You'll own one of Ron Hart's Wooden Wading Staffs - Simple, sturdy, affordable. Made of strong hickory.  This is the staff to get, wood is quiet. Doesn't spook fish like metal staffs.

Special open-ended thermo-plastic tip allows the wood to mushroom for the best grip, yet the tip will not split because of the plastic sleeve. Does exactly what you want a wading staff to do--not break, grip the river bottom, and last forever.