Fly Fishing Gear Reviews

Unless you are just going to be walking along the banks of a river or stream, you are going to need to purchase some wading gear at some point.  If you don’t get yourself some waders and wading boots, eventually you're going to find yourself getting wet either fighting a huge trout, or just losing your footing.  Personally, I like to be in the water.  Here in California, I’ll wet wade while flyfishing as early in the summer to as late in the fall as I can.  Basically, I have a dark bathing suit and some Simms felt soled river sandals made by Keen.  The water can get a little chilly, but the eastern sierras get pretty warm, so I dry quickly once I step out.

For the rest of the year I use my 10 year old Simms Chest waders and my Simms wading boots (felt and studded sole).  I’ve been above my waist in the Owens River in the middle of January while it’s snowing and been as cozy as could be (the fishing was on as well).

Like most other fly fishing gear, there are plenty of choices and they vary between style and manufacturer.  Some waders come in a stocking foot model and end in a neoprene booty.  Others come boot foot, with the wading boot being part of the wader.  I like the stocking foot myself.  That way I can use my boot outside of my waders on occasion. 

You may have read me mention it before, but if you are looking to make a wading gear purchase, we highly recommend River Bum and Lelands.

You will find some cheap waders out there, and they may keep you dry… for a bit.  The chances are they aren’t breathable and as you start sweating, that moisture clings to your skin, and if it’s cold, it’ll suck the warmth right out of you.  As is obvious, cheap fly fishing waders wont be as durable, and will most likely lack any kind of warranty.  I recently put a hole in one of the booties on my old Simms waders.  I sent them in and Simms put on TWO new booties… for free.  They honored their lifetime warranty.  I love this country! 

Over the last decade or so, Gortex and other materials have  replaced neoprene as the material of choice in fly fishing waders.  I am a fan of the new technology.  The old waders were snug and a bulky.  Today’s waders are far more comfortable to me.  They are lighter and really help reduce the moisture inside with their advanced breathability.

Today’s quality waders are more puncture resistant that a cheap $50 pair, but it is a fact of life that somewhere down the road you will discover you have leaky waders.  It’s an easy fix though.  Turn them inside out.  Fill them with water.  Look for the leak.  Circle the hole with a sharpie.  Dump out the water.  Clean the area around the hole with mild soap and water.  Apply a small amount of Aquaseal or other urethane adhesive to the hole.  Let them dry.  Go fly fishing after 24 hours to test them (well, that’s what you need to sell your wife.  I hope she’s buying.).

On Fly fishing trips, I highly recommend storing your waders inside out and in a dry environment, like your motel room.  If your out in the backcountry, you still want to keep them inside out.  If you don’t do that, any moisture inside will give you a rude awakening when you put those bad boys on stream side the next morning.

Also, after your trip, rinse them off thoroughly and clean them with mild soap if needed.  Then, let them hang dry.  I usually keep my waders stored on a hanger, but if you do box them up, make sure they have dried for several days, inside and out.  No one likes a science project in their fly fishing waders.