Hike-In Fishing Question

[Shane Cavitt]

Last summer I got a brief taste of some small stream hike-in fishing while in Colorado. I really enjoyed getting away from the crowds and I plan on doing more of it this year. Right now I only plan to do day hikes (in & out) and won't be camping overnight. For those of you that do this type of fishing are you hiking in boots and bringing along an extra pair of shoes like sandals to fish in? Are you hiking in your wading boots? Hiking and fishing in the same pair of shoes? I am considering a pair of something like the Keen H2 sandals for hiking in and fishing in. I would appreciate others sharing what system they use.

[flyguy66]

Korkers! Trail sole for the hike. Swap to whichever water sole I want for wading.

[oldfrat]

My favorite kind of fishing! Most of my small stream fishing is done within 2 miles of my vehicle, though, so my "system" is based on short hikes.

If the weather/water is still pretty cool I hike in with hip boots and my wading boots. In warm weather, I wear nylon pants for wet wading and either hike in with my wading boots or an old pair of tennis shoes. If you go the wet wading route, wear synthetic or wool socks that don't get heavy with water and consider packing in a dry pair for the hike out.

[Dave E]

So many scenarios and ways to go. For me in the Sierras and Motherlode it's largely dependant on distance, weather, season and the waters I'm going to fish. I wear everything from a hiking shoe to wearing a pair of wading boots. Sometimes I'm wearing in a fanny pack, others I'm carrying a medium to small sized back pack with the wading boots ( in a trash bag - to hold the wet boots, etc. on the way out. ), fanny pack, dry socks, towel, underwear & top, bear line, etc..

If it's a shorter distance then I may opt to wear my waders in, for longer hikes I'll go with a pair of fast drying zip off leg fishing pants ( Aruba III's are my current favorites ) over a pair of under wader shorts ( they look like bike shorts - fast drying ) that I wet wade in. Again, the conditions are the key.

Generally speaking, if it's less than two miles in, I'll most often wear my wading boots and waders. Beyond that distance if I can, I'll opt for zip off leg fishing pants with a pair of capilene socks under neoprene socks. ( To take up the extra room left in the boot, when not wearing waders with neoprene feet ), or just go with a hiking shoe and change when I get there. Then put the pack up on the bear line.

Then there are those Mountain Bike in days ...usually looking at areas five to twenty miles each way.

Best, Dave

[Fishing Jill]

That's a great question and I'm looking forward to the replies.
I may hike as much as 2-3 miles in one given direction during a fishing excursion in the Sierras. I only use hiking boots at this point in time and have wondered the same thing about what to wear. I used to have some wading boots that did me fine up and down the trail. They plumb wore out. Now I avoid getting my boots wet and if I do, then it's a long hike back with squeaking boots. Too many bushes, rocks, logs, etc. keep me from changing from my sturdy hiking boots. My fishing spots involve a great deal of hiking and I don't want to carry gear. It is a puzzle.

[JimBob]

This is also my favorite type of fishing. I normally hike several miles in and usually end up doing several miles of stream fishing. I generally fish small creeks and therefore do not do much wading; only stream crossings, and minor wet wading, so as to maintain stealth. I just wear my Goretex waterproofed hiking boots and bring extra wool sox in my pack to change into for the hike back up the trail. Zip-off hiking pants are great too in Summer. I have one of those anglers backpacks (Cabela's) which is perfect for me. I carry all necessities, light fishing gear, packable rain gear, lunch, snacks, maps, etc. in it. My 5-piece pack fly rod fits in a tube which straps right to the pack. I carry a folding wading staff which I use as a hiking staff.
I have often wondered how light (and small) packable waders and/or hip boots are. Guess I should look at them next time at a flyshop.....

The best part is that even if the fishing isn't very good, at least you have been hiking.

[waynep]

I do this in RMNP. Some of our hikes are 5 miles one way to fish. Therefore it's hiking boots and that's what I fish in. Just carry rod, reel, flies, nippers, tippet, spare leader, floatant, powder fly drier and that's it for fishing stuff. The rest is water, clothing layers/rain coat for weather and food. It all goes in a Camelbak backback. I don't wade and catch plenty of fish.

[Buddy Sanders]

I try to keep it simple.

I like my feet, so good hiking boots for the trip are required.

I like to wade, so I carry waders (where I go the waters too cold even in the summer for me to 'wet wade') and my wading boots in a simple backpack. Fly vest and food, hydration, extra clothing, all fit in the pack.

When I get where I want to fish, I put on the fishing gear and fish. The hiking boots and shorts go into the pack, taking the space the waders/wading boots/vest used on the hike in.

When I'm ready to hike out, I change back. I don't like to hike in wet feet or clothing, so I always put on dry socks and change whatever got wet, for the hike out.

Only takes a couple of minutes.

Buddy

[rainbowchaser]

When I hike in I carry my waterproof gps. Mark the trailhead and the spot where I get to the river. I take my waders and wading boots out of the pack and stash it and the rod tube out of sight of canoers. Then I just carry the gps in a vest pocket. Before I had a gps I would inflate a balloon and tie it to a branch hanging over the water a ways away from my gear. I still carry a compass and try to hike in on a fairly straight line if I'm off trail. Coming out due East or whatever from the pack should put me in sight of the car if the electronics fail.

[T.Goodwin]

I'm with Buddy Sanders. I spent the better part of the last decade doing this kind of fishing and the small backpack is the way to go. Hiking boots for comfort on the hike in. Then switch to wading boots when you're ready to fish. And there are few greater pleasures than slipping cold, wet cauliflower feet into a fresh pair of warm dry socks and lacing them up tight in a sturdy pair of hiking boots at the end of the day.