Fly Fishing BS thread

Sat down at the vise for the first time in over two years. I'm rusty, but looking forward to getting back at it!

Mike

 

Wader question:

I love my breathable waders. I like the sock foot waders the best, but I don't care for the boots that go over the wader foot. I wear sport sandles most of the time. I have a few streams that have a clay bottom and the sandles won't stay on.

Anyone care to suggest what alternatives to wader boots they use?

 

I use a pair of Keen sandals when wet wading.I like my Simms G3 guide boots with waders or waders sox. I have some foot issues so I protect my feet the best I can against injury.

 

I'll have to look those up. Thanks.

 

I'd keep trying on wading boots lol at least for when you're wearing waders
theres such a diversity of styles n brands....gotta be one out there for you
Simms boots fit me well

That said my Chacos come out in march lol

 

Don't think this is what your looking for, but I'll throw it out there as an option.

Korkers makes/made a Boxcar wading shoe. I use it when there's not a big need for ankle support and I wet wade with them with some neoprene booties. Nice alternative to a full boot.

 

I had some old leather hikers that worked awesome, but they shrunk from being wet and dried so many times.

Ill just keep hitting the Good Will store. $2 for boots if they got them.

 

I have a pair of breathable sock foot waders and some thicker nylon boot foot waders. I use some cheap felt bottom frog toggs boots with the sock foot waders usually and they do good in rocky streams. The boots are horrible on muddy bottoms though and I have to clean them well after every outing because of invasives. I'm not sure if they are even legal where you are from. The other waders have rubber bottom boots with studs and they are fine for about any water but they aren't breathable so I don't use them much. That being said, I would get some ultralight rubber wading boots with studs, maybe you will like them better. Orvis did have some on sale and Cabelas has some cheaper pairs on sale.

 

where are you from? if you want the good spots i might be able to expose them in a pm. Honestly any pond around where you live will be a good place to practice, not much in terms of catching stuff right now since the bass are stuck to the bottom and trout fishing with fly stuff sucks in the bay area. Closest trout creek/river/stream is putah creek about an hour away from the east bay in Winters CA, and thats tough fishing. Other then that its going to be a 2 hour drive to the sierras but everything blown out right now with the rain. PM me if i didn't answer your question haha, ill set you up with the good spots

 

If it wasn't you, why be a smartass. People fish where they can, when they can.

 

I agree with the find a pair of GOOD wading boots that fit. Gary Borger Ultimate Wading Shoe made by Weinbrenner, mine are more than 30 years old and still going strong. You can still find them on evilbay once in a while I believe.

Then again my waders are Red Ball coated nylon that were last made in 1990 and the SOB's will not die. And rubber patches holding your waders together are cool. No reason to upgrade to those fancy breathable waders, once it warms up just wade wet. And I still wear the Gary Borger boots then

 

30 year old wading boots??! CHrist! Im lucky to get year outta my boots!

On a plus note, I pulled the trigger on the 5'9"

 

That is cause you got the new stuff. Not the made in the US like Weinbrenner Borgers were. They also made Filson boots for years. Then Filson went off shore for boots until enough people raised a stink about it. Filson boots are now made in the US again. In Pa. now... Not a fan of Filson fly fishing gear however. Take that back have one of their fly rod cases that is pretty decent.

 

Filson = brings bags of money

 

The old stuff was worth it, although I picked most all of mine up on clearance, sale or even lightly used. They have undergone too many management changes last few years and now cater to the "Metro Lumberjack" crowd. I'm pretty much done with Filson. They have a few classics left but not much. Shame too. Just like the Original Borger boots, cry once and be done with it. Never been a fan of their upland boots either Don, lot of better options out there for that. Bags, cases, older hunting gear, etc. however are some good stuff.

For more than a decade hunted SD for phez with several other retired Navy guys except they all wear gold, including Steve-



Most of us wear well worn Filson upland clothing and one day we pulled into a section of land (1 mile x 1 mile) and across the road was a bunch of guys that were dressed in Orvis clothing, some I think still had the tags hanging on them. Pretty sure their land was a planted section and they were waiting on the "guide" I guess. We pulled in across the road and in 30 seconds had the dogs out without a word and using hand gestures were hunting. The group on the other side were saying things like damnn... Steve worked his way over to me and almost giggling said there is nothing like well worn duct taped Filson to tell the Orvis crowd no need to apply for membership.

That would be the upland group, not to say anything bad about the Orvis fishing gear or crowd. Which for example comes out of the Orvis shop near where Slate Run empties into Pine Creek with the tags still hanging on the vest LOL. I have an Orvis Battenkill reel from the early 80's that was one of the first palming reels. Caught a 44 King on it in Wa. State and it is still serviceable.

 

Totally O/T, but...

+1000 for Filson upland gear. 15 year old vest made with their lighter weight cover cloth material (no longer made of course) hunted 30+ days per year busting brush with dogs. Not a tear or loose thread on it.

 

Richard_Brautigan

Trout Fishing in America

 

I wasn't trying to be a smartass just saying that LCT are some big, lazy fishies.

 

Personally, I couldn't give two shits about where and what kind of fish I catch, as long as I am out fishing. And catching fish is the bonus of being out (and not at work).