Wading Staff (Do you Use One?)

[Macthediver]

Probably 90% of the time when I'm on the water trap line I use a wading stick. Mine doubles as a trap hook also but I know it serves other very real purposes. When it comes to safe wadng, especially where there is some current a staff should be a must. I very rarely use a staff when duck hunting or fishing though.
I'm not going to list all the reasons I know why one should use a staff.
But I'm wonder what every one else thinks and the reason why, they do or do not use a wading staff?
Mine is a 5ft piece of 5-1/4 oak with a 5/16th inch screw hook in one end.

Mac

[Bogmaster]

 I always use a wading staff when trapping.Mine is a garden cultivator.It helps me wade safely, and serves as a trap and catch retriever.I also use it to float out beaver,I just turn it so the tines face upward.The beavers teeth fit nicely over the tines, and I have floated out over 120 pounds of beaver at once.Pulling the floating beaver along is pretty easy.
 If you look through your back issues of the Trapper and Predator Caller Magazine--you will find an article by yours truly, entitled CULTIVATING NEW IDEAS.Tells all about my wading staff/ A#1 trappers tool.
 Tom

[akchuck]

I use a trenching shovel during early season beaver but that because I need the shovel any way. I also have a a staff with a hook during spring rat season so I guess I usually have some kind of staff when I'm in the water.

[Newt]

 I carry one most of the time.Mine is  a LEGGETT TRAPPERS HELPER which I put a 2 foot piece of 3/8" rod in the handle end.I use this 3/8" rod as my Cable stake driver,when out on the salt marsh I use this when I'm not beaver'n. When beaver'n i carry a small tater rake.

[trappnman]

Use a staff with a hook on every creek that is more than a foot deep. Doubles as a staff, a muskrat/mink killer (got to remember not to use it on coon) and as a staff . The hook has gotten me up some steep banks.

[RdFx]

Yeppers use one too .  Mine is a oak staff with a yo-ho trowel on one end and other  end has large  hook.  I use  for making pocket sets  and other duties when making a set and the hook end is  for looking for traps in water.  Also  crossing fast water on slippery rocks or  high water when you get rain  on  checking traps.  Everyone has been there,  traps across the river  and only ankle deep and  heavy rain overnight and you are looking at a high fast water crossing to check traps. 

[jim-NE]

I made mine from a fishing dip net I found once on a clearance rack. The handle was just over 4' long and extended out to 8', two square stock pieces of light aluminum that seem fairly stout when I lean on it. I added a D handle on one end, cut the dip net off the other end, and added a "double hook" of sorts fashioned from a two pronged coon grapple. It makes a great wading staff, gives me a nice hook with plenty of reach to it if I extend it to full length, and it also shortens up to fit very nicely in the trunk of my little car, too.
I wouldn't water trap without this ultra light wading staff/trapping hook/etc./etc./etc.
Jim

[Alfie Cat]

A wading staff is a must, it keeps me dry. 

[El Hefe]

I always carry either a shovel that doubles as a staff or a big ole' beaver stick for a staff. My trapping ground is swamp and not using on is both tiring and dangerous because of submerged snags and dropoffs.