07-21-2003, 06:48 PM
There are a couple of things to consider when waders fill up. If your in deep enough water, as Tube Dude said, you have a little more weight than you normally would. It is like when you dunk a cup in the kitchen sink, after it is completely submerged it is more neutral than anything. Most people talk like waders full of water act like an anchor, in my experience, that simply isn't true. It can be difficult standing up when you get closer to shore because the water in the waders is no longer 'neutral.' But if you can stand up close to shore you can start bailing water out before you get too top heavy.
Full waders do add a substantial amount of drag IF 1: you don't have a wading belt on and now your waders have turned you into a human drift sock: OR 2: Your waders are very loose around the top which have the same effect as point 1.
It is the drag factor that is so dangerous on rivers. A couple of summers ago I took a "swim" in my neopremes, wading shoes, flyrod, and full vest on a local river. My waders are pretty snug so I fortuneately didn't turn into a drift sock. I was able to swim just fine and get out okay (that was without my 15" fins on). My buddy, who also took a swim trying to help me, and I got out, wrung out our clothes, and jumped back into the river. I'm glad I did, I caught the biggest brown trout on the river after my swim (20" browns on size 20 hooks). Maybe the swim took all of my scent away[
].
Best of luck to you! And by the way, I always have a PFD on when on my pontoon. It is a little hotter in the summer, but my wife doesn't worry near as much when I go out by myself. Happy wife = more fishing time for me. So I'll live with my life vest sweat mark.
See you on the water,
ES
[signature]
Full waders do add a substantial amount of drag IF 1: you don't have a wading belt on and now your waders have turned you into a human drift sock: OR 2: Your waders are very loose around the top which have the same effect as point 1.
It is the drag factor that is so dangerous on rivers. A couple of summers ago I took a "swim" in my neopremes, wading shoes, flyrod, and full vest on a local river. My waders are pretty snug so I fortuneately didn't turn into a drift sock. I was able to swim just fine and get out okay (that was without my 15" fins on). My buddy, who also took a swim trying to help me, and I got out, wrung out our clothes, and jumped back into the river. I'm glad I did, I caught the biggest brown trout on the river after my swim (20" browns on size 20 hooks). Maybe the swim took all of my scent away[
]. Best of luck to you! And by the way, I always have a PFD on when on my pontoon. It is a little hotter in the summer, but my wife doesn't worry near as much when I go out by myself. Happy wife = more fishing time for me. So I'll live with my life vest sweat mark.
See you on the water,
ES
[signature]