I plan on doing some minimal wading this summer. Because of physical limitation I can?t go deeper than my man nards or wear any kind of waders. Question: what kind of shoes or sandals is best and most stable? What kind of insect repellant do you use? Whose strike indicates do you like? What say you? ?thanks.
Find yourself some wading shoes and wear just those with a pair of wool socks underneath.
Use a wading staff for additional support. I like the Simms Rivertek wading sandals, might give them a try. As far as indicators go, I like and highly endorse the “Thingamabobber” available at most fly shops. Available in four sizes and various colors - even glow-in-the-dark - I like the white and use the small size glow-in-the-dark on spooky water during the day due to its smokey/dun color.
I don’t use mosquito repellant.
Good luck, but if nothing else, make sure you use the wading staff for extra support while you wade.
Kelly.
thingamabobbers
http://www.madriveroutfitters.com/p-5119-thingamabobbers.aspx
Some breathable hip waders might be you best bet. Some nice Dan Bailey’s here on sale: Fly Fishing SALE | The Best Sales in Fly Fishing | On Sale | Discounted – Madison River Fishing Company
For strike indicators, when I do use one I use one of these floats from Lindy’s and peg it with a tooth pick like bass fisherman peg a bullet head sinker.
Becareful with whatever insect repellant that you use since they will raise Cain with your fly line coating and your rod paint job as well.
GaryO,
During the summer, I still prefer to wear my regular wading shoes. I bought a pair of Simms neoprene Wading Socks with Built-In Gaiters. The gaiters are important to keep the small rocks out of your wading shoes. I prefer to wear my wading shoes because they give my feet and ankles proper support. I can change the bottoms of my wading shoes from felt to studded felt to studded hard sole as the situation calls for it. Some rivers and streams get a lot of slimy stuff on the rocks during the summer, making them extremely slippery. Don’t forget a wading staff for proper balance.
Cabela’s sells some of the wading socks also [b]http://tinyurl.com/o52dwc[/b]
Larry —sagefisher—
Gary,
In the warmer part of the year I wet wade alot. I use my regular wading boots (felt bottomed) and just were a pair of 3mm neoprene socks and gators.
I also HIGHLY recommend a wading staff.
My hands down favorite insect repellant is Ultrathon.
My favorite strike indicator are from Floatmaster. They come in a variety of shape, sizes and colors. Just do a web search on floatmaster and they should come up or PM me and I’ll send you a link to their web site. Great indicators, you just can’t throw them off like fish pimps or some of the others.
Best of luck!
I’ve heard of wet wading in quick dry polypropelene thermal underwear. Using your regular wading boots and some neoprene socks.
Wading staff----don’t leave home without it. 8T 
I wet wade in the summer in Polypropelene long johns under a pair of quick drying shorts. The polyprops protect the legs from the sun and the brambles and dry out pretty quick. As for footwear I used to wear felt soled boots with gators but they are now banned so I have changed to an old pair of army surplus canvas jungle boots, they are great and only cost about $25.
The very best summer time indicator in my view is a Dry fly. Whatever pattern suits the water you fish but I usualy choose something with a nice visible poly wing.
All the best.
Mike.
I wear old sneakers with indoor/outdoor carpet glued on the soles
Dickie’s brand uniform pants from the thrift store
Gawd, I’m a cheap SOB :rolleyes:
No insect repellent needed , I’m repellent enough
Dudley, thanks for the laugh and reminding us of our humaness. I’m the guy who runs a thrift store, so thanks for supporting all of the thrift stores out there. I get a lot of what I use from the thrift store, although I usually have the last pick after it’s been on the sales floor for almost too long, oh well…
As far as the insect repellant comment, well - okay, ditto…
Kelly.
Joe, thanks for the heads up on Ultrathon. Would you think it to be more Flyline friendly since it is made by Sci Anglers?
I use one of two things for an indicator. Either a big dry fly or I snip off a piece of bright orange synthetic yarn, attach the leader to it, add some floatant, and there you go. It’s lighter than a commercial indicator, it costs roughly $0.02, and if I lose it, just snip off another piece of yarn and do it again.
Jim
Use a staff…never don’t use a staff…always have a staff…get to where you feel like you aint fishin’ if you don’t have a staff. That feeling and habit, and felt soled wading boots have saved my life and kept my lungs full of air not water many. many times.
I could not stress it enough…:):) ModocDan
GaryO,
No, I don’t think it’s any more fly line friendly, DEET is DEET and will still damage the line. You should make sure you give your palms and fingers a good rinse after applying it. Since your fishing, that should present any serious problem.
I’ve been using it for a couple of years and just like the results. I’m still careful to rinse my hands well.
The lemon eucalyptus oil is reported by some sources as the most effective.
http://www.rei.com/product/703338
You can also consider a Thermacell.
What kind of streams will you be wading?
I waded for years with cheap tennis shoes with velcro straps and smooth rubber bottom. It was not a big deal for a young man.
The market offers a number of choices today.
Switch to Cutter’s Advanced Insect Repellant. The active ingredient is Picaridin, not DEET. It is safe for plastics and fly lines. It also doesn’t turn your lips numb. I use the Sport formula with a higher 15% concentration.
http://www.buzzillions.com/dz_517008_cutter_advanced_picaridin_repellent_pump_reviews