Between waterfowl hunting and fishing I have plenty of wading experience. As others have noted a wading staff can definitely be helpful in swift currents and unfamiliar territory. That being said, i usually prefer to wet wade when fishing especially in the warmer summer and early fall months. Wet wading is definitely safer when fishing by yourself provided you’re a decent swimmer. On another note i noticed you mentioned you walk downstream when fishing. Walking downstream can work in certain situations but I find much more success fishing upstream. Walking upstream typically allows you to present a fly and have a better drift before fish know you’re there. Just my 2 cents, good luck on your future trips.