Northwest Fishing Reports

I'm new to fishing in Washington state and I've discovered the wide rivers require you get a boat or wade into the water to get a better shot at places. For years I've just worn jeans and my "fishing sneakers" with a nice soft rubber sole, but this get-up needs to change if I'm going to last more than an hour on the river.

Growing up on the Rogue River it was possible to stand in that water for a while till I caught my limit and went home. Amazingly I never became a good swimmer. As I was looking at waders at the outdoor clothing supply place I realized that if I slipped and got caught by a current my waders would fill and become a giant weight. This gear seems fine for lakes and ponds, but I prefer bank fishing where the water is deep and usually fast down below.

The type of bank fishing that I prefer I'll generally try a spot (around here) for 20 minutes max, and if I get no bites I move. So I'm quite active. You'll see no beer or lawn chair. I enjoy some hiking on these expeditions.

It seems my other clothing options are wool or poly long underwear, wet suit pants, or dry suit pants. I don't care how it looks as long as it's comfortable and practical.

Perhaps there's some hi-tech gear I haven't discovered. Tell me what you prefer. Thanks for sharin'.

hey,hip boots is another option, ya don't get as far out into the "troubled waters" but gives you a slight advantage over the street shoe guy's. There is a down side to this as some people just don't get it and will let there line float into you and then start trying to snag something - and it ends up being you. I use hips as the full waders are like an anchor if ya slip up - don't matter your swimmin skills - to each his own, my partner uses chest waders and I havent fished him out yet so...It kind of comes down to price wet siuts aren't cheap, wet suits have a tendency to float and it gets cold up here. hope I helped ya out. Im 63 and don't feel like swimmin the cow.

The best way to approach this would be with breathable chest waders. They are light weight and very comfortable to use. There is a waist belt that is included that you put on around your hips to help keep water from filling your waders should you slip and fall in. It is a very good idea to wear a life jacket also. The compact inflatable ones work well and aren't confining.

It is also important to have a good pair of wading boots. Sneakers offer no ankle support and leaves you with the chance of spraining or breaking an ankle. Boots are designed to provide good traction on moss covered rocks.

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Wading in any river has it's dangers. It is best to have good equipment. It could save your life.

True, waders definitely have there limits when you're talking about deep swift waters. I've heard guys getting swept away and being held down due to water rushing into their waders. Be careful when fishing by yourself, actually maybe a wetsuit might be best suited for your desired areas.

I have chest waders both breathable summers and neoprene for winters. Both stocking foot with big ol boots and screw in studs (I like them much better than felt). When wearing them I also have a wader belt I put my buck knife sheath on. Unless the flow is pretty slow, I just don't go past my thighs. I have slipped and "sat down" once wearing my summers - luckily I was in an area with no flow, my breathables have a elastic drawstring at the chest which I had snugged up and it kept most of the water out, and I was able to jump back up quickly. But after that I hung a emergency whistle off the shoulder of my vest just in case (hopefully I would have the ability to use it if needed).
I also have a pair of hip waders, but don't use em much on the rivers.

I see guys using those collapsable walking sticks which help to keep you stable. I have thought about getting one, but seems like just another thing to carry#-o

Most places I fish, there really isn't any reason to go more than hip deep.

Whatever you use, be on your guard. That hole isn't worth your life.

A good wading belt keeps the water out. I've gone in the water several times in my adventures, and i just ended up floating, no water got in. It wasn't in super swift current, but I'm a strong swimmer as well. Always use caution when crossing in current and a good pair of wading boots will give you the traction you need.

Anybody wearing waders in the river should be wearing a PFD. Period. If you can't stand up you are dead. I've done the float test with hip boots and rain pants. You can not get them off fast enough to save yourself.

Be Safe!

i carry a knife close at hand. because i will cut them open if need be, and never try to swim against the current swim with it at an angle

I have 2 different pairs of breathables. One is a pair of cabelas gold medal something or anothers Ive had for a few years and they are great. And a blue pair of hodgemans with big pokets on the front. Both work really well for me. I also wear a hodgemans backbrace/wading belt. This helps keep water out if you do go in. I also wear a pair of remington wading boots. The design is awesome. Comfortable and pretty light, yet nice support and sturdy. They come with different insoles that you can change depending on how your sock/wader situation is. If your barefoot you can add the big thick insoles and your boots are still snug. Ive tried neoprenes and wore them for years. I like looser so in the winter I can layer up. I wear fleece wader liners a poly top tshirt fleece pullover and my wading jacket. Im not sure I would wear hip waders personally I dont like rubber boots. They do have wading pants. Just like chest waders. Check out cabelas for what Im talking about. You need a pair of wading boots still. Hope that might help ya.

Gringo Pescador wrote: I see guys using those collapsable walking sticks which help to keep you stable. I have thought about getting one, but seems like just another thing to carry#-o

I have found one of these to be invaluable, especially as I get older. My leg muscles and ankles aren't as strong as they used to be. I use my collapsible wading staff every time I go in the rivers or streams now. They fold up nicely and are stored in a sheath that I put on my wading belt. I have the staff attached to my belt by a lanyard so while I am fishing, I just let the staff go and the current pulls it back away from me.

Many of the rivers have rocks that are loose and when stepping on them will throw you off balance and that is when you fall. I usually plant my staff firmly in the bottom before making another step. When crossing a swift narrowed area of a body of water, you have to have the staff. It helps enormously.

Wetsuit and booties (or standard wading shoes), other anglers might laugh at you but they are comfortable, will keep you warm and will not sink like waders...

I might go with the nod to wading shoes over neoprene booties because of the traction and ankle support. You could easily wear these in combination with a wetsuit.

PM me if you'd like more info. I have some good knowledge on wetsuits ( I own a few & I surf regularly)

All good points guys. I guess my safety comments are aimed at the "Amazingly I never became a good swimmer. ". Wading belts are great for keping water out but they also have an unexpected trait. If you are swept into deep water with a wading belt on your feet become lighter than your head and you float upside down. Not a good position to be in for a strong swimmer. Fall in or falling down is not the same as diving in and holding your breath at the pool or lake. I'd give anyone 30 seconds tops under water. Can you really find a knife and slash your way free. You only get one chance.

PFD.

The auto inflate guys are really rather unobtrusive. My brother is alive today because he wore his PFD. What are you worth and what is your family worth to you?

Well said bodo. Never over estimate your swimming strength or time you can last underwater. Given cold water temps combined with panicking you last a lot smaller chance surviving than you think,whether it be river, lake or salt. I picked a guy out of the salt this summer who fell out of his kayak without a pfd several hundred yards from shore. He was drifting further from shore and would have been crab bait if I didn't happen to see him. Blowing 15-25 out of the south and this yahoo is trying to kayak without a pfd, talk about Darwinism

Buy a pfd and wear it. You may only need it once but it could save your life. I'm looking to get one of those mustang auto or manual inflates this fall

Bodo Breathable waders get really tight on ya as you enter the water the water pressure sucks the waders tight against you. even when your wearing a wader belt youll hear air farty noises as ya get deeper, until the air is out of the legs completely. I usually will dip down in the water to the point my wading belt is gettin wet to make sure I got all the air out. As long as you get the air out and wear a belt Im almost positive that youll be fine dipping in, in most circumstances. I dont think Id ever have to cut my waders off. And at over 200 bucks a pop I wouldnt want to. I do see alot of people not using wader belts and this to me is a stupid thing to do. But not my concern. If I was in a boat Id wear a pfd. But I personally dont like the Idea of wearing things On me while Im fishing such as vests and even jackets but Need to when colder or rainy.

Of course we live in the great USA and the choice is yours. I'm sure you're a strong swimmer and take all of the precautions. I can also see you don't believe me. I speak from experience. If you think you will float right side up awesome, prove me wrong. Head on down to the local pool and put those waders on and squeeze every bit of air you can out of them. Head on over to the deep end and have someone shove you in. Make sure the tape is rolling and have a lifeguard near by.

Best of luck.

LAB:

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I never wade deeper than my johnies, brrr! Seriously, the PDF is well worth it and very compact now with the auto-inflate style.

well some places you go chest deep to get to a hole. i have just learned not to let deep water bug me.