deceiving. Fast water does not have to be deep to pull your feet out from under you. Knee-deep water can easily sweep you off your feet if it’s fast enough or if the bottom is slippery enough. In fast water you should avoid wading above your knees, but the general rule of thumb is to stay shallower the faster the water is moving.

As I pointed out above, looking where you are walking and proceeding cautiously will help tremendously in keeping you upright. Take your time and never shift your weight from one foot until the other is firmly planted and stable. Be aware of how much the current is pushing you as you go along. Turn back if you feel uncomfortable.

Be particularly careful in shallow water. A fall in deep water will get you wet, but a fall on stream-side rocks can cause serious injury and break bones. The slippery bottom combined with the current can make regaining your feet a real challenge in fast, shallow water.

When turning around in fast water, always pivot in an upstream direction. Rotating while facing downstream will allow the current to push you forward, possibly into a deep hole.

Never walk where you can’t see where you’re stepping. If you fish until dark, be sure to use a headlamp and make sure you’re familiar with the area.

Crossing The River

Reading the water will not only help you find fish, it will also guide you when crossing a wide section of river. The safest areas are usually the tail end of a pool or the head of a wide riffle where the water is usually shallower. Always angle your path upstream. If at some point you realize you can’t go any farther, you can always retrace your steps. If you angle downstream, the power of the current may not allow you to retrace your steps, pushing you into unknown territory and possibly a deep section.

Situational Awareness When Wading In Moving Water

A couple of years ago, I was wading in a wide section of a big Maine river when I started to struggle to keep my feet. I thought I was just getting tired. I was making my way to the bank when a large tree trunk passed by. Suddenly, I realized that the water was rising. That’s why wading was becoming harder.

I made my way to the shore and crawled up on a boulder anxiously waiting for my husband, who was fishing downstream. When he finally joined me he was visibly ruffled. The rising water had caught him off guard as well. It turned out that the dam upstream had been opened but the operator had failed to sound the warning alarm. When we returned to camp, many fishermen had had close calls.

That experience was a strong reminder to be aware of your surroundings, always. 

When wading a tailwater (below a dam) you should know the release schedule for that day, or if there’s not a schedule, find out any trends you should be aware of. The local fly shop is a great resource for that information. But even that knowledge wouldn’t have helped us in this situation.

When wading, take note of the water level on surrounding rocks—this will help you gauge whether the water is rising or falling.



In some situations, a rainstorm far upriver can cause the river below to swell hours after the storm has passed. Paying attention to weather forecasts and the current radar is also important to wading safely.

This is not an exhaustive safety list, but I hope it gives you a good foundation for safe freshwater wading. Fishing is a lot more fun with both feet firmly on the ground.