Panamoka_Bassin Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 So I've been on this site for some time now, and have yet to see anyone mention the use of waders when fishing. Myself, I find it much easier to get to the tighter places in ponds and lakes when in the water when wearing waders. Also, they're a heck of a lot easier to carry around in the back of my truck than a canoe. Anyone else use waders, and if not, is there a particular reason for not using them? I know the basic responses like "They're dangerous" or "You might spook the fish," but these can be dismissed once you KNOW how to fish in waders... Quote
Chris Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I just walk out and fish jeans and all. Quote
Guest avid Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I use waders in the winter when I'm fishing the salt water flats for snook and redfish, but all the bass lakes I fish have very soft bottoms. There is no way you can wade and fish. Also down in Florida even if the bottom was hard, the toothy venemous critters would make it a foolish gesture. Quote
Peter E. Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Panamoka_Bassin, I like to wade in fast flowing hard bottom creeks and streams for Kentucky Red Eye (spotted bass), but once the days reach about 70 degrees or so then well, I walk between 4-6 miles in waders and 7-10 miles up and down creeks and small rivers. To be honest I would rather walk up stream and flaot down in a float tube. I am with Avid in that the ponds and most lakes locally are soft bottomed. I also wade for trout and reds in the flats during the summer. Take Care & God Bless, Peter By the Way: GO USA! Quote
basser89 Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Bought a pair of hip boots for wading on the Potomac in a couple of places. Went with the hip boots because when I'm fishing that way, I'm usually after musky and I'm not going to be out that deep with one of those beasts on! Anywhere else I fish (here in MD) I'm either on my boat or I'm on the bank because they do not permit wading for one reason or another. Quote
squid Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I use them for some local ponds, when fishing spots that I can't cast too. I have never spooked a bass when wadding. The bass that I find are under thick mat of vegetation and I use a weedless topwater bait. They find the bait due to the movement on the mat of veggie. I enjoy fishing this way, but have been stuck in the muck and had to be pulled out a couple of times....lol > Squid Quote
Rattletrap Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Waders and Belly boats are two things you don't see in the Southern lakes and rivers. It's to easy to become Gator and Cottonmouth bait. ;D Alligator Snapping turtles can put a hurting on you also. ;D Quote
0119 Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I'd use waders in a heartbeat if I didnt live in Florida. I used to wade doing inshore saltwater fishing till a guy got killed by a saltwater croc when he jumped in the canal to cool off after mowing the lawn! Quote
Rattletrap Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I don't have a problem wading the Florida grass flats. Not much danger there. Those canals are a different story. Quote
Chris Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Chicken ;D you have not lived until you step on a gator or two keeps you young and your pants full ;D Quote
Rattletrap Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Chris. You can get away with wading in jeans in Illini Country. ;D Quote
Chris Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I grew up in Oviedo Florida next to Lake Jessup rated the lake with the highest population of gators in the state. Quote
Rattletrap Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 See. You know what I'm talking about. Instant Gator bait. I have been in the water with them while skiing and never had a problem. Wading around and floating in a Bellyboat is a different story. Quote
Chris Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Yeah that lake I wouldn't do it. I was wading in one lake and with a guy fishing and we had to swim to a island so I stuck my fishing rod in my teeth and got to the marshy island and climbed up on it and made one step and fell through right on the back of a gator that was under the floating island and I about ___ a brick as it took off thrashing. As long as I know where they are at I don't have a problem it's the ones you don't see that can make things interesting. I do own a small craft that I use for tight places. It is kinda like a belly boat with style. It is a blow up paddle boat that is small enough dump in the truck and go. I get to hit all the great little ponds that I can't get my big boat into and it is a dry ride. I also have a few rivers that I walk and wade in all summer long for smallmouth. Quote
Guest avid Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 To tell ya the truth it's not the gators that scare me. I've come up on a few and they generally just swim away. It's the cottonmouths that scare the bejeezes out of me. I pulled my canoe into a weedy area to change lures and was there a full 5 minutes. the minute I dipped the oar in a cottonmouth slithered out from the weeds just a foot away from the boat. These dudes don't scare easy. I have to remind myself to be careful when freeing up a snagged lure. I don't hear many gator bite strories, but snake bites, and sting ray stings in the salt flats happen too often for my comfort. Quote
Minuteman Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 Because some of my local reservoirs don't allow boats I go in the water a lot, but usually not until summer. Last year I tried hip boots my son had laying around, but they leaked above the knees so I cut them off and just used them to slog through mud at certain lakes. I got new ones at Christmas for us to use and plan on using them this spring on the local lakes and for trout in the nearby streams. I run into snakes all the time, but none are dangerous( I hope ) It is nice that my son and I are almost the exact size, since he got into body building I get the clothes he can't fit in anymore. Quote
KenDammit28 Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 turtles and snakes are not my friends. I avoid standing on the bottom of a pond and putting myself at weed level! Quote
Keepin_It_Reel Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 I just wear swimtrunks. I did get bit by a snake once (by the way thats not fun) Quote
Rattletrap Posted February 10, 2006 Posted February 10, 2006 You can get away with that wading stuff in the Northern states. Except maybe Minn. Musky like that white flashing skin. Quote
utser Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 use them for fishing rivers. small ponds. no problems spooking fish. Quote
Cephkiller Posted February 11, 2006 Posted February 11, 2006 Also down in Florida even if the bottom was hard, the toothy venemous critters would make it a foolish gesture. You're never going to beat your PB with that attitude! Come on! Live on the edge ;D Quote
Super User Marty Posted February 11, 2006 Super User Posted February 11, 2006 I also don't wade because all my places are soft-bottomed. Quote
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