To Wade or Not to Wade?

[FlatsNBay]

That is the question! How many of you guys like to wade out from the bank to catch a bass? What are some  of the conditions that will cause you to leave the bank?

As for me, fishing in Florida has its challenges and hazards. The number one being gators. I have no problem wading in clear water and also bodies of water that I'm pretty sure that there aren't any big gators. I'll usually venture out from shore to reach various weed lines or open water areas that can't be reached from the bank. I'll also wade out to a clear water limestone ledge so that I can parallel the ledge with my bait. Wading out on a point will sometimes give me just that little bit of extra distance  that will help me finding that special sweet spot!

[cport]

That is the question! How many of you guys like to wade out from the bank to catch a bass? What are some  of the conditions that will cause you to leave the bank?

As for me, fishing in Florida has its challenges and hazards. The number one being gators. I have no problem wading in clear water and also bodies of water that I'm pretty sure that there aren't any big gators. I'll usually venture out from shore to reach various weed lines or open water areas that can't be reached from the bank. I'll also wade out to a clear water limestone ledge so that I can parallel the ledge with my bait. Wading out on a point will sometimes give me just that little bit of extra distance  that will help me finding that special sweet spot!

I wade often at Horseshoe Lake, and a few of the ponds I fish. It's very refreshing in the hot weather, and allows me to access fish I can't otherwise.

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[analfisherman]

I wade at least 2-3 times a week in season.
Usually wait till April....waters are still 36-40 degrees here now.
BUT I do have Neoprene Waders too.

Why, usually to get parallel or be able to get around an obstacle or reach deeper waters on my cast.

I have zero animal risks.......but do have many waters with deep mud or clay which sucks your feet in like quick sand and creates a suction like a vacuum cleaner.

Every now and then a big snapping turtle may take a nip....but it's all good.

[Capt. BassinLou]

I only wade at one location, and I haven't done that in couple of years. The rest of my spots are a big no.. no... for wade fishing.. lol!!

[Lipripper]

Wading in Florida  Not on my life 

[Smallie_Stalker]

If I lived in Florida I probably wouldn't wade but living where I do I wade fish a lot. I carry a wading staff and use it to feel ahead for changes in depth or bottom content and that helps a lot.

It helps me get out of the mindset a lot of bank fishermen get into that you have to try and cast into the middle of the pond to catch fish. Casting parallel and close to the shoreline can be very productive at times. 

Great topic Flats! 

[ItsJason]

I really only wade rivers. Lakes and ponds I'm either in my tube or yak.

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[big g]

I have gone wading up north in ohio when I was young.  I'm not wading down here in south Florida for many reasons.  Besides a abundance of gator and native snakes, we now have Pythons up to 17 feet long, and I have the balance of a drunken sailor.  Too dangerous in our neck of the woods.

[SFL BassHunter]

George nailed it.

Hell even in our clear water park lakes you'll find gators and snakes. You may never see the gators and there may only be one or two.
I can now confirm there is at least 1 gator in each of 2 of the parks I fish in. 0 sightings at the 3rd park so far but there's a lot more lake at the third.
Either way with all the snakes you won't catch me in the water. Only 1 time I've entered water and it was to get a 6lb bass back to health so she could swim away. Even then I had my buddy on the lookout.


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[SteelHorseCowboy]

I wade often, heck, most times. But I ain't talking hip or chest deep, I'm wading in knee high boots only trying to get out far enough to avoid the obstructions on the bank. And I try to avoid deep mud, I'm already slow enough.

[Lipripper]

I did some wadding up in the back woods of Alaska but they didn't have gators up there only Grizzly Bears and everyone carried a big iron on their hips. 

[Pferox]

Thinking about it, I had more snake issues than gator ones when I worked in Florida, then again I was in that stuff every day.

Same fresh water problems with wading here in Texas as there is in Florida, with the exception that they are sneakier.

Salty water has it's issues around here also.  After being dragged by a shark that snatched my catch stringer, I've become a land lubber.  There is also the threat of a couple of rare incurable diseases that you can pick up that are becoming more prevalent.

[SteveTX]

Wading in Florida  Not on my life 

Hey dont bring common sense into a fishing forum. How dare you value your life. 

As for me I havent waded but havent needed to. I dont have gators here at least if there is one its a random stray and in 50 years I havent seen one in my local water. I always got a boat if I want in the water to fish.

[bigdogpc]

As a young man I would wade anyplace, as an old guy I try real hard not to get wet.

[Lipripper]

As a young man I would wade anyplace, as an old guy I try real hard not to get wet.

I hear you on that one and with numb feet and two fake knee caps not anymore. I still have a full body wadding suit I bought for my trip when I went to Alaska but haven't used it since.

[Smallie_Stalker]

As a young man I would wade anyplace, as an old guy I try real hard not to get wet.

  You're gonna fit right in around here.   

[basss]

I wade if the situation calls for it, if not I'll fish from the bank.

[SteelHorseCowboy]

I was wading yesterday almost knee deep, about two inches below the tops of my boots.
Mindin my own dang bidness.

Looked down when I felt a bump, figured it was a stick. Dang snake head about the size of my fist bumping up against my leg.

I said out loud, "you gotta be (expletive) (expletive) me..."

I decided to just stand still and see what happened.
He moved in front of me, lowered his head in the water, and I could see his body starting to coil some under the surface. He was aimed at the jewels.

I shot it. Wasn't even worried about collecting it and taking pictures, I saw it's head blow apart, grabbed my crap and went home. Did some jumping jacks to make 'em drop again.

[SteveTX]

I was wading yesterday almost knee deep, about two inches below the tops of my boots.
Mindin my own dang bidness.

Looked down when I felt a bump, figured it was a stick. Dang snake head about the size of my fist bumping up against my leg.

I said out loud, "you gotta be (expletive) (expletive) me..."

I decided to just stand still and see what happened.
He moved in front of me, lowered his head in the water, and I could see his body starting to coil some under the surface. He was aimed at the jewels.

I shot it. Wasn't even worried about collecting it and taking pictures, I saw it's head blow apart, grabbed my crap and went home. Did some jumping jacks to make 'em drop again.

Exactly why I dont wade much. We have plenty of poisonous snakes. Generally they dont want to mess with you any more than you them. But they do have a mind of their own. Im not leaving my jewels to chance.   

[Capt. BassinLou]

I was wading yesterday almost knee deep, about two inches below the tops of my boots.
Mindin my own dang bidness.

Looked down when I felt a bump, figured it was a stick. Dang snake head about the size of my fist bumping up against my leg.

I said out loud, "you gotta be (expletive) (expletive) me..."

I decided to just stand still and see what happened.
He moved in front of me, lowered his head in the water, and I could see his body starting to coil some under the surface. He was aimed at the jewels.

I shot it. Wasn't even worried about collecting it and taking pictures, I saw it's head blow apart, grabbed my crap and went home. Did some jumping jacks to make 'em drop again.

That was  nuts!! 

[Lipripper]

I was wading yesterday almost knee deep, about two inches below the tops of my boots.
Mindin my own dang bidness.

Looked down when I felt a bump, figured it was a stick. Dang snake head about the size of my fist bumping up against my leg.

I said out loud, "you gotta be (expletive) (expletive) me..."

I decided to just stand still and see what happened.
He moved in front of me, lowered his head in the water, and I could see his body starting to coil some under the surface. He was aimed at the jewels.

I shot it. Wasn't even worried about collecting it and taking pictures, I saw it's head blow apart, grabbed my crap and went home. Did some jumping jacks to make 'em drop again.

That's another reason I stopped wadding and noodling 

[SteelHorseCowboy]

Exactly why I dont wade much. We have plenty of poisonous snakes. Generally they dont want to mess with you any more than you them. But they do have a mind of their own. Im not leaving my jewels to chance. 

This one very likely may not have been venomous, didn't seem to have the right shaped head. But, they still get territorial and will attack intruders in their territory, even intruders much larger than themselves.
But considering water moccasins have a hemotoxic/necrotoxic venom that causes hemophilliac bleeding and tissue death, I ain't risking my precious dangly parts either.

That's another reason I stopped wadding and noodling 

I never did get into noodling, specifically because of what I've seen a water moccasin's bite do to my great uncle's hand.
If you look at those pics of the bass I posted, you can see a ring on my hand made from a stainless steel nut. He made it in prison, and used to wear it himself until that bite rotted the finger he was bitten on.

[analfisherman]

I know a girl who for whatever reason allowed her daughter to have a snake 'as a PET'.
Really, A PET.....the insanity never ends.   

Anyway the snake some how got out of it's cage.
Daughter said no problem Mom, it's not venomous.

Mom said, "Good, go find it......and then get rid of it."

So daughter (this girl is/was 19) went looking.
Reached under the couch.....AND FOUND IT!

She screamed BLOODY MURDER, pulled out her hand.......sure enough, snake came with her hand....FANGS IN BEDDED!

Guess what, even if it doesn't kill you.........IT HURTS LIKE HELL!
Hand/bite got infected....almost lost her hand.

Handguns are for snakes.......NOT CAGES.   

[TheLastRodBender]

I've waded in some private ponds before but it's been YEARS... and obviously wading in River systems is an absolute MUST.  I avoid large lake wading because you come out smelling like something you'd find in a horror story. 

[Oldfart9999]

I shot it. Wasn't even worried about collecting it and taking pictures, I saw it's head blow apart, grabbed my crap and went home. Did some jumping jacks to make 'em drop again.

Maybe it just wanted to be your friend!
Rodney