First outing of the year today, up to the Tummel for a few hours grayling fishing.

Spent some time last night preparing - the right rod and line, the right leader and tippet, the right flies, the right clothing (pretty cold up here) and the right waders (neoprene).

Got to the river, conditions were good - no wind, not too bright and the water wasn't too high. Got everything setup and off to my favourite pools.

Then it happened - waded into the first pool and the sudden rush of freezing Tummel water through the unseen holes in my neoprenes at the join of the boot and the leg (not used since Jan/Feb last year) filling up the boots. Disaster.

Got out the water, had about a half hour of uncomfortable and futile casting from the bank then headed home gutted at the waste of a day.

So ... while I bet I'm not the first to suffer this fate, nor will I be the last, it looks like a good idea to check your waders if they've not been used for a while.

I stored them in a dry garage (no mice) and hanging inverted - I suspect hanging neoprenes stretched them (given their weight) and broke the seams. Back to the breakables for the rest of the winter .. brrrrrr.

Keith

You need to talk to Diver Dave

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Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once - Lee Wulff

or just wear the right clothing under the breathables ,properly layered

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WHEN YOU LEAVE THE RIVER, TAKE NOTHING, AND LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINT'S!!!

THA CAN TELL A YORKSHIREMAN ,BUT THA CAN'T TELL HIM MUCH !!

Sorry to hear about to day Keith, i always have an old pair of thigh length rubber type waders in the boot just incase me breathable chest waders let me down. I tend to take 2 of everything to avoid a ruined day.

Cheers Diarmid.

My only grayling outing this year ended in a massive birdsnest on my centrepin.

[QUOTE=rs2ford;1198171]Sorry to hear about to day Keith, i always have an old pair of thigh length rubber type waders in the boot just incase me breathable chest waders let me down. I tend to take 2 of everything to avoid a ruined day.

I think the 2 of everything, failsafe approach is the way forward, Diarmid. At about £25 in Diesel there and back it was an expensive and uncomfortable half hour's fishing.