New Zealand wet wading.

[jmccall]

I have recently been watching some trout fishing videos shot in New Zealand, and I'm hoping someone can answer this question. In several scenes the anglers appear to be wet wading wearing what appears to be long underwear under shorts, and I'm just curious about what they are wearing. Thanks in advance

John

[Uncle Jesse]

Are you sure its not neoprene waders?

[jmccall]

I didn't think so especially under shorts

[tedshuck]

Never been there, but from what I have read it is a very common practice there to wet wade with boots and long underwear. The long underwear will provide some amount of leg protection from scrapes, bugs, etc...

If you google "new zealand fly fishing wet wading" you will find lots of references.

Ted

[EdD]

When I wade wet it is in long pants to protect from leeches, etc...

Ed

[oldfrat]

An acquaintance of mine showed up at a fishing gathering wearing green leotards under shorts for some wet wading. He claimed he had been doing it since a NZ fishing trip. He didn't seem to mind all of the Robin Hood jokes.

[Mike Thomas]

We wet wade with shorts over the top of polyprop long johns. The long johns help to protect the legs from sand flies but mostly are worn to keep the sun off. Burn time in the summer can be as short as 15 minutes. I wear a long sleave light sunproof shirt, long johns, a wide-brim hat and lots of sun cream.
The same long johns are great under waders in the spring and autumn for a bit of extra warmth.
Just about everyone down here wears them, they do the job well and cost very little.
All the best.
Mike

[jimsnarocks]

I have wet waded in New Zealand with chest waders on over shorts. After that I was wet all day. Thanks for pulling me out Jeff. He then took my picture and posted it on FAOL for all to see what a wading clutz I am.
I did see some fishermen on one stream wearing what looked like long johns under their shorts but they were on the bank and not wading when I saw them. It was early fall and not terribly cold when I was there. Jim