Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: habzrule on October 04, 2004, 06:52:23 PM
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Hi all...I'm sad to say I don't yet own any waders :-\
Haven't been fishing out here very long and had a boat back east so...but anyways, I'm guessing the 21 degree sunny days are almost over and wearing shorts and no socks is no longer an option for river fishing. Anyone have any advice on what brand/type of waders i should be looking at for the rivers around here this fall???
Seems like safety is an issue lately...maybe ones that aren't known to trap air in the legs or anything :'(
I've seen some nice looking ones in some of the pics here that look like they run all the way up with shoulder straps, and fit like a glove...whatre them things?
Thanks in advance ;D ;D ;D
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I like my bare ?supra? waders. they are really insulated for those cold days, and they are light enought to walk for hours (Or maybe I am just really stong ::) ) ect. I am really tall (6 4) and I was usually having problems with them not being long enough but bare makes them in all sorts of weird sizes.
Hope that helps. They are probably aobut 160 - 200 $ I would guess.
Jon
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they are really insulated for those cold days,
I bet you have a fun time in them in the summer eh ??? ;D
go breathable, stay away from neoprene
Breathable for sure, just wear a pair of long johns or sweat pants when it's cold out.
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Around $200-$250 I think is about good for me...I guess i need some warm ones as I plan to fish for coho right through the fall/winter. With a little luck I might actually catch one by then. So far been skunked :-[ hehe it's my first year trying for them and so far all I have done is cast spinners at the cap/cap mouth and look stupid pulling up weird looking ling cod and other freaks of nature. But I plan to grab me some waders and head for the vedder.
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sounds good guys, thanks for the tips ;D
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Yeah, I had a set of breathables before, but like I said, the height thing was a problem. It made for inflexibility at the knees, which was a problem when
I was hiking.
If your not super tall, but super rich :P, then get some breathable waders as you can always insulate yourself.
hope that help
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hey fish4life, why don't you tell me what waders you have, and maybe instead of this useless banter, i will be able to decide if i can get some waders for a not so tall 6 4 frame. thanks,
Jon
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If you just want a pair of wader for the winter and don;t mind it will get too warm.. Try the Bare " sport" the light greenish color one... its like $165+ a pair of boots for any other 80 ish.. so it will fit your budget.
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At Steveston Marine and Hardware, they have the Sedge breathables for $190.00. Look pretty decent. I recommend wearing breathable waders with polar fleece pants (I got mine cheap at Nadex. $10.00.) because the polar fleece breathe. Yes, even the cheap ones. Don't wear cotton sweat pants because the material just absorbs the sweat and the extra money you spent on breathables are wasted. It's all about moisture management and moving sweat from skin to the outside. If you get cold, you might want to think about neoprene. Generally cheaper than breathables, and they come in thickness ranging from about 3-5 mm, with the thicker being warmer and also more durable. Cheap neoprenes made by Crystal river or Browning start about $80-90 and top out about 350-400 for the really good ones. All the manufacturers mentioned previously are reputable. With boots too, you get what you pay for. Definitely get boots with felt soles as they provide traction on slippery rocks. I've used the Hodgeman waders and while not bad, they don't give you lots of support in the ankle. But, they are reasonablly priced. Good luck. Try to buy the best you can afford otherwise you will find that you keep on upgrading and spending more money in the long run.
I tend to agree with Fulcrum. I rarely go over my knees and use my waders mainly for rain protection and warmth too. Waders are designed to keep you dry. They shouldn't make you take chances in the rivers you wouldn't otherwise take if you didn't have them...
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The warmth factor of neoprene is nice when winter steelheading.
I love the breathables in the summer and early fall (I had a pair on loan from a sho oncep) but come october and coho season I do a lot of bushwackin on the lower chehalis. All I can tell you is that neoprene is stronger and much easier to patch when you get a hole or a tear.
I think my wife paid $149 for my Bear Supra's at highwater tackle last fathersday...Dave the owner is extremely helpful...if you are on the north shore give him a call (604 986 3239).
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Neoprene = warmth + lower cost.
breathable = comfort + higher cost.
Hiking in neoprene is not desireable, trust me. However, when it's really cold in dec-feb, I go with my neoprene. If your just starting out, I would go neoprene for cost alone. However, I managed to buy a pair of bear discontinued breathable waders for $150.00. I wear my breathables 80-90%.
Go beathables if you can afford them and look for a pair of used neoprenes.
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Agree with what Fulcrum and MERC said about not wading past the knees. I've got a pair of Orvis Silver Label chest waders but rarely go past the knees. I use it more for keeping dry in the rain, keeping warm, and staying relatively dry when hiking for long periods (the sweat goes through the waders). They're perfect for spring thru fall fishing. I've used them in the winter too but need to wear fleece pants and long underwear to do that.
Boots with felt soles are great too.
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Got them in 98 so 6 years now. Still using them with no leaks in the foot. Don't know whether they leak above the knees though ;) ...actually they should be fine.
Before that, I was using some rubber chest waders that I got at A&N and they started leaking at the ankle after 2 summers. I patched them up but was much better off getting the breathables.
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Regarding safety... If it looks too deep, it IS too deep. When wading, even if it is shallow, take the time to watch the flow for a few minutes before making any move into the water.
Since it will be the first pair of waders, hop into the tackle store and try out all the ones that may interest you. The best pair, after all, is the one that fits you the best. a pair of $500 waders may be worthless if you don't feel comfortable in them.
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I gotta admit, this forum is pretty sweet...everytime I have a question I get a bunch of info...even though my questions are mainly pretty newbish as this is my first year river fishing for Salmon ::)
Anyways thx for the help and advice from everyone, I'm thinking i'll just go with some cheap hip waders for now and dress warm in the winter...I kinda started to think if I wore anything too effective I might get overconfident walking around some of these rivers...considering I've never even seen the Vedder...this year I think I'll mainly get too know the rivers and spy on what people are using to catch fish with :o
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First post.
First post
Nikka in Richmond has breathables and hip waders on sale.
Check Fred's tackle in Chillewack, I tried on a pair of Protract neoprene and he said he would let them go for $69. Unfortunatly none would fit.
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It looks like I screwed up on my first post. Sorry about that.
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Two... no actually three schools of thought being discussed here.
First, dispense with the $ 60 cheapo's from Wlmart or Canuck Tire - They'll KILL you quicker than you can imagine, are downright uncomfortable, poor floor gripping for wading safely. NADA! Never!
Now the debate between breathables and neoprene. Some like to diss one or the other, but both definitely have their place: What type of angler are you, and when will you most likely to be wearing them? If you're an aggressive, bush-bashing madman who constantly searches for that special place a tad beyond the beaten path, STAY AWAY from the breathables! They tear more easily than their proponents will have you believe (numerous occasions witnessed first hand), and offer little in the way of protection from snags, bouncing off of rocks etc. If you're comfortable working the main drag, and are willing to take care NOT to beat them up, the breathables are admittedly more comfortable, and offer much better freedom of movement. However for the diehard long-range, bush-bashing fanatic, neoprenes are the best FIRST choice.
If fishing the spring summer and fall, breathables are luxury! If working January steel, you'll pour on enough polar fleece that you may as well be wearing neo's, and affording the extra insulation/protection they offer.
I've had both. Now just neo's as I (and a LOT of my buddies) simply can't get breathables to last more than a couple of hard run outings. For your first pair, I'd strongly suggest neoprenes from a reputable maker (SeaTux my current, two years and ticking, albiet more than a few patches.)
Cheers,
Nog
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Ironnoggin is right on. Don't buy the cheapo waders from Walmart, Canadian Tire as they are truly inferior. Lousy boots. The guy that drowned at the Cottonwoods last week had one of those on. He was only 40 years old.
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Nog, you said! Bang on.
Those breathables are super comfy & easy to hike in. But they don,t stand up to the cold. Heavy bushwacking, bouncing around in a jet boat, cigarettes & campfires all are hard on breathables. There is a place for both types.
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.... does anyone out there own a BARE Kodiak jacket, the one that matches the Blackwater waders ???
aYup! And LOVING it! ;D Total sky-water protection, tough going through the bush thus far, and fairly warm. A tad bulky for most app's beyond winter steel, but that's why it came along.
Cheers,
Nog
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No problem helping you with some info habzrule. Now if your name was 'avsrule', well... ;)
Good luck on your first salmon
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;Dthanks! ;D