Why Should You Choose To Go Wade Fishing?
- By: Wyatt Parcel
- on
Why would you choose to go wade fishing if you have access to a boat or skiff that can reach places far beyond wading?
What are the benefits of going wade fishing?
Wade fishing is a fantastic approach to catching fish because of how close predatory fish actually stay to the shore!
Check out these awesome tips for wade fishing!
Why Should You Choose To Go Wade Fishing?
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Wade fishing is the best way to get the most out of fishing a shoreline.
Wading allows you to target the right depths most redfish and trout are going to be holding in.
Also, you can adjust your positioning a lot easier than that of a boat or skiff.
If you are on a boat, your trolling motor could get caught up in the wind warranting you fire up the larger motor that can spook fish.
Wading allows you to plant yourself in one spot to fish a certain cut or drop-off without worrying about your kayak or boat drift.
Biggest Advantages Of Wade Fishing
The most notable advantage when wade fishing is stealth.
Trolling motors and motors themselves have a tendency to scare fish off and force them to flee due to the noise.
When you wade fish, not only are you able to get into proper positioning, but you are also able to do so quietly.
Seatrout, specifically, are able to pick up on any vibration in the water that is unnatural.
You can quietly sneak up on schools of fish in the shallows and more often than not, catch them within a few feet in front of you.
A lot of times you can get up on a school of fish and sight cast at them.
Moreover, when you are wade fishing it forces you to slow down and really analyze the scene before you.
When you are in a boat or a kayak, you can sometimes move past a school of fish without knowing it.
If you are wade fishing, you have to move slow and this, in turn, forces you to work a shoreline much more efficiently.
You are able to test out all of the different cuts as well as inspect every pothole for fish.
If you are on a boat or kayak and trolling, you may make a cast every 20-25 feet.
But when you are wading, you are able to pick through every angle in front of you and not miss a single area that may have fish.
You also know that by patrolling the shoreline and not missing an inch, you came into all possible fish in that area and didn’t miss any along the way.
Why Should You Choose To Go Wade Fishing? [VIDEO]
Conclusion
If you are looking to get the most out of fishing a single area, it could be in your favor to test out some wade fishing.
Wade fishing is stealthy and allows you to be right on top of schools of fish along a single shoreline.
You do not have to deal with any of the hassles that come with fishing off of a boat!
Do you have any more questions on wade fishing?
Let me know down in the comments!
And if you know someone who wants to learn more about wade fishing, please TAG or SHARE this with them!
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Thanks Wyatt! What little wade fishing I’ve done, I’ve always had my back to the shore (like when surf fishing). It looks like here in this video you would have ben casting towards the shore based on where you were standing. (which makes sense bc thats what we do from boats/kayaks.)
I can’t believe I’m just now recognizing this. So do you usually wade out and cast back towards shore? Thanks
@wyatt
Good stuff Wyatt
Excellent! When you wade keep an eye out for predators. If there are “little fish” there are big fish hunting them. Keeping fish presents the issue of predator attraction. This is also a prime place for wearing your automatic inflatable vest. If I “happen” to step into a hole or get swept by a wake I want to end up on top not under.
You’re a man after my own heart. Great post!
You showed me how a true pro gets it done… I contribute a lot of my commitment to wading to watching you kick butt at it for years! That wading course taught me everything I needed to know!
Thanks for the kind words! Can you see me blushing?
Great info Wyatt. I still need to get a new set of waders so I can wade fish during the winter months here in Zephyrhills, FL.
I can’t reccomend the Simms Freestone Waders that I use! They’re awesome!
Hopefully someone will have them on sale soon.
I second the simms freestones. Love mine! Everything i need and nothing i don’t. There are more expensive ones out their and certainly cheaper brands but these ones are juuuuust right;)
Wade fished fl from Panhandle down to Boca during the 70s not as much access these days but at 64 I still anchor the skiff and wade for big trout or snook. more stealth and satisfaction in “hunting” the fish
It’s definitley a relaxing way to fish, and in many ways I agree… it’s got a “hunting” feel to it!
How much gear are you packing (lures, stringer, fish gripper, cellphone)? What’s the camerman using?
I pack just a single small tray of lures that attaches to the pack on the back of my wading belt (which you can check out the review I did on it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRsI25e8FkY ) and I usually just pop my cell phone in my waders. I clip the fish grippers to my belt, and I’m good to go!
Unfourtantly for this trip, my cameraman was just a tripod 🙁
I usually do like to bring multiple people out wading though, because the longer your wade line, the more water gets covered, and the quicker you figure out the fish!
Great presentation Wyatt. You’re now a Texan and wading is “just what we do”. Wade fishing in just shorts, t-shirt, wade belt and wading boots in the summer time, when it’s 103 freaking degrees in South Texsas, is just a great way to stay cool. Many times during the summer I’ll be wading in a foot or two of water and just take a minute to sit down in the water and get cooled off. Stealth and thoroughly working over and area is the nail’s head and you hit it square on Wyatt. Good job. Precise.
Thanks so much Mel! Since moving to TX, I’ve defintitley fallen in love with wade fishing! I liked it before, but seeing how productive it can be on the flats has really been something! Thanks so much for watching!
Me and my buddy went wade fishing in Titusville today and got 108 trout between the 2 of us!!! That’s why we wade!
The power of WADE FISHING! That’s EPIC, Josh!! Congrats on the stellar day!
I recently started wade fishing a little bit. It’s difficult in the lowcountry of SC because of all the pluff mud and oysters. For me, the best wade fishing spots have been in creeks off the beach bc of all the sand that gets carried in to help make a harder bottom. I’ve also been able to notice on satellite imagery trails that people have made along creeks. Are there any other signs that could help me locate better wade fishing spots?
In the muddy creeks of the Carolinas it can definitely be rough, but I have something that you might be interested in for those pluff mud areas:
Regardless, it can still be done in regular boots. I prefer to wade mud flats on negative tides in the winter… take this report for example!
https://www.saltstrong.com/insiders/low-tide-tactics-for-redfish-and-flounder-insider-report/
https://www.saltstrong.com/insiders/doa-vs-vudu-shrimp-schooling-redfish-test-day-2-insider-report/