Waders

[bk]

Note to all. Breathable waders have a shelf-life. I found out the wet, cold way in an Asheville stream yesterday. I got 1 maybe 2 casts of the fly off before I noticed what felt like water inside of my fishing pants and 2 layers of thermals. By the time I made it back to the stream edge I looked like an umpa-loompa. Waders completely filled from the thigh down. Brrrrr.

Moral of the story, breathable waders have a shelf life.

[Shorewalker]

Brrrrr... That does not seem like fun.

[Flint River Pirate]

Did you finish fishing anyway?

[WannaDoDat]

Ha! A shivering, quivering Oompa Loompa! What a great mental image, my friend!

I am so sorry that your fishing trip was cut short due to the kerfuffle but now you have another story to tell. And, at least it wasn't quite as painful as Talltail's latest treble hook misadventure!

Way to get out there and live it up, Brad! Now get back down here and let's fish where the water is still halfway tepid!

btw, would love if you posted up some of the flies you tied up there.

[BearsFan]

Sh*t, my simms are 12yrs old,..

[bk]

I borrowed them from a good friend who said he used them once, about 8 years ago. They are hodgman chest waders. I googled "leaking breathable waders" and that's where I saw post after post of wader shelf life issues. I don't think hodgman is among the elite when it comes to waders, but there were a lot of complaints with the named brands as well.

And "no", I did not continue fishing. Like I said, I got maybe 2 casts in before noticing the problem. By the time I reached the shore and un-dressed, I could hardly feel my toes. So I probably did the right thing by getting out.

[frank]

At least with neoprene waders when you have a leak they just become a wetsuit. Sorry to hear you just about froze!

[marlindoc]

Thats why we fish in Florida

[IS2K1]

I have a pair of Simms that were at least 15 years old. There was some leakage on some of the seams but not through the Gore-tex. Was able to repair the seam leaks and they are still good. Some of the breathable waders are made from different materials. Think Gortex has some sort of lifetime warranty.

[tlhflyfisher]

Hodgeman are good waders but not among the best brands. Simms and Patagonia are high end, high quality, high priced waders that usually last a long, long time. There are others but not many others that are dependable over the long haul.

[abcarias]

I always turn my waders inside out and fill them with water for an hour before taking them on a trip. Mark the leaks with a dry marker then repair as needed so Im not disappointed on the stream. bummer dude....