Fly Fishing

mobile316 · Posted: Fri 03/16/07 7:58 am Post subject: Newbie and wader question

Hey guys. I have just bought my fly rod and reel. I have been a fisherman my whole life, and have a client that got me excited about fly fishing, so I'm diving in. Fantastic site, I'm sure that I will find a lot of helpful info here.

About waders, my biggest question is whether most people generally prefer the boot attached or separate. I would like to hear opinions of what you feel works best and most durable and comfortable. I am going to buy some soon as I will be moving out of my front yard, to actual fish bearing waters. As soon as I can figure out this casting thing..... lol. Thanks in advance!!

mardog123 · Location: camden, maine

welcome, I am also fairly new to the site. In my opinion, bootfoot are much easier because you can pretty much slip in and out of them. This is great for when you are fishing on and off throughout the day. Bootfoot waders are also less expensive but not as comfortable when you are taking longer hikes or fishing for longer hours because They have a less precise fit than the stockingfoot waders. With most cabelas waders, you have the choice of either stockingfoot or bootfoot of the same model. The stockingfoot will be less expensive, but you need to then buy wading shoes which are around $40 and up. The best thing about stockingfoot waders is how comfortable they are beccause you are not in big clunky rubber boots, but in boots that fit you much more accurately and are more comfortable. Also, if you own bootfoot waders and you grow out of the boots before the waders, you have a problem that is not true with stockingfoot waders because you can buy a different sized wading shoe. Anyway, those are just some things to think about before deciding.
Good luck!
Henry

caynenfisher · Posted: Sat 03/31/07 5:31 pm Post subject:

First of all, what kind of water do you fish? If you fish mainly in rocky rivers with gravelly bottom, then a felt bottom bootfoot is good. I fish both fresh and salt water, so I use a stocking foot wader, so I can use felt soles in the river, and out on the seaweed covered ledges, I wear football cleats.
I prefer stockingfoot waders for that reason, also if you take a dunking, you can turn them inside out to dry. Also I can loan them out to friends and they can wear a shoe that fits them.
Overall I think the stockingfoots are more versatile

mobile316 · Posted: Thu 04/05/07 7:51 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info. The stocking foot is what I went with as well as a pair of Orvis felt bottom boots. THANKS!!

peterdk · Location: Denmark

Welcome

I like the stockingfoot becouse the boots will sit tightly on your foot, when you walk a lot to get to the faraway hotspots it is nice to be able to walk with the comfort of hiking boots.
I have been using simms guide goretex waders and guide boots and have done so for a lot of years they can take a real beating...
I walk trough a lot of bushes and underbrush to get to the speciel places in Sweden,Norway,Denmark and Alaska and they can take it.

Good Luck..