Waders and winter gear

[Striper Club]

That time is almost upon us--the rain, the snow--the soggy cold that we oh so love here in the northwest. Yup, fall is here and winter is on deck. The water will rise and the crowds will recede so it helps to be mobile and comfortable for a long day fishing.

I have never owned waders of any sort and pretty much stowed my gear come winter, having soley targetted bass most of my life. In fact, if I still lived in Arkansas and was clomping around in waders, I would probably get funny looks from most folks.

Well, this is not quite the south and I want to make the most of the upcoming cold weather. I want to buy a decent set of waders/boots as well as any other gear I may need to be as mobile as possible.

So... to the question:

What kind of outerwear(waders, boots, vest, jacket, gloves, etc) do you use?

[Pete]

It all depends on how and where you're fishing! The good news is there are lots of options. The bad news is ... there are lots of options.

For bank fishing, the low cost option is hip waders and a long raincoat (knee length). Hip waders come in a range of quality - in my experience, you get what you pay for and heavy, insulated boots will serve for more years, resulting in cost savings over time.

For greater comfort, but less convenience, neoprene stocking foot waders are warm in cold weather. Coupled with good wading shoes, you'll be comfortable wading in cold rivers.

Lately, gortex stocking foot waders have become popular as they don't restrict your movement the way neoprene does. They are certainly worth considering.

For boat fishing, I like a rubberized "bib" rain pants and a rubberized jacket with a hood.

If I'm going to jump in and out of the boat, like for steelheading, I'll use my neoprene waders and hooded jacket.

I like dressing in layers ... polypropylene (sp?) makes a great base layer. I have both a jump suit and a jacket that I will use, depending on temperature.

Hats, well, they are largely a matter of personal preference. I wear glasses, so a hat is essential in the rain. A ball cap provides cover for glasses even with a hood, but I also wear a wide brim hat some times for greater ventilation than afforded by a hood.

Gloves - you'll never be completely happy with a pair of gloves ... your fingers will either be cold or wet or the gloves will rip or you won't be able to tie knots. There is, in my opinion, no perfect solution to cold fingers.

Good luck! Have fun! :grin:

[Fshklr]

For winter bankfishing wading and trail fishing,
I use the boot attached neoprene chest waders for winter.
Be sure to get the proper boot fit..too tight is poor circulation and your feet will be cold and miserable.

The ones I use are insulated and the neoprene keeps me dry, other than your own persperation. With a good pendleton button up longsleeve shirt and a base t-shirt I'm set for the elements..also Use the full length hooded raincoat for those really wet and windy days.

[Starfish]

Pete and Fshklr have answered the waders part fine. For your hands, I recommend trying latex gloves for most weather, and a pair of really cheap oversize mittens for extreme cold. The latex gloves are surprisingly effective. When it really gets cold, you can slip your hands-- with or without the latex-- into oversize mittens. Make sure they have a fairly short cuff. When I get a fish on, if on the shore or in a boat, I can shake the mittens off with a flick of the wrist and fight the fish better. Obviously not such a great idea while wading! You can attach them to a string through your sleeves if wading.

Another tip for overall body warmth is to use "Thermarest" pads. They're just like the disposable handwarmers, only bigger... you can get a size that fits around your back and straps around your waist. It keeps the small of your back warm and really helps your overall warmth and prevents you from getting a sore back afer drift fishing for a day. Well worth four bucks or so and they last all day.

[Fred N]

Just a couple thoughts on gloves. I use fingerless wool inserts which work really well when the weather is above freezing (below freezing it is hard to keep the hands warm and dry). The wool inserts stay relatively warm even when your hands are wet. Also it is good to have a couple small chemical hand warmers available if your hands do get cold to warm them fairly quickly, they will keep your hands warm for several hours.

During winter fishing, one of the most important things to consider is your comfort. If you are not comfortable (be it wet and cold), it can really be a miserable day!

[steelheadslayer]

Myself, I wear breathable waders year round. I wear a good pair of fleece wader pants underneath coupled with a pair of merino wool socks from costco over polypropylene socks and I'm good. But, that's me. Some guys are really sensitive to the cold. I'd rather be chilly fishing than sweating like a roast pig in neos. As far as hands, if my guides freeze up, it's too darn cold to be fishing anyway. I do wear kenai killer fleece gloves and they help out tremendously but I still get chilled when it's really cold. Glacier glove makes a neoprene fleece lined glove that I've yet to try out but they seem pretty nice. Layer your clothes like Pete suggested and use any info you've already gotten and you'll figure it out for yourself pretty quick. Too many layers can be just as uncomfortable as not enough. You have to strike a balance, experience will help you with that. Good Luck!

[LrgCampfires]

I wear plain old hip waders because I'm just too fat to ever fit into neoprene. :smile: I glue indoor/outdoor carpet to the soles, it's helps keep from slipping on rocks and such.

So far as rain gear goes, definitely get a raincoat that comes down over the top of your waders. :smile:

Hands and feet are a problem for me when it gets really cold. I've never found a real good solution for that one, except go and warm up in the truck every now and again. Last year I had to just flat out cancel one trip and drive home because my hands hurt so bad after just maybe 20 minutes on the river.

I guess the misery is what makes winter steelie fishing so special. :smile: I EARNED those fish. :smile:

LrgCampfires

[fishnpray]

Wow...pretty good stuff so far. In addition to all of this I would only add emphasis to wearing something warm and waterproof on your head. You'd be surprised how much heat escapes there. Lots of hat companies make a normal baseball hat out of wool that does the job decently. Your hands...they will suffer. Try everything, and see what works for you.

-Luis

[SthdSkater]

Personally I'm all about breathables for any weather. They breath so you don't get clammy and stay much more comfortable. Just layer them depending on temperatures.
They can range from less that $100 to over $400, depending on the company producing them.

The only issue with this type of wader is there durability. I have gone through 2 pair in the last 5 years. I would go with LLbean for any breathables. They have a no questions asked return/exchange policy. You can call them up have them next-day your new pair and send your old ones back when the new ones arrive.

Just got my third pair earlier this week and used them this weekend.

[Cowlitz Kidd]

Fred hit the nail on the head!Hand warmer are great stick them in your pockets and your hands stay warm.They make feet warmer too and they work good.I like wool and have a pair of wool longjohn but they are not for everbody also a turtle neck shirt is good the wind can roll around my neck and make it colder.A wool hat is my choice because you loss 80% of your body heat through your head.ButI stay warm in the rower seat that the warmest part of the boat.Just my 2 scent and have a safe winter.

[Striper Club]

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[Tanner]

As far as waders and boots go. You will probably find that you are happiest with lightweight breathable waders. You can find them at stores for under $100.00. Thjey are a lot more comfortable than neoprenes and a lot safer than rubber hip or chest. As for the boots take a look at Korkers I got my first pair this summer for my B-Day and I absolutely love them. They are a little more expensive than a good quality single purpose wading boot but being able to switch from trail soles to felt soles without carrying an extra set of shoes in my vest has made it worth the extra $$$.

[letsfish]

This is one of the most concise and thorough threads ...its great!! Pete hit a homer with his comments and especiallly with the comment about layering.
Personally I have both neoprenes and breathables. Breathables are more comfortable but if you are going in the 'toon or any boat for safety reasons get neoprenes they are bouyant and really can save your life.I will wear breathables if I am going to just hit the streambank and wade.
Wading boots lots of preferences here: some people will improvise with old tennis shoes or some boot but getting a made-for- wading boot is best. You can do a search but should find Corkers or Chotacs at the top.
the loss of heat from your head is huge -factor when ever outside in cool weather. I favor stocking caps personnally.They can be easily removed(when hiking so you don't over heat)and stuffed into a pocket.
Rag wool fingerless gloves are my go-to gloves for hands they can be purchased for 7-10 dollars I keep two pairs on call. That second pair comes in handy if you are doing back to back fishing days and that first set is covered with fish egg skum is to wet,etc.
Rain gear is another one to do a search on: two big names are used Hallie Hansen(sic) and another I cannot remember. The thing you don't want is cheap and finding the water leaks through the seems.
Remember, whatever you choose to wear:
If you can stay dry, you can stay warm.

[Beefcake]

Whichever type of waders you get, make sure to get a wading belt and wear it tight! If you fall in the river, the belt keeps the water from filling up your waders.

[LrgCampfires]

I wear hip boots for two reasons. The first is....at 260 lbs. it's real hard for me to get into neoprene without looking and feeling like the Michelin Man. Secondly, if I go down in the river or have to go down for someone else, I can kick them off in a heartbeat. I don't strap them to my belt and I carry a one hand opener folding knife, razor sharp to cut anything off that might need cutting off.

In my fishing life, I've had to swim out to get someone else 3 times, so it's something to think about. Hypothermia sucks by the way, but these things do happen. I've been to the bottom of the Wilson twice in January to drag someone out and although I am a fairly fat and strong man, I can only hang on for maybe 2 minutes or so.

Get the best gear you can afford, but also keep some wool blankets in your rig and hopefully a cell phone that will work in the boonies.

LrgCampfires

[rock bottom]

I also wear breathables year round. Much easier to move around in, way more comfortable and if you layer like everyone says you will be plenty warm. I wont wear noes again. I purchased cabelas middle of the road waders ( I cant remeber which ones ) but they were 139.00 and their guide master boots which both have held up great after two years of abuse.

[rob allen]

Oregon and Washington are wet cold climates in the winter. the key to staying warm here in the northwest is staying dry!!

how do you get wet while fishing??? well it rains here as i am sure you have noticed so it'e very important to keep the rain out thats a no brainer i know..

However you also get wet by perspiration, this can make you just as cold as if you were soaked from rain..

So if you want to stay dry and warm in the winter you need an outer shell that repels water and provides breathability, that is to say your perspiration is vented out through your outer layer.. gortex or other breathable waders and rainjackets are the warmest possible.

However breathable materials such as gortex offer very little in the way of insulation from the cold so it's important to wear proper clothing under them.

In the winter i wear a a pair of polypropolene long johns and a pair of fleece pants on the bottom and a wool sweater and or a fleece jacket on top.. it's very rare that i need more unsulation that that, even on the coldest of days

two more items of importance 1 a wool stocking cap, your head releases more heat than most other parts of your body, on cold wet days a warm hat is very important!

secondly insulating socks are often vital to staying warm, my personal preference is for a material called "smart wool"

anyway hope this helps

[Striper Club]

Thanks again for all of the great advice yall! When I began to look into waders, etc. it was quite overwhelming how many options are out there. :whazzup: (and I am an old hand at knowing how to keep warm, so I thought) Now, I am not so intimidated... I saw neoprenes, booties, waders, attached boots, sole types, yadda yadda yadda... I may just stop into Fisherman's after my buck hunt on Saturday to try and see what feels right. :smile:

PS: It has been so long that I had needed to buy new boots (longtime Timberland fan)...now, I have been trying on several different mfgs of hunting and hiking and wading boots... hah! I am not very good at shopping so it is definately a trial!! :P

Rubber golashes anyone? :b

[garyk]

Good advice indeed .

If you can only have one pair of waders - (and since nowadays you can have both a pair of neo's and breathables for $200 total, why limit yourself?) - you might consider 'how' you'll be fishing?

If you're walking a bunch, always on the move, covering ground then you're likely better off with breathables.

On the other hand, if you're gonna be wading deep and not walking much, you might be more comfortable in the better insulating neoprenes.

I was very skeptical of breathables when they hit the market. My fishing usually involves a lot of walking/hiking and I now use the neoprenes less and less. I like the way the breathables pack down in size too. If I have to hike more than a mile or so, I just stuff them in a day pack and off we go. More compact and much lighter makes them far better for airline travel too.

[fuzzy]

waders are like boats
if you get one to do everything?
it will suck at everything
if you get a light/breathable till ya start freezing nads?
then switch to heavy 5 mm boot foots with pack liners to get sweat going again
also remember to get a quality SOS type inflateable PFD because regardless of the wader type you will drown if you try using it as swimwear

[Ryan Pultz]

For hands I like to have latex gloves under my wool fingerless gloves. Rp

[dampainter]

tried too post the link to a post that I made on "waders dangerous?" did not work out.....after reading some of the posts in it was glad I had bought neoprene`s.

[Striper Club]

I figure to be on the move, rather than standing in one spot... seems like breathables may be the ticket for me. :smile:

[Provider]

I have had 3 pair of Hodgeman waders that all leaked. A year ago I bought a pair of waders from Cabelas fo $200. They are the equivalent of the Simms wader for $400. Lightweight, breathable, durable, stocking feet. I have used them in weather from 70 degrees down to about 10 degrees. As it gets colder I just put on more layers. They are called Guide tech dry-plus. Here is the link. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...ainCatcat20166

[D$_KFalls]

Does anyone have experience with the neoprene waders with a Cordura shell? I saw a pair at G.I. Joe's a couple years ago ... I believe they were Sims. Quite expensive, and it seemed like they were made more for wear protection than comfort. I'm pretty hard on waders, and thought these might be the ticket.

D$

[Rock Stick or Fish]

I've gotta chime in for the breathable waders. Far and away the best money I have ever spent on fishing. Layer them however you'll need to and fish in any conditions.

RSF

[OwyheeKIller]

Two words for you: Gore-Tex and Polartec.

Or is that three words? Honestly, I spend most of time outside here in Oregon and you'll appreciate a good quality set of Gore-Tex gear. For Gore-Tex waders, it's hard to beat Bass Pro Shops. But you'll need a good rain jacket that's highly breathable. You can find a good jacket at Sierra Trading Post online. Search their bargain bin for deals of 70% off or more on anything from clothing to fishing and hunting gear.

Look for fully taped seams, keeps you dry, good stitching and a fully adjustable hood. Good brands are Marmot, the North Face, Arc' Teryx and especially Mountain Hardware. Look for the XCR Gore-Tex, it much more breathable than the original Gore-Tex. Also a good Polartec or better yet, a Gore-WindStopper fleece under your rain jacket will keep you dry without making you sweat. For fleece, my favorite is the Mountain Hardware MonkeyMan jacket under $100 bucks. It's used by Ed Viesturs, clothing the same moumtain climber in the movie Everest. If it's good enough for Mt. Everest, it's good enough for me. These jackets are designed for much harsher conditions than fishermen go thru, mountaineering, so they're built to last for years to come. The same goes for pants but try getting a stretchable Gore-Tex fabric and articualted knees to give you greater mobility. If you duckhunt, you'll want to be as comfortable as possible.

Anyone can tell you winter steelheaders are a crazy bunch and it's true. But when the bites on, the mercury drops and there's icicles hangin from the tip of your nose, you'll wish you had this performance clothing.

[Striper Club]

ttt


- some excellent info here for those that missed it and want to stay warm and dry in the coming months. :smile:

[Striper Club]

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[Striper Club]

Any preferences on brands of Fleece Pants? Looks like Cabela's has a decent selection, but was wondering if there are any locals (Joe's, Fisherman's) with better quality/price.

Thanks!

[5 Salt]

Any preferences on brands of Fleece Pants? Looks like Cabela's has a decent selection, but was wondering if there are any locals (Joe's, Fisherman's) with better quality/price.

Thanks!

Two ways to go on fleece warmth layer for waders:

Fleece Pants or Expedition Weight Long Underwear. The Focus should be moisture wicking/breathability, mobility and comfort - accept nothing less or you will be cold.



Expedition Weights:
-Fit closer to skin - less bulk/better mobility
-Wick Moisture better
-Keep you warmer - not earth shattering, but enough

Patagonia Expedition Weight Bottoms - Athletic Fit
REI Expedition Weight Bottoms - Roomier Fit with great size range and talls.

Fleece Pants:
-Same as Expedition but with lower efficiencies and more bulk

Patagonia Fleece Bottoms

Regarding Quality:
You get what you pay for both in terms of performance/comfort and longevity. Don't skimp on the base layer. Brands like Patagonia, Heli Hasen, Northface, Mountain Gear are the top-end with REI a close second. I have two pairs of expeditions weights, both purchased in 1989 and still in excellent condition - they're from Patagonia and Heli-Hansen. Patagonia are softer on the skin and have pilled up less over the years. These brands are made for mountaineering type actives and are bullet proof - best of the best in my book. Patagonia fit leans to the athletic side. REI will be roomier and good for XXL's and Talls.

Regarding Waders:
Breathable is my choice summer or winter. I wear then with silk weight bottoms in summer, expedition weights in winter, and mid-weights bottoms in between. Soooo comfy! Together with a good breathable wading jacket you can plan on endless comfort on nasty days. Good rain gear substitute as well. Simms are the best of best and will last forever but pricy. Hodgman are my brand and good bang for the buck. Hodgman are roomier fit as well.

Simms Waders
Hodgman Waders

Good luck in your search - PM me if you need more information.

Oh yea..the Patagonia Base and Insulating Tops are very good on nasty days as well - a ton of performance and warmth with less bulk - pricy but an excellent investment in your comfort.

Good Turorial on Staying Dry and Moisture Wicking

[Jennie@ifish]

I was so sick and tired of trying to figure this out every morning. Looking at the conditions and thinking, "What to wear to be comfortable, today?"

Finally, I don't have to worry about that anymore.
It really bugged me. Nothing fit right. If I wore one thing, I'd be uncomfortable for half the day, if I wore another, it might not be warm enough, and I'd be uncomfortable for the other half of the day!

I'll tell you what I really like. Yes, I like my breathable waders, but being a girl with long legs, I could NEVER find the right fit. I have some, but only wear them occasionally.

I adore... and I'll say it again. I ADORE my USIA waders.
I had them custom fit. WHOOO HOOOO! I wear them in the boat, when I don't want to get my bottom wet on the wet seats. I wear them, of course, to wade in. I wear them on a pouring down wet day. I wear them when it's freezing, with exotherms underneath. (Exotherms come in two or three different temperature extremes) I have light ones for light days, and two more. One a little warmer, and one for freezing icy steelhead days!

Anyhow, you can see them, here.

They are built just for me, and let me tell you, that is WORTH IT to me! When I bend over, they still fit! No bagging, no sagging, no ripping, no nuttin. They just plain fit! They are just right snug around my waist and thighs.

They are built tough, so that blackberries won't poke holes in them, while getting to the river bank.

Of course, Bill and I always keep a pair each of Frogg Toggs in our boat, when we don't know if it will rain or not. These are excellent, lightweight rain protectants, that simply keep us from going in, in an unexpected rain storm.

I find that the Rockitwear is a bit much for my styles of fishing, and especially cuz I'm a girl... it makes it difficult if you have to go to the restroom. However, on days that I know I'll be out in the soaking wet for hours, I would wear the rockit suit.

I'm finding more and more, though, that the waders from USIA are my main choice for a regular, rainy Oregon day. That, and my choice of under exotherms. If it gets too warm, I wear a t shirt under the exos and simply wrap the arms of the exos around my waist.

I'm so glad to have this all taken care of. I swear. It takes more time in the morning to check out the weather and decide, "Hip boots and Helly Hanson coat?) Knee boots and rain pants? Rain pants and ankle boots? Dry waders and a warm down jacket?"

Not any more, for me... I'm set!

I still use all of the above on certain occasions, but I find myself pretty set in my USIA ways. They just work for me!

Having things custom fit REALLY pays off. Things don't wear out as fast, if they fit right. And.. you'll stay out longer, if you are comfortable. That means more fish!

Jen

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