Most important river wading gear...

SilverFly

SilverFly

Legend
... quality wading boots. I put off getting a good pair for many years. Mostly because I haven't done a ton of river fishing in the last 2 decades, but also was over-confident in my balance and agility (now 63, how the eff did that happen?!). Well that and I'm a cheap SOB.

Anyway, a couple weeks ago when playing with dark chinook in some nasty pocket water, I slipped and banged my elbow pretty good on a large boulder I was stepping onto. Nothing broken, just sore for a few days. So I broke down and hit the local Sportsman's hoping for a not too expensive pair, but all they had in sasquatch, was a pair of Simms Freestone. I can think of a thousand things I'd rather drop 200 bones on, but damn glad I did. Felt (pun intended) much safer and confident. A good thing with the higher flows and unlikely happy ending to taking a dip in class 4 whitewater.
 
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SilverFly said:
... quality wading boots. I put off getting a good pair for many years. Mostly because I haven't done a ton of river fishing in the last 2 decades, but also was over-confident in my balance and agility (now 63, how the eff did that happen?!). Well that and I'm a cheap SOB.

Anyway, a couple weeks ago when playing with dark chinook in some nasty pocket water, I slipped and banged my elbow pretty good on an. Nothing broken, just a sore for a few days. So I broke down and hit the local Sportsman's hoping for a not too expensive pair, but all they had in sasquatch, was a pair of Simms Freestone. I can think of a thousand things I'd rather drop 200 bones on, but damn glad I did. Felt (pun intended) much safer and confident. A good thing with the higher flows and unlikely happy ending to taking a dip in class 4 whitewater.
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If I recall, when we met up last year, you were wading in tennis shoes in that section.
 
Brute said:
I agree with most of the above...and since felt soles are not allowed in many places now, I'll add Yaktracs slip on traction cleats...these and a decent wading staff...
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While I was pretty anti-Korkers at one time due to their early products being so sketchy... I'm a big believer now, and some of their non-felt soles are pretty amazing. I get a LOT of mileage out of mine, especially on my annual Alaska trip. One river I wade up there in particular is like greased bowling balls, and the traction soles I have are game changers.
 
Evan B said:
While I was pretty anti-Korkers at one time due to their early products being so sketchy... I'm a big believer now, and some of their non-felt soles are pretty amazing. I get a LOT of mileage out of mine, especially on my annual Alaska trip. One river I wade up there in particular is like greased bowling balls, and the traction soles I have are game changers.
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The upper Gallatin is like that...felt just like greased bowling balls...
 
Evan B said:
If I recall, when we met up last year, you were wading in tennis shoes in that section.
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More or less. Those were same slip on Sketchers I use as deck shoes. Still love them for that with tuna trashable waders. On the river something about the rubber sole made them much less slippery on wet rocks than normal tennys, or running shoes (might as well be greased teflon.) That said, less slippery is a relative term and it was clear I needed to invest in legit wading boots.
 
RCF said:
A belt for your waders. If you do go in, the belt will help keep the water from filling the waders up. You do not want to experience 'that sinking feeling".
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Good point. I think of it as the sea anchor effect. Nothing I want to experience.
 
Evan B said:
While I was pretty anti-Korkers at one time due to their early products being so sketchy... I'm a big believer now, and some of their non-felt soles are pretty amazing. I get a LOT of mileage out of mine, especially on my annual Alaska trip. One river I wade up there in particular is like greased bowling balls, and the traction soles I have are game changers.
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Studs or no?
 
I would say appropriate wading gear for the circumstances. But don’t skimp on quality, buy what you can afford and make yourself comfortable. Remember kids, anything you buy to keep your self safe is cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. Even those stinkin 50 dollar screws that Simms sells to keep you slipping on slicker than snot slimy rocks.
 
Sam Roffe said:
I would say appropriate wading gear for the circumstances. But don’t skimp on quality, buy what you can afford and make yourself comfortable. Remember kids, anything you buy to keep your self safe is cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. Even those stinkin 50 dollar screws that Simms sells to keep you slipping on slicker than snot slimy rocks.
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Fyi. Dirt bike ice screws fit sims boots great, grab hard, and for the same price your set for life.

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Peyton00 said:
Self-awareness, know your limits.
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This all day. None of us would think twice about wading across the Upper Teanaway in August, or set out for the other side of the Yakima in July. Staying on the right side of that fine line in between is what gets you home safe. For sure, have all the safety gear mentioned above, but think before you take that next step, and do so with realistic expectations of your ability.
 
SilverFly said:
... quality wading boots.
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I fully agree. I bought a pair of Patagonia foot tractors about five years ago. These were not the Korkers versions, these were an earlier model. They are heavy. Each boot has 4 metal cleats going across the sole. These gave me great security in slippery areas, especially in the muddy Driftless Area. Both boots' outsoles came delaminated at the same time. I had them repaired at a cobbler, and they lasted a full year before again coming delaminated. I just Shoe Goo'ed the bejeezus out of them in the hopes they'll last another year. But I still had to buy another pair, at the local fly shop. I picked up some Orvis boots, with rubber tread on the outside and felt on the inside. I just don't feel as secure with them, although they didn't let me down this year. But they are about half the wait of those Patagonias!
 
Have nice waders, boots and staff... A buddy is the next must have...

Walking through high flows the other day and found myself on my knees, water just below top of waders, scared as hell and about to wash away... Without my homie... Ton of gear gone and ruined day...
 
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