Equipment Maintenance: Waders

Overall, out-of-the-box quality for waders is at an all time high, but mistreated equipment will fail as quick as ever. Even with multiple layers and reinforced knees, all waders are susceptible to pinhole leaks and tears.

Avoid traversing barbed wire fences as much as possible. Also, take care when going over a downed log.

During hot summers, waders can turn quite odorous. Most wader brands can be machined washed with a mild detergent.

We suggest you let your waders air dry. You should also turn the waders inside out to completely dry the neoprene feet. Be sure to check with the manufacturer for specific cleaning methods.

Equipment Maintenance: Leaders & Tippets

Even though your leader and tippet material may be the least expensive gear in your arsenal, it may also be the most important. No other item has a greater impact on whether you land a fish than the line connecting you to the fish.

During a long day on the water, you should occasionally inspect your leader for nicks or wind knots. Any imperfections will weaken your line strength and may result in the loss of a trophy trout.

If you prefer to use traditional monofilament leaders and tippet, you need to replace your stock with new at the beginning of each season. Exposure to UV rays will weaken mono. Fluorocarbon can be used for consecutive seasons.

Equipment Maintenance: Fly Lines

With expert fly lines costing over $50 you should take extra care to make sure it lasts as long as possible.

A dirty fly line will sink like a stone and cast poorly. Use a mild soap and a damp towel to clean your fly line. Be sure to thoroughly rinse your fly line to remove the soap. Applying a line dressing will also help the performance of the line.

Even with the advanced coatings that increase casting distance and make the line float better, no line is indestructible. Take the extra time to carefully untangle your line from thistles or sticks. Even a small tear in the fly line may cause the line to sink.

Equipment Maintenance: Fly Reels

Many of today's reels feature sealed drag systems, precisely machined components, and anodized finishes. While these features will help your reel last longer, you still need to use a few simple steps to extend your reel's life.

Keep it Clean

Avoid placing your reel on sand or dirt. If small granules weasel their way into the reel housing, you should immediately open the reel and rinse with water to remove the particle. Many times, the smallest speck will create the most damage.

Storage

Finally, you should never store your reel for extended periods of time with the drag set on a tight setting. Tight drag settings can eventually cause your drag to warp. Before storing your reel for the winter, you should open the reel and clean with a gentle soap and soft brush. Follow your manufacturer’s suggestion if your reel requires occasional applications of oil or grease.

Equipment Maintenance: Fly Rods

With many people investing hundreds of dollars in a fly rod it is a shame to see rods mistreated. A few simple steps will keep your rod(s) like new. If you want to keep your rod strung and ready to fish between trips, you should store the rod vertically. In-car rod lofts are also a good choice for storage because they support the rod and minimize bowing. Rods are best stored broken down and in its case. Never store your rod when it is damp.

Check the Guides

Be sure to occasionally inspect each guide on the rod. Many high end rods feature guides with ceramic linings. These linings will wear after time, or they may fall out if mistreated. If the linings are damaged, your fly line will not shoot effectively and can become brittle.

Grip Maintenance

If the cork grip is weathered or dirty, you can clean the cork using a soft brush and a mild soap. Be sure to allow the grip to dry completely before storing. At the end of each season, you should clean the entire rod, focusing on the reel seat and eyes, to remove any dirty or mineral build up.

General Info: Carrying a Net

Nets are often the only way to land a fish, but they are next to useless if you do not have a good method of carrying it. When the time comes to use your net, you are typically preoccupied with trying to control the fish. The odds of losing the fish greatly increase if you have to struggle with handling your net.

Here are two tips that can make netting a fish less stressful.

• First, we wear a vest and suspend the net from the back D-ring. The key is to hang the net bow up and handle down. By doing this you can easily reach behind your back and grab your net by the handle and land the fish. Many people hang their nets with the handle up. This makes it very difficult to grab the correct end of the net in a hurry.
• Second, use a leash. When you are standing in moving water, and you set your net down to continue to fight a hot fish your net rarely stays where you left it. A bungee cord leash also holds your net when you hike through willows.

Handle with Care

Try to use your net a last resort. If you can, land the fish with your free hand (be sure your hand is wet!), or try to remove the hook with your Hemos without ever touching the fish. Trout have a protective slime coating covering their skins that defends them from disease. The more you handle a trout with your hand or net, the more of the protective coating you remove. Be nice to the trout and use a rubber net bag, and minimize the time you handle the trout before releasing her to fight another day.

A final pro tip – the biggest problem with hanging your net from the back of your vest is when you bend over it tends to swing around and conk you in the head. If you attach a bungee to the handle and the other end to the D-ring on the back of your vest, and run it inside your vest, it will keep the net from moving.

General Info: Stealth

Stealth is one of the things that separate the men from the boys in fly fishing. There are a few really basic rules to follow. Avoid wearing bright clothes. Do not walk up to the edge of the water and announce your presence. Do not wade into a river without fishing the shoreline first. Approach fish from behind. Wade slowly and quietly. Gently lift your line off the water. Blend in.

Merge with Your Surroundings

Similar to an army sniper, you want to merge with the natural surroundings as best as possible. If you have adequate fishing skills, the quickest way to increase your catch ratio is to be stealthier on the water. Take time to study the river before you barge knee deep into the river. Besides deciphering what insects are present, you should also develop a plan of action before heading into the river.

Stealth is paramount when stalking a saltwater flat. This can be an especially difficult task because salt rodders need to shuffle their feet to avoid being stung by a sting ray – just ask Mitch how that feels. You need to find a happy medium between shuffling and stealth. If you kick and splash your way towards a tailing bonefish, you will soon find yourself wading a vacant flat.