I'm not a fly fisherman, I fish hard baits more or less exclusively -- crankbaits, spinners, spoons and the like. My basic philosophy of fishing is you can't catch fish unless you put the bait where the fish is. I usually fish from a canoe, but often I don't feel like bothering with the boat. Then I like to work my way along the shore of the pond or stream, hitting all the "fishy" looking spots. And when you do that, sometimes there's no substitute for getting right into the water, away from branches that will interfere with your cast, or to work a spot you can't quite reach from shore. These waders will get you to where you need to be to catch fish. A few words of common sense. First, if you don't swim, wading isn't for you, especially in streams. Lakes can often have mucky, quicksand like bottoms that will trap your feet. Don't panic, just carefully work your feet free, alternating each foot until you can walk again. If you trip (or rather WHEN you trip) these can fill up with water, so some kind of belt to cinch them in will slow that enough that you won't' be forced to bail out. A military surplus webbing belt works nicely, and you can use ammo pouches for tackle. I also made a duct tape sheath which holds a pair of kitchen sheers for cutting line and a pair of forceps for removing hooks; it's very handy. A magnet inside the duct tape sheath keeps the tools from falling out. The belt should have a quick release buckle, just in case you do have to bail out in a hurry. Also for that reason don't try to shove shoes into the boots either, even though it's tempting. The boots are pretty lightweight and don't really give you enough support if you have a long hike into your fishing spot. Second, if you do wade out, remember you're stalking your prey. Don't splash around because you'll scare the fish away, they're very sensitive to vibrations in the water. Like Elmer Fudd says, be vewy kwiet. When you get to your spot give the fish a minute to get used to you, then work your targets without any unnecessary motion or sound. Also remember also that fish can see you, so drab clothing might be a good idea. I've had fish follow my bait practically to where I'm standing, only to catch a glimpse of the bright yellow raincoat I was wearing and run away. Overall I'm pleased with this purchase, and have caught many fish in spots that would have been tricky to fish without waders. But you should have realistic expectations. At this price you aren't getting the kind of durability and quality you'd demand if you were a pro guide. This is more for the weekend warrior types, and you have to use a little care because they won't stand up to thoughtless treatment. I put a hole in mine the third time I used them clambering over a down tree -- which is kind of the point of something like this: to get to where the fish are! Fortunately it was quickly mended with a bicycle tire patch kit, and now they're good as new. I'd say if you are *thinking* about getting a pair of waders, but aren't sure you want to spend the money, these are just the thing. Just be careful, because they aren't bullet proof by a long shot. These are a great value, and they *will* help you catch more fish. I've probably paid for mine in the course of a season in lures I've been able to free from underwater snags by wading out where I can pull from a slightly different angle. If you definitely know you want to get a pair of waders, expect to give them really heavy use, and don't mind spending a lot of money, then invest in a more expensive but durable pair of waders. But that'll cost you a pretty penny.
