Get any hodge-podge group of fly fishers together and most of them would agree that part of their sport’s endearing allure is the closeness to nature one feels when stalking fish in their natural habitat. Being in a fish's environment gives anglers a sense of serenity and fairness. Wading in the water actually levels the playing field for fish because stalking trout and other game fish in the water must be done slyly and stealthily. One wrong move and WHOOSH, they’re gone!
Most fly fishing requires some sort of specialized wader, whether float tubing for huge bass in old Mexico, or angling for over-sized rainbows in the San Juan River in New Mexico. Since there are so many different types of fly fishing, there too must be many different types of waders.
Hip Waders
Hip waders are a popular style of protection, from just above the knee to the tip of the toe. Mostly used for small streams and bank fishing, hip waders come in several different materials and styles, and are the most minimal style of wader protection.
Hip waders have all but replaced the old-school, rubber hip boots of lore that used to rub legendary blisters on the shins, toes and heels. Albeit, the newest hip waders are made of extremely lightweight, breathable, waterproof material with a built-in neoprene boot for comfort. Amazingly, technology has kept this market on its toes, as some of these waterproof materials are now even constructed of stretchable fabrics.
With a simple loop and buckle at the top to keep the wader from sliding down the leg, they connect to the belt loop and are very easy to step in and out of.
“Hippers” are basically useful on only the smallest of streams, practical for only the shallowest of waters. If an angler was searching for the most useful wader, hip waders would not suffice.
Guide Pants or Wading Pants
One of the newer products in the wader market are guide pants, or wading pants. They are exactly what one might assume – breathable, waterproof pants that fit snugly around the waist and have a built-in neoprene sock for wearing wading boots or shoes.
With substantially more protection than hippers, wading pants are an excellent choice for small to medium-sized rivers where the water level seldom reaches above the knee. They’re they perfect choice for fishing rivers that require hiking or walking long distances.
However, waist-level pants are still an insufficient choice when float tubing or wading deeper pools because water can seep under the waistband and fill the waders, making them unsafe.
Chest Waders
For the highest level of protection and the most practical option for an all-encompassing wader, chest waders reign supreme. This variety rides all the way up under the arms and is held up by shoulder straps.
Made of the same varieties of breathable, waterproof materials as their guide pants/hipper counterparts, chest waders will allow angers to completely submerge themselves up to the chest in water.
Chest waders are the choice for float tubing and bank wading. But one of the best features of chest waders is their ability to be rolled down and buckled around the waist. Worn this way, an angler now has a sort of “convertible” guide pant, which makes them serve a dual function.
Furthermore, for the coldest, deepest rivers, chest waders are also fabricated out of differing thicknesses of neoprene. Not nearly as liberating or durable as the high-tech breathable materials, neoprene chest waders are a necessity for ice cold rivers and frigid tail outs.
But for anglers with gusto, try "wet wading" – the wader-free way to appreciate river fishing for the trout of your choice.
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