Wade Fishing MISTAKES For Beginners—Salt Strong Podcast
- By: Joseph Simonds
- on
More and more anglers are discovering the joy of fishing on foot — whether it’s along a grassy shoreline, tucked in the back of a mangrove creek, or wandering the flats chasing redfish. But there’s a serious side to this freedom: safety.
In this podcast episode, I sat down with our good friend and veteran guide Wader Dave to discuss the critical tips every angler should know before stepping into the water.
👉 Unlock Wader Dave’s Wade Fishing Mastery Course
(or revisit it here if you already own it)
Here’s what we covered:
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The gear that keeps you safe (including one piece most folks forget)
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How to stay aware of your surroundings, including tides, heat, and hidden hazards
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The #1 rule when wading solo (plus a few mistakes Dave sees far too often)
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How to scout great spots using free tools like the public land layer in our Smart Fishing Spots app
🔗 Helpful Links from This Episode:
✅ Smart Fishing Spots App (Insiders Only)
Find access points, tide data, structure, and more — all in one place.
✅ Salt Strong Insider Community (Insiders Only)
Get Wader Dave’s weekend game plans, exclusive tips and local reports.
✅ Book Wader Dave
Ready to hit the water with Dave? Lock in a trip on his website.
✅ Sharkbanz Discount for Insiders
Mentioned in the episode for added wading safety.
Dave’s been doing this for over 40 years. And whether you’re new to fishing on foot or have been at it a while, I guarantee you’ll pick up something useful in this episode.
Ever had a close call while wading? What happened and what did you learn?
Tight lines,
Joe Simonds
Salt Strong Cofounder
Related categories:
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish ever trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
STOP WASTING TIME ON THE WATER!
Do what the “SMART ANGLERS” are doing and join the Insider Club.
Here’s what you’ll receive today when you join:
- Weekly fishing reports and TRENDS revealing exactly where you should fish every trip
- Weekly “spot dissection” videos that walk you through all the best spots in your area
- Exclusive fishing tips from the PROS you can’t find anywhere else
- Everything you need to start catching fish more consistently (regardless if you fish out of a boat, kayak, or land).
Wow that was totally awesome thank you for all the great advice I will be watching this again you guys talked about something to keep with you when wading to keep the sharks away I would be interested in that thank you so much
How do you find good bottom to wade fish ? My first time out got into boggy soft bottom and almost didnot get out
Texas coast
I am 78 and a bit unsteady on my feet, so I use a staff or a ground testing device for both balance support and bottom testing. Really helped when I got in a muddy bottom. Hope this helps.
Thanks
Rodney – unfortunately there’s no way to know for sure about the bottom until you give it a try. That’s why it’s a good idea to have someone else with you when trying a new spot. Also, the suggestion from Douglas Fraser below is a good one. Also, consider wearing a PFD if you have to go alone. Hope this helps!
Thanks
Dave certainly knows his stuff, and i think his style of videos and content is what SS needs and wants. Great stuff Dave!
Thanks Scott. We need to get a meet up on the calendar – Florida meets Texas wade fest!
Like wader dave said about safety being common sense you have to be reminded from time to time, for some of us,thanks good video
Thanks for your comment David.
Great stuff, Dave. Especially about moving. Actually easier to change locations wading vs a kayak, because the overhead of reloading a kayak on your car and driving somewhere else is prohibitive.
Thanks Clyde. I appreciate the feedback. Fishing from a kayak has advantages and disadvantages versus wade fishing and both can be very effective.
Excellent podcast…Thank You
My pleasure William. Glad you enjoyed it.
Were long pants so you don’t get stung won’t go through jeans
Only problems with Jeans is that they absorb water and get very heavy when wading and do not dry quickly. I’m not sure whether or not a stingray barb can penetrate.
This is why we all love Salt Strong, Great info Wader Dave.
Thanks Carlos! I hope you find some of my tips to be useful.
How can I get hold ofDave
Hi Mark – you can reach me via email at waderdave@wadersguide.com or Salt Strong Chat. I look forward to connecting with you.
Great info, I’ve wade fished in Fl. since I was 10 and I’m 67, did some in NC in the 80s, he gave some tips I never considered or thought about. He was right about getting into the larger fish I anchor my boat or kayak and wade a good flat even at my age but getting back in the boat has gotten much harder but it’s worth it and I just tow the kayak.
I do the same Renard. Surprised we haven’t run into each other after all the years we’ve been wade fishing in Florida. Glad I was able to offer some tips you hadn’t considered. I’m still learning new things all the time.