Bold in Cold

Be bold in cold! Dress Like a Veteran Steelheader.

Sounds like a silly subject on the verge of spring. But, many anglers move north with the temperate climate change as water thaws nearer the Arctic and Antarctic. Anadromous fish thrive in cold water. How you dress will make as much difference to your success in catching steelhead, Atlantic and Pacific salmon, char and trout...as your choice of tackle. Pictured below are some men who spend a lot of time searching for big steelhead & salmon during wet/cold weather. Anglers who catch fish like these, don't have the time or an inclination to use any but the most practical gear. "We know, because most of it came from
The Fly Fishing Shop in Welches, Oregon."

In much of Alaska, Canada, Scandinavia and Siberia weather can be harsh in the middle of summer. But huge runs of bright fish are most available when the weather is less than perfect for all but the hardiest humans. Atlantic salmon pour into fjords recently carved by glaciers in Nordic basalt. Pacific salmon cross tidal flats and charge up winding silver paths through the tundra. In Terra del Fuego giant brown trout prowl deforested rivers when cold winds blow from south of Straights of Magellan.
The word "rain" turns most people off, because they associated it with discomfort. However, rainy and even snowy days don't have to be uncomfortable, if you dress properly.
Many rainy days can be beautiful.
Everything is washed and clean. Rain softens the edges of the landscape. It dampens sound and a rainy day on the river can be one of personal intimacy. But maybe the best reason to fish in the rain, is that steelhead and salmon are often more aggressive on cloud-cover days, and we all like to catch fish.
If you dress correctly, you can be comfortable, even during long days in cold,
wet weather.
If you don't dress correctly, you can get very cold. Moisture conducts heat away from any part of your body that it reaches. As you lose thermal energy, your motor skills will suffer. Warm muscles perform better than cold ones. You dress to keep yourself warm and dry. Keeping your skin surfaces free from dampness is one of the biggest keys to staying comfortable.
Many people think that preparing for rain only means the addition of a rain coat and chest high waders.
The selection of these items is very important, but what you wear under this outer layer is also very important. Any moisture trapped within your clothing will conduct heat away. This means that you not only have to keep the rain out, but your clothing also has to have the ability to disperse or dispell
your own perspiration.
When dressing for cold or wet weather fishing; dress from the inside out.
The layer of clothing next to your skin is the one you will feel all day.
In this layer nothing beats being extremely soft, non-abrasive and extremely dry.

Maximum perspiration zones are your arm pits, groin and feet. All these areas need special clothing. Your inner layer should be made from synthetic material for maximum comfort. It should be designed to wick moisture away from your skin.
Never wear cotton clothing clothing
under your waders. Cotton retains moisture and has very little insulation value when damp. It also becomes a medium for fungal infections. The organisms that cause infections such a jock itch and athletes foot can not live in synthetic fabrics. Synthetic materials tend to "pass-through", rather than "retain" moisture from perspiration. Nylon, acrylic and polyester do not retain as much moisture as cotton or silk. Marino wool is the only natural fiber that will keep you as warm as synthetics. However, wool is more expensive and often less durable. With those factors in mind, many experienced

outdoorsmen do believe wool under-garments are worth the extra price.

Your outer layer is your first layer of defense.
It must be water-proof, but it too must be able to dispel any moisture that might collect inside it. This is accomplished by a special membrane sandwiched between two layers of protective fabric. This membrane is porous so it can breath. The pours are of a diameter that allows smaller gaseous molecules to escape, but will not allow larger liquid molecules to enter. Your perspiration leaves through multiple layers of heat retaining. insulation.
Non-breathable waders and rain jackets have all but disappeared
from the steelhead/salmon fly fishing scene in favor of newer technology fabrics such as: Gore-Tex.

Because of a revolutionary immersion technology from W.L. Gore & Associates, Gore-Tex keeps water from getting in, yet is very breathable, even when completely submerged and allows sweat and moisture to escape. This keeps your skin dry and helps you retain your body heat. Gore-Tex does not stretch, but the articulated knee design employed in Simms Guide Waders allows a streamlined fit with full mobility of all body parts. A good fitting pair of waders should mold to your body and give you the most streamlined configuration you can have. This lessens water drag in the currents and makes wading less difficult. Waders with bent knees enable a closer fit than straight legged waders. For durability multi-layer construction is nearly mandatory from the crotch down. Five-layer construction co-developed by W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. and Simms was designed specifically for use in fishing waders. Simms/Gore-Tex®

waders feature the laminate which results in the most puncture-resistant, most durable, most technologically-advanced breathable waders you can purchase. Of these: G3 Guide Waders have proven to be much more reliable than the more expensive models.

Wading shoes serve three purposes; to protect your feet and enhance your balance and traction. High top leather or man-made leather wading shoes give better support and last longer per dollar spent, than their cheaper canvas counterparts. Felt soles with silicone carbide studs are the best traction you can have on all kinds of bottom structure. Some guides object to having studded shoes in their pretty boats. If yours is that way, get a different guide. Fly-casting, like many other athletic events, depends on good traction. A selection of proven wading shoes can be found here.

Be sure that your wading shoes fit for maximum support, but have enough room so as not to impair your circulation. Always wear your waders and full under garments when fitting a new pair of wading shoes. The most popular shoes are Simms Guide Boots. Korkers Wading Shoes with Omnitrax interchangeable soles may be the most advance angling footwear available. These wading shoes allow you to change soles to fit any environment. Remember all of your casting and wading performance starts with the bottom of your feet. If you are slipping and sliding, you can't cast very well and you're bound to get wet and cold.

Boot foot waders are gaining popularity with some of the Northwest's most experienced steelheaders. Simms will ad BootFoots to any of the their new breathable waders. You can order BootFoots added to G3 and G4 Pro waders from us online. There is a 4 to 6-week wait as all BootFoot waders are custom made. We highly recommend adding Simms Hard Bite Boot Studs to any BootFoots with felt or rubber lug soles.

Your wading jacket forms the roof over all your innerwear. It must have a weatherproof parka hood. A wading jacket must be impenetrable to rain by keeping water from coming through the fabric shell and must also be designed to keep water from running down your neck or up your sleeves. A jacket that is rain proof is also wind proof. If the outer shell material will allow perspiration to pass through without allowing rain water to get in, you can remain comfortable in about any kind of weather you will encounter during productive steelhead fishing.

We have worn every generation of Simms Guide Jacket since they were first introduced. They just keep getting better and better. The G4 Pro Jacket fhas proven itself to the most demanding anglers and has held up against the most demanding conditions. It's made from 3-layer GORE-TEX® Pro Shell fabric, which offers the ultimate in breathability, durability and extended comfort. The Simms G3 Jacket is also proven in harsh conditions and costs about $50 less. It has been redesigned for 2009 and is constructed from 3-layer GORE-TEX® Performance Shell fabric technology.

Since your jacket is the outer most shell, it is the most convenient place to carry your gear. Few avid steelheaders wear a fishing vests. A vest worn on the outside of your jacket gets wet. A vest worn inside your vest is hard to get at. Besides, you don't have to carry that much gear.

For a whole day of steelhead fly fishing, all I carry are: (besides my rod & reel) 1. A lanyard with a leader clipper, hook file, and nail knot-tying tube. 2. (1) Medium size box of flies, (or flies in zip-locks). 3. Zippered wallet to carry Skagit tips and leaders. 4. Leader dispenser with 10, 15 and 25 pound test hard, abrasion resistant leader material. All of this gear will easily fit in the breast pockets of a properly designed wading jacket. If these breast pockets are equipped with D-rings you can attach your tool lanyard and then drop the tools into the pocket where they can't get tangled in your fly line.

Don't forget to consider your hands. Neoprene gloves are great for cold weather, especially if you are rowing. Both slit-finger and fingerless gloves are appropriate at times.

The selection of a hat is of prime importance. It must be waterproof, even though it will be under the hood of your waterproof jacket most of the time. A baseball cap with a bill will shield your glasses from rain and help keep your face moisture free. A waxed cotton baseball cap is very practical. We had these specifically made for the purpose. If the weather is really cold, a cap with ear flaps such as the Simms Gore-tex Extreme Hat is advizable.
Item	Description	Price	To Top
FFS-WAXED	Waxed cotton baseball cap with The Fly Fishing Shop logo, Forest Green, one size fits all	$25.00	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

Ice in your guides is never a good thing...
Hopefully no pictures like this again until next December !!!

Lamson Fly Fishing Reels have a long history at: The Fly Fishing Shop

At The Fly Fishing Shop we use the products we sell. We have lots of experience with Lamson fly fishing reels and can answer your questions about them factually. Lamsons are continually being improved and today Lamson is producing the best reels they have ever made. Incremental improvements such as: improved seals, stainless steel bearings and Hard Alox™ finish have taken a superior design to a new level good looks and dependability. We like 'em!

Deschutes River Steelhead - Lamson ULA Force 3.4 - October 2006. Mark Bachmann photo.

		Hard Bite Boot Studs Welded carbide gripper pellets enhance traction and durability of any wading shoe soles. 1/4" hex head sharp point screw with carbide pellets welded to screw head 20 studs per package Screws into any felt sole, be sure to have hard shield inner sole, bites into the hardest, slickest rocks. 45+ Rockwell hard screws specifically designed for rubber soles
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
AHB1090000	Simms Hard Bite Boot Studs for felt soles, per 20-pack	1/4-inch Hex Head	$29.95	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED
AHB1090020	Simms Hard Bite Boot Studs for rubber soles, per 20-pack	1/4-inch Hex Head	$24.95	Sale Over Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

			Dr. Slick Braid Cutting Scissors These affordable scissors are specifically made for cutting braided line cleanly. Even Gel Spun lines like TUF LINE XP are easily and cleanly severed with these scissors.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
SBR4B	Dr. Slick Braid Cutting Scissor	4"	$8.95	SALE ENDED

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	Our Waters		Order Info	Steelheadquarters	Events	SALE ENDED

Dr. Slick Pisces Pliers The Pisces Pliers has a striated jaw design, tungsten carbide anvil cutters which are replaceable, rubber grips, coiled lanyard and a two-pocket holster. Money saver design. Has practical features of pliers costing a hundred of dollars more. When you grab something with these pliers, it will know it has been grabbed!

Item	Description	Price	To Top
PS65RX	Dr. Slick Pisces Pliers	$38.95	Sale Over -->SALE ENDED

	New HARD ALOX™ Finish	Lamson Reels In Action
		Reel Handy!