The Sportsman's Corner

I am determined that I am not going to buy a new pair of chest waders or a new pair of hip boots this year. I am going to make do with what I have lying around.

I had five pairs of chest waders stashed in various places in my garage and cellar. Of these, one is a lightweight pair of stocking-foot waders that I like to use when fishing large streams. The wading boots I wear with them are equipped with studs and provide traction when I am wading on slippery rocks in deep or fast water. I bought these only a year ago, and so far they do not leak.

I have another pair of stocking-foot waders. These are made of neoprene and are suitable for cold weather. I used them during the few winter outings I made this year. They're in pretty good shape and don't leak much.

I had three pairs of bootfoot waders. Of these, two were losing their felt-soled bottoms and were basically useless. However, my friend Brady is a master craftsman: I figured he'd have the right kind of waterproof glue to re-attach the felt. I offered him an appropriate bribe, and he glued the felt to the bottoms of both pairs, probably more securely than when I bought them. These are useful on both large streams and small streams during high flows. Once I found and repaired a couple of pinhole leaks in these waders, they are almost as good as new.

My other pair of bootfoot waders leaked like a sieve. I have reluctantly discarded them. They were useful on streams where multiflora rose bushes clog the streambanks. Since the main leaks in these were relatively high on the waders, they were suitable for "brush busting." However, I could not repair a separated inside seam, and I had to get rid of them.

I have several pairs of hip boots. Two hanging in my cellar are probably going to remain there forever. They have no traction when I wear them. Even though they don't leak, I fear slipping, falling, and injuring myself while wearing them.

I own two pairs of lightweight hip boots, one with felt soles, the other with lug soles. I have repaired all the leaks in the felt-soled hippers and wear them often on small streams. I cannot find the minor leaks in the lug-soled hippers, so I wear them only during hot weather.

With all of this wading footwear, I think I can make do for the rest of the 2019 fishing season.