While the fishing in Alaska is known to be plentiful and very successful, the fishing is season is very short. As a result, thousands of fishermen travel to Alaska to enjoy the short fishing season during the summer.
The limited fishing in Alaska can lead fishermen to stay up all night. Some enthusiasts end up neglecting their work and their family.
These are not the correctly priorities, but the enthusiasm surrounding the fishing season is very energizing. This enthusiasm last until waters freeze once again.
At this point in time, it is very important that the fishing equipment is properly cleaned and put away so that it can be used next year. In the spring, you will pull out this equipment again and make sure that it is in the proper condition to be safely used.
It may need to be cleaned again. Most likely, your waders will need to be cleaned again.
This will give you an opportunity to see they received any damage while they were in storage. If there is a leak, then you will want to repair it.
It will be much more convenient to find out about the leak while you are at home instead of when you are wading in the river. Finding out about a leak in the river would result in a miserable and very cold experience.
While severe damage will be easily noticeable, small damage may not be readily noticeable. There are many methods that you can use to check for the small leaks in your waders.
One method that some fishermen use is called the light method. Start by putting a bright shop light into your waders.
Then, secure the top of the waders so that the light does not shine out the top. Go into a dark room and wait for your eyes to adjust.
When your eyes have adjusted, move the light up and down in the waders. If you see any pin holes of light, you have a leak in that area that needs to be patched.
You may want to mark the area with chalk while you are still in the dark and can see the pin hole light. The seams and crotch area should be checked three times very critically as these areas are very prone to springing leaks.
Another technique that is often used for bike tires uses water. By submerging areas of the waders under water, you should be able to see areas where air bubbles are coming up.
If you see air bubbles rising from your waders, you have a leak in that spot. You may want to do this several days before your planned fishing expedition in case your waders do have a leak that needs to be repaired and so that they can have time to dry out before you use them.
If you plan ahead, you can even fill the waders with water and then see where water leaks out of them. However, it will take much longer for your waders to dry if you use this method.
The best way to fix the leaks in your waders is to purchase a patch kit from a local fishing store. There are patch kits available for microfibers, neoprene, and rubber.
The best way to dry your waders is to hang them up. Rubber waders should be stored this way as well.
By folding rubber waders and storing them that way, it is very likely that they will develop cracks and leaks along the folds. In addition, you can spray the outside of rubber waders with a special silicone spray to protect the rubber from the elements.
Rubber waders will last much longer if you reapply this silicone treatment every year. It is very important that your waders are properly taken care of.
Wading boots should also be properly taken care of. Fishing boots are much less likely to have the problems that waders have.
However, it is still possible for them to develop leaks and become damaged as well. Some boots are made with felt soles.
Felt is a very soft and easily worn out material. This kind of material is popular because it lends added traction to a fisherman, but it also needs to be replaced frequently.
There are several Felt Sole replacement kits that can be bought to replace your felt soles if they need it. Make sure that you check your boot laces as well to make sure that they are not wearing through.
It is much easier to make repairs at home rather than to try and replace the equipment while fishing. Think ahead, become prepared, and you will never forget your Alaskan fishing experience.
About the author of this article:
terry daniels has been a backwoods fishing guide in alaska and western canada for 25 years. he has written hundreds of articles about alaska fishing trips and alaska fly fishing generally.
contact info:
terry daniels
terrydaniels09@gmail.com
http://alaskarainbowlodge.com
