Fly fishing often requires that the angler wade into the water to catch fish. Unless you are fishing in warm climates, you will need to wear waders to keep yourself dry and warm. There are many different styles and types of waders available, and this guide will give you an overview on the ins and outs of buying waders for fly fishing.
The two main style of waders are stocking-foot or boot-foot waders. Boot-foot waders have boots connected to the wader, and the wader and boots form one piece. Stocking-foot waders end in a feet (or socks) made of the same material as the waders, over which wading boots must be worn. Boot-foot waders have a rubberized boot with a felt sole, are heavier than stocking-foot waders, and don’t have as much ankle support. Stocking-foot waders take a bit longer to put on, but offer more ankle support for walking on rocks in river or streams.
When buying wading boots, remember that they should not be too tight a fit (unlike hiking boots), but should have good ankle support and have stiff soles. Wading boots with felt soles give better grip when walking in rivers/streams with on rocks and gravel underneath, whilst rubber sole wading boots are better suited for walking in rivers with mud at the bottom.
Waders come in different types of materials, Latex, Gore-Tex, and Neoprene. Latex waders are the cheapest, but they don’t breathe very well causing you to get hot and sweat inside the waders. Gore-Tex waders are more expensive, but are able to breathe a lot better than the Latex options. Neoprene waders offer very good insulation against the cold, and should be used in cold environments. Whichever material you select, make sure your waders are not too tight, and that you have enough room to move in them, as you will be wearing them all day.
Waders also come in various lengths, chest waders, waist-high waders, and hip waders. Chest waders come up to chest height, waist-high waders come up to the waist, and hip waders come up to just above the knee. Chest waders are the most versatile, as they allow you to navigate any water conditions, whilst hip waders can really only be used in shallow streams.
Waders can have elasticated straps or webbing to keep them up – the waders with elastic straps are more comfortable for all day use. A wading belt is also useful to keep you dry underneath your waders if you fall into the river. A wading belt is clinched tight around your waders to prevent water seeping down inside your waders.
You can quite easily spend over $500 on top-of-the-range waders. Fortunately Simms now make the Freestone Stockingfoot Wader
, which is an entry-level wader with true breathability (using their proprietary QuadraLam™ breathable material), and the quality you will normally only find in higher-priced waders. All-in-all, an excellent wader for the money…
Tags: fishing waders, fly fishing gear, fly fishing waders, waders
