When I first stepped into the stream to fish for smallmouth bass I really had no idea of what I needed to start out. Over the past 15 or so years of wading the local streams for smallies I have learned a few things that may help you have both an enjoyable and hopefully successful trip in the water.
Probably the least considered aspect of wading, but the one that will affect you the most is what to wear. When you see the fishing shows on TV or see guys wading in your favorite fishing magazine they are probably wearing waders, fishing vests and a funny looking hat. To see me in the water you might think Homer Simpson has taken up fishing. I have fun, but I do fish ugly.
I started out wearing something called aqua socks for the first few years of wading. These light weight, rubber soled shoes were nearly perfect for wading. The water could easily flow through the shoes. The rubber soles helped keep me from slipping on rocks and protected the bottoms of my feet from sharp sticks and stones. Later I made the switch to wading boots. I found these to be well worth the money. I chose to stay with the rubber soles because of the wide variety river bottoms I tread on. The real value of the wading boot is two fold. First is the protection of the toes. So many times I’ve waded in waters when I can’t see my feet. I’ve banged my toes and ankles on more rocks than I care to remember. The lighter aqua socks offered zero protection from unseen hazards. The second benefit of the wading boot is ankle support. On rocky bottoms it’s not uncommon to slip off a rock, step on an unsteady rock or bang up against underwater brush or rocks. I would say that I have been extremely lucky not to have sprained an ankle.
In the heat of late July or August, there really is nothing better than standing knee deep in a cool, flowing stream while you set the hook into another hard charging smallmouth. For those days the most important things to wear are wading boots, a light weight shirt, short pants and plenty of sunscreen. But when the weather is cooler like the late arriving summer of 2008 or if you’re trying to extend your wading season into late September or October, you will want to have a good pair of chest waders. I had first tried getting by with just some booted hip waders. Two problems I had with those where weight and water fill. The boots on the hip boots just seemed to add 10 lbs to each leg. Wading barefooted can be very tiring if you’ve been out for a while and adding extra weight for walking against the current is just another heavy drag. If you notice one recurring theme in my writing about wading is Fish Light. Oh yeah, that water fill problem with the hip boots comes from fishing in water deeper than the tops of my hip boots. Boy do hip boots get heavy when they are filled with water. I’m not going to tell you what brand of wader to get or how much you should spend. If you’re smart enough to read fishing forums your smart enough to buy your own waders. Just tell your outdoor outfitter what your plans are and the can hook you up with the right outfit.
Maybe more important for wading fisherman than for boat fisherman is your choice of eyewear. Good fishing glasses help you to see what’s below the surface and what you’re about to step on, in or around. I would recommend that you have both the polarized and amber tinted lens. The amber lens is for those overcast days. Besides for safety, good glasses allow for the fun of sight fishing. Being able to see a bass cruising by or a pair of bass chasing your stick bait only adds to the excitement of walking with bass.
The next two items that I recommend fall under the “Duh” category. You know you need both of them, but they are the first two things you will forget to put on; sunscreen and bug repellent. I won’t go into a lot about either of these, but I will say that forgetting them can really turn a great day in the water into a miserable event. The canopy of trees that you are fishing under can be very misleading. As you hide in the shades don’t forget the glare of the sun on the water will still find its way to your unprotected skin. The wind protected streams are home to hungry horse flies and mosquitoes. It’s extremely difficult to concentrate on finding those smallie hiding spots when your focus is directed on the bites on your back and ears.
On your head I definitely recommend a hat. A standard baseball cap is great to help shield the eyes, but you may want to consider switching over to a panama or cowboy style straw hat. While you scratch your head, please let me explain. First of all, you’ve probably forgotten your sunscreen and the additional brim of your hat just might protect your neck for some of the sun’s burning rays. The real concern is the growing threat of ticks. A wide brimmed hat is hardly the only thing you need to do to prevent ticks from landing, but utilize every advantage you can. To learn more about the dangers of ticks and additional prevention tips look up Lyme Disease in your favorite search engine.
Wading local streams doesn’t have to be a budget breaker. Old tennis shoes and cut-off jeans may be all you need until you decide that wading is your favorite way to fish. Remember it’s still fishing and not a fashion event. Make yourself as comfortable as possible and enjoy the experience to its fullest.