Wetsuit wading?

[Barracuda]

As the water temperatures drop quickly in the Potomac RIver (though the 80 degree days coming later this week might change that again...) I guess it's time to stop wet wading. 

Someone in the Potomac RIver Smallmouth Club told me decades ago that he never uses waders in the Potomac because the footing is so precarious due to slippery rocks and unseen holes, the likelihood of plunging in above the wader top is too great. I guess I unconsciously adopted that as gospel, though I'm now not so sure.

Anyway, it occurred to me that surf fishermen in the Northeast sometimes fish in wetsuits and I was wondering if anyone ever tried that around here. (Or anywhere else and might share their experiences.)

[namfos]

I think he was having you on, or he only owned old style PVC coated nylon waders with boot foots. The business about chest waders "sinking" you is an old wives tale disproved by Lee Wulff (I believe) many years ago. 

If it's cold enough, I'll wear waders and studded Vibram boots. More importantly a wading staff is a smart move. I was wet wading at Seneca Breaks on Friday and Lander on Sunday - water temps were mid- to hi-70s. If you're really anxious about falling in then I suggest one wear a PFD. 

IMO Maryland's strictures against felt soled wading boots is mistaken - studded felt works much better that studding Vibram. but I'm not willing to chance the incredible fine by wearing felt in MD.

Mark

[Barracuda]

Ah, interesting. I wasn’t worried about drowning so much as getting wet, hence cold, hence would have to stop fishing!

I’ll have to give the waders a try.

Totally agree about felt.

[Rob Snowhite]

http://www.outdoorlife.com/articles/fishing/2016/05/skishing-taking-deep-water-and-big-fish-wetsuit

Sent from my iPhone

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[Owen Williams]

How was Seneca last week with the gage height so low? 

Owen

[TurbineBlade]

Game theory has always fascinated me, as it is relatively good for predicting animal behavior, but not so much for predicting human behavior.  

This reminds me of the winter kayaking thread from a while back.  Basically if you find yourself behaving in a manner that is inconsistent with game theory, you might rethink your actions a bit.  Winter kayaking and/or fishing freezing water on the Potomac while wearing a wet suit probably puts you in that category.  

Putting yourself in a situation where you are likely to expend a lot of energy (or die) for an uncertain outcome is wonderfully and uniquely human ;).  

Gene

[namfos]

Slow. Weather was too perfect, bright sun, very low and clear water. Most fish came from casting at likely lies close to the bank. Biggest about 12 inches and some sunfish.

Mark

On Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 7:07:25 PM UTC-4, Owen Williams wrote:

[namfos]

That would be a worthy topic with a more learned person than me, Gene.

;-)

[Carl Z.]

For those of us that have used Neoprene's I do have a word of warning.

Neoprene floats,  so the deeper you go, the more buoyant you become.   If you are chest deep in a decent current, the odds of you going downstream like a cork go up.   

The wetsuit idea is neat, but I would like an overall variety to have movement in my arms.  At that point, I'm beginning to side with Gene about it being a bit crazy.

However, I also used to fish for Coho from shore on Lake Michigan in February. 

Having a 25degree 30mph wind whipping into your face seemed like a reasonable thing at the  time. 

Carl

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[Matthew Longley]

Before I had waders I used to wear my dad's old 7mil wetsuit bottoms (2 piece) wading off the Maine coast. Was... interesting. Worked fine but I'll stick with my waders now.

On Monday, October 2, 2017 at 1:55:35 PM UTC-4, Barracuda wrote: