Fishing success begins before you wet a line. Boy Scout-like preparedness is the key to a good day on the water, according to some of the region's top trout anglers.

"I wouldn't fish without felt-soled, studded wading boots," said trout guide Mike Leskowski of Oil Creek Outfitters. "I know some manufacturers are trying to eliminate them, but they're the absolute most secure way of getting across a slippery stream."

Concerns about felt soles spreading didymo -- a foreign algae now found in the Delaware River watershed -- have a few wader companies replacing felt with Vibrum and other materials that are easier to clean. Anglers who don't want to give up felt, though, are keeping two pairs of boots, including one just for didymo-affected waters.

Doug Wennick of Fly Fisher's Paradise in State College switched to rubber Navigator-soled boots and said he finds them as effective as felt about 90 percent of the time. "But no matter which soles you choose," he said, "studs are a must."

Wading can be extra-tricky in early spring when current tends to run swift and cold.

"To avoid getting swept away, face upstream, lean forward and sidestep across the current using a wading staff, a ski pole or even a heavy stick," said the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission's Dan Martin, who heads the state's water rescue training program.

"Never turn your back to the current," said Wennick.

Avoid water up to your waist.

"When it's that high ... you're likely to fall in," said Martin. "If you think that's about to happen, drop whatever is in your hand and cover your mouth and nostrils so you don't inhale water, which is an [involuntary] reflex. Get on your back and immediately bend your knees, which will trap air in your waders, giving you flotation. Stay on your back with your feet pointed downstream to fend off rocks and other structures, and try to angle toward the closest shore."

Erie-based guide Ray Travis always sizes up a stream to find the easiest crossing point.

"Look for spots with softer current that let you see where you're going," said Travis, who keeps a camp on the Allegheny River near Tionesta, "and take small shuffling steps."

Although Polaroid glasses help you see where you're walking, a wading staff can serve an extra purpose when water is muddy.

"You can use it to poke around and find what's changed on a stream over the winter," Leskowski said. "Last year's shallow riffle may be a deep hole this year."

Wennick advises keeping an extra set of clothes in the car.

"My son fell in on opening day last year and was thrilled to have dry clothes to put on," he said.

Comfort is tantamount to safety, said Travis.

"If you're hungry, thirsty, tired or cold, you're going to be distracted from your fishing. It can alter your judgment and lead to a dunking."

He and Wennick suggest dressing in layers since chilly mornings often give way to warm afternoons.

"Put on a wicking layer first, then fleece, then a waterproof jacket," said Wennick. "I stayed warm like this the other morning on Spring Creek even though it was 37 degrees and raining."

Although better fishing vests are designed to reduce neck strain, Wennick and Travis prefer chest packs -- a lighter, downsized alternative.

"As you become more experienced, you carry less," said Wennick. "You take only what you need instead of everything you own."

Aside from hemostats, nippers and other basic trout fishing tools, Travis said anglers should always carry bottled water and a sandwich or snack.

"And never leave home without sunscreen," he said. "You can get a bad burn even at this time of year."

When choosing a hat, he said, make sure it has a dark under-visor that will deflect glare from your face. Angling icon Lefty Kreh preaches thrift along with power-casting. He's used black magic marker to darken a hat's under-brim, and a bit of thick, bright-colored yarn as a strike indicator.

Early-season streams tend to be crowded, especially those that are heavily stocked. Extra patience goes a long way.

"Give other anglers as much space as you'd like them to give you," said Wennick. "I've never run into a problem that couldn't be cured with a little common courtesy. I'm there for a good time, not a confrontation. I figure I can be polite even if the other person isn't."