fly fishing stuff,    Underground Entertainment

Always Wanted to Design Fly Fishing Waders? Here's Your Chance

By Tom Chandler 4/23/2007

The Way Upstream blog (written by -- I think -- Patagonia's Fly Fishing Product Manager) wants your input on fly fishing wader design.



Namely, how to make 'em better:

I'm beginning some new product development and want to include you in the process. I'm looking for your thoughts, ideas and comments about waders. This is a conversation that I'd like you to consider open and ongoing.

You can read the entire post at:
Way Upstream: Come on in the water's fine

I know it's a shocking thought -- that anyone cares what the misfits at the Underground think -- but there it is in black and white.

My suggestion?
Deliver the waders with a few pinhole leaks already in place. This short circuits the agonizing wait for the inevitable first pinhole leak -- and the decidedly ice-waterish sensation that comes with it.

Those who fish the Upper Sacramento know that it's home to teeming masses of wild blackberry bushes, and if you fish a bunch (and get off the beaten paths) you're going to enjoy a pinhole.

It's like trying to slowly work your way into a cold swimming pool. Just dive in and get it over with.

Are you with me? And is it possible you've got a better idea? (The mind reels, but...)

fly fishing, fly fishing waders, waders, way upstream
AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

9 comments
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To the powers that be.... I am 5'7", 160 with a size 10.5 foot. Finding wader options that are not too long, too baggy or too tight has proven to be difficult. That is at least if you are my size. I realize that you can never please everyone and you can only make so many sizes but a couple companies give you an option for foot size. This might be something to consider! Thanks!
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[...] The Cleanest Line [The Trout Underground] By Rocky [...]
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FYI, Patagonia picked up my wader post on The Cleanest Line (corporate web log) and plugged in a thank you to the Underground.
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Oh, by the way...Is that Mr. Chandler in the illustration?
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How about a chest wader/fly vest combo that zips off at the waist. With an integral belt/scotch storage/humidor that inflates into a float tube with a small trolling motor (batteries included) and compacts into a backpack. Oh and the self sealing thing is nice as well. And God Bless You for the zipper thing!!!
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Steve: Thanks for stopping by. I'm sure the Undergrounders can contribute more to the fly fishing space than ripping Nestle/Westlands/PacifiCorp The Axis of Evil a new one (though it is fun). I posted a comment on your blog about making chest waders with the knowledge that many of us use them as waist waders when hiking or fishing small streams. Here are a couple more on the wish list: Waders with ... more a membrane that self-seals pinholes (a guy can dream) A foolproof way to find pinhole leaks. More comfortable straps (some of the current models feel capable of sawing your neck off on a bad day) that don't fall off your shoulders.
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Thanks for the exposure. I am interested in hearing "what the misfits at the Underground have to say". In my opinion, the wader "zenith" has not been reached and comments from outside the ivory tower seem more likely to hold the truths than the voices of the choir. Keep shooting from the hip....and I'll keep the "pre-installed pinhole" concept and "mesh footies" in mind. Steve Stracqualursi Patagonia ... more Product Line Director Fly Fishing Category
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Outside of my pre-installed pinhole brilliance, I'm sure there remain some advances in wader design, if only for the marketing department's sake. Like now that we've got zippered waders, why not mesh footies -- ensuring a fresh flow of water and eliminating nasty neoprene foot odor. See the logic? I've got a million of 'em.
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I thought waders had reached the zenith with Simms version - you know you reported on the waders which you can effectively "unzip" to relieve yourself while standing in the river (I would assume the water level still needs to be below, uhhhhhh, about mid-thigh).
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