Dressing for Summertime Wet Wading Success
Time to shed the waders and soak in the long-awaited vitamin D of summer. What a great feeling of the cool river on a hot July day, nothing better. There are some clothing options that can make this a better experience. Now that you have your waders and felt bottom boots, it’s time to think about how to dress for the elements of summer and wading the streams. I get a kick out of the New Zealand folks on some of the videos I watch. Wool calf high socks, polypropylene long underwear, and quick dry pants. No fashion contest winners there. But, I tell you they are on to something, having quick drying layers is super smart for wet wading. A darker color is good too for your shorts, pants, or polypro.
Once out of the water the drying time will be accelerated. However, for your shirts, or upper body stick with a lighter color to keep you cooler. Think about it. Even in the summer with temperatures in the 90s in the middle of the day, the mornings can be far cooler. So, what do you do? Wear your waders in the morning and then shed them middle of the day? Maybe, but this may not always be an option. You may be away from the vehicle and unable to stash the waders or whatever the circumstance may be. I opt to wear comfortable lightweight, water-shedding material and my wading boots and go for it. Let me go through a few outerwear options for you that you may want to consider for this summer's fishing season.
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Wading Boots, Shoes, and Footwear
Well, if you have a pair of felt bottom wading boots, you are ahead of the game. Your wading boots are perfect for summertime trekking up the rivers even without your waders. Now, usually, they are slightly bigger to accommodate your waders. So, you are going to have to fill in space with some sort of sock. There are a few options here. Like our crafty kiwi buddies, a pair of thick wool socks will work. Now, I say work... They are not ideal in my opinion. They can hold lots of water, sand, and over time, your feet will pay.
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A better option over wool, are neoprene socks that are specifically designed for wet wading. There are basic ones that just come up to the top of the wading boot. There are also “gravel socks.” These are neoprene as well but they also have a built-in gravel guard. The gravel guard will “cuff” over your wading boot upper. This makes them sweet and very comfortable to wear, and they keep pretty much all of the gravel from getting into your boot. Simms, Patagonia, and Korkers are a few that we carry.
I really like Korkers’ new I-Drain gravel socks. These guys were using their noggins on these. The sole of the sock lets water drain out of the sock. Most of the other socks, which are good quality, don’t have any drain holes. Slosh, slosh, slosh is the sound you will make walking up the road when you get out of the creek. They eventually drain but it takes a while. Most of these socks have a lace clip. It’s a small clip on the end of the gravel cuff that attaches to your laces and keeps the gravel cuff from riding up.
Next, let’s talk about boots. Felt bottom, rubber, rubber with studs, wading sandals or shoes, there are lots of choices. I prefer my wading boots for most days of wet wading. I do like a felt bottom sandal in a drift boat or a short session on the river. However, wading boots really are the way to go for a long day of walking up the river. You’ll want good ankle support for this. Big rocks, awkward positions, sharp objects all are a factor on a long trek on the river. Lightweight wading shoes are okay for in and out of the drift boat and light wading sessions where you don’t plan on going very far. You’ll want to keep your feet safe when out on the river. Nothing would be worse to roll an ankle a few miles back on your favorite stream and have to limp back out.
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Shorts, Pants, and Long Underwear
Staying warm can be a tough thing to accomplish on a trout creek even in the heat of the summer. Sounds odd to say that but here's why. Most trout streams are fed by snowpack or high elevation water. This means cold water. Don’t get complacent and think that the weatherman or woman knows what they are talking about. Air temperature doesn’t equate to water temperature. Depending on the situation, I’ll wear a pair of black or dark polypro long underwear under a pair of quick dry zip-off pants. This is a killer combo. The pants will dry off quickly out of the water in the sun and the polypro adds a layer of warmth.
At the middle of the day, once it has warmed up, I may opt to zip off the leg portion of the pant and pack those away in a backpack or my truck. Then the poly pro goes to work. Even in the water the darker color will absorb the sun and keep me just right. Again, when you get out of the water, they will dry very fast. Even if you need to shed these later in the day, they are very lightweight and can pack away in a fanny pack or vest. The layering system is great and a versatile way to say out longer on the water. Keep in mind, the weather can change for the worse. Have a good plan for getting back to basecamp or your vehicle when you need to. If a thunderstorm comes in and the temperatures drop, you’ll need to consider getting warm fast.
Shirts and Lightweight Jackets
Dressing for your lower half and upper half in the summer can be different. Your lower half will be colder as you are wading and your upper half more exposed to the sun. I still like a layering system -think lightweight packable options. I'll wear a long sleeved sun shirt or guide shirt with pockets as a base layer and then maybe a warmer top for the mornings and evenings. If you are going for a long hike, consider having a packable lightweight rain racket too. A lightweight or midweight fleece would also be an option. It’s a good idea to carry in case some weather comes in.
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I think long sleeved tops are the best. You can always roll up your sleeves if need be, and having good sun protection is a must. If you go with a short sleeve you really only have one option. A guide type shirt with some oversize pockets is cool. Maybe think about leaving the vest or pack at home and going minimalist for the day. For example, some of the Simms guide shirts have nice big fly box size pockets. Just a fly box, some tippet, hemostats, and off you go.
Hats, Wading Staffs, and Misc. Items
Some other things to think about when out wading on the stream: a good hat is valuable. Whether it be the trusty ol’ ball cap or a sun hat, you should always have one. These help cut the sunlight down so you can see fish better, and they keep the sun off your ears and face and so on. I tease some of my younger friends. (The flat brimmed hat crowd.) Bending your bill can help block excess sunlight from coming into your eyes. It’s not just old-guy fashions here, kids. A larger full brimmed sun hat is a good idea too. In really exposed areas where there is no shade, these are great.
In addition to having a good hat, wading staffs are a great thing to also have in your kit. If you think you are going to be doing some serious crossings, or fishing in heavy flows, these are a consideration to carry with you. We have a variety of them to choose from. Simms, Fishpond, and Cascade Crest. They are all collapsible and deploy quickly, and all come with carrying cases that can easily attach to your belt. Plus, they are equipped with carbide tips to grip the slick rocks better. Each has subtle differences and range in price from $50.00 to $100.00. I use a wading staff all winter when I am steelheading. I really don’t want to ruin a day by falling in during the winter. In summertime wet wading, they can be just as useful for making long treks, contending with big rocks, or helping with tricky wading situations.
Also, buffs, neck gaiters, balaclavas, and sun gloves are some other items for summer that are super handy to have with you. There a million different buffs out there now. They feature cool trout patterns, camo, etc., the list goes on. Plus, there are lots of different uses for these guys too. For example, you can keep it on your neck to shield the sun or pull it up and over your ears for additional protection. You can also take it off and soak it in the ice water in your cooler and bam! Instant cool down factor.
Sun gloves are something to think about carrying with you too. I spent a bunch of time saltwater fishing on Christmas Island. It is very close to the equator and as close on the planet to the sun. You’ll learn very quickly how to dress and not burn. Sun gloves are a necessity in extreme heat conditions. The tops of your hands when fishing are going to get scorched in the summer. (Sunblock doesn’t last long here.) You’ll be in and out of the water, wiping them off on a towel, and in no time the sun lotion is gone. We carry a few great options from Simms. Some of the sun shirts also have thumb holes in the long sleeves, which I like a lot.
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After all, I think the genesis of wet wading and summertime fishing, to me, is being light and mobile. I really don’t like wearing waders all that much. I find there is nothing better than cruising up the river with a friend on a sunny summer day. Being prepared and dressed properly will just add to the enjoyment factor. There are so many awesome new outdoor clothing options out there. All engineered for comfort and longevity. We carry a great selection of these clothes and options. Stop in before your next outing and let us get you dialed in for the summer season.