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WADER LOGIC - Part 2
A down and dirty look at waders!
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LAYERING
In extreme conditions, staying dry means staying warm. Even when it is cold, your body will still produce perspiration. If that perspiration is not removed, it will contribute to keeping you cold and may end your day prematurely. Based on the lightweight appearance of breathables, many people wonder how they can stay warm wearing them. With proper layering, you can stay as warm, if not warmer, than wearing heavy neoprenes. To maximize the efficiency of breathable waders, the layers underneath should be breathable as well.
As with your layering for your upper body, your lower body layering should be adequate to keep you warm or cool depending on the conditions. There are many products on the market that have different types or weights of breathable garments. Simms and Patagonia both make very good breathable products that will fulfill the needs of your specific requirements.
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SETUP SUGGESTIONS
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Spring & Fall
Since the climate is relatively similar, a setup consisting of breathable waders, along with proper layering of breathable fleece and socks will work nicely. Typical layering would consist of a medium weight fleece pant, with wicking underwear as a base. A single pair of thick socks will suit most applications, depending on water temperature.
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Winter
Winter fishing where you put your stamina to the test. If you’re going to venture out after Steelhead in single-digit temps, you better make sure you are well prepared. Start out with a lightweight bottom, and then a heavy weight fleece pant to go on under your waders. With water temps hovering around 30 degrees, your feet stand a very good chance at getting cold. To combat this, start with polypropylene liner socks, then put heavy socks on over them. Boot foot waders would be the idyllic choice for cold weather wading. The boot foot's have more room in them, and that extra room lets your blood circulate through your feet and provides more space for warmth to be retained around the foot. If you use stocking foot waders with a wading boot, the tightness of the extra support from the lace-ups will constrict blood flow, thus making your feet colder. Neoprene waders can provide a lot of warmth as well, especially if you use boot foot models.
One other consideration to take into account when fishing in winter is the type of sole your boots have. Felt sole boots are not a very good choice, as any snow that you walk over will stick to the bottom of your boots very easily, causing you to clear the soles off every few minutes. Try rubber soled boots, preferably ones with metal studs incorporated to help with traction on slippery surfaces.
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Summer
Now that we know what option we have for staying warm, we should explore ways to keep us cool during the warmer months. Many people prefer to wade without the use of waders, or “wet wading.” Wet wading is a good method when temps are consistently high during the day. One thing to consider is keeping your feet protected. Some people wear their wading boots with a thick pair of socks, while others wear shoes or sandals that are designed to be worn under water. Whatever provides the best fit while keeping sand and debris out is the best choice.
Many times night fishing calls for use of waders as protection from insects and possible scrapes from unseen brush. If you choose to wear waders in warmer temps, a pair of lightweight pants or shorts would be a good bet to keep cool.
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Author: Chris Hatcher
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Return to Part 1 More Articles
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