Are you ready for the rainy season? 

By Mike Huffstatler

So, picture this. It’s the middle of February and you’re ready to hit the local hotspot. Reports have been great. A good bite, with many fish at 5 pounds or better. You have spent all week getting ready for the line pulling action that’s just a short drive away.  Then Mother Nature decides to get involved.  The week that had started with clear days and cool evenings, has turned into a 40 degree, 25mph, driving rain sort of day.

The fish don’t care…why should you? Some of the best fishing in our western waters can happen when the weather is less than cooperative. Just ask any of the well-known big bass chasers in the Southern California area. They will confirm that the biggest baddest bass come out when the weather is at it’s worst.

If you have taken the time to prepare, you’ll never be worried about the rain again. With modern advances in rainwear, there is no reason to stay home. There is a wide range of styles and price ranges available to fishermen and women. Most provide very good protection and are still very comfortable to wear.  GORE-TEX is probably one of the better-known materials that keep water out. GORE-TEX is a trademarked name, and there are many other materials that perform at least as good as this benchmark material.  When looking for rainwear, you will find options ranging from a $1.99 throwaway poncho to top of the line gear that should last a lifetime.  These materials (other than the poncho) range from rubberized cloths to heavy reinforced cordura with Gore-Tex.  Each material will have it’s advantages, as will each style. Consider you’re personal needs when looking towards any particular item. If there is one suggestion that I’ll make, it is to use bib style pants. I can tell you first hand that the bibs will provide much more protection than typical waist high pants. As we ride down the lake, jackets will have a tendency to ride up and the pants down, leaving an exposed area on your backside. If you end up taking on a large wave, as I did in a recent event at Lake Mead, the inside of your great rainwear will be soaked and you’ll be miserable for the day. If I had on bib style pants, the water would have been no problem.

Mike Gash, tournament angler and well-known big bass expert loves going out in the bad weather. “I rely on the Cabela’s Guidewear series”, says Mike. “This rainwear keeps me dry and comfortable all day.  The only thing I need to worry about is getting the big fish to the net. I wear this protection all the time, not only when it’s raining. The rainwear offers great protection from our sometimes cold north winds.” While trying to not sound like a commercial, others will agree with Mike’s assessment of Cabela’s Guidewear. While doing research for this story, I found that this series of rainwear is among the most popular with tournament anglers around the country.  I had a chance to try a set of Guidewear recently, and while not a “real world” test, I did put it through the paces. I donned the gear, and had my wife turn on the garden hose…full blast! While I think she got a little carried away and hoped it would fail, I remained dry through the whole ordeal.

Listed below are some sources for rainwear. I’ve tried to break them down by price range, based on suggested list prices.  The categories are for a full set, jacket and pants.  Don’t forget to wear a good pair of boots to keep your feet dry and comfortable as well.

Up to $100.00 per set:  Helly-Hansen and Columbia both offer a great set of the “rubberized” type gear for under a hundred dollars. While providing very good protection against the elements, it is my personal opinion that this type of gear can get a little hot. The rubber offers almost zero circulation, but with that it is probably among the best at keeping water out.  Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops and others offer packable lightweight wear as well. Many of these are a poly-coated nylon and would offer protection in many conditions.

$100.00 to $250.00 per set:  When you get to this price range, there are a lot of options. Most will be some sort of nylon material, which will be more comfortable for all day wear. Many offer their own blend of waterproofing material with claims that it offers the same protection as Gore-Tex. You’ll also find commercial quality rubber type coatings and heavier materials from companies like Healy-Hansen.  Cabela’s offers their Signature Series jacket and bib, utilizing their own “Dry-Plus” fabric. This series also offers reinforced wear areas and a nice neoprene cuff to keep the water out of the sleeves. You’ll also find improved models from Frogg Toggs, and Columbia. One set worth looking at in this range is a Gore-Tex based suit from 10X. They offer a nice suit combining a ripstop nylon with Gore-Tex protection that many users really like. It’s comfortable, dry and falls in under $250.00 for the set.

 

$250.00 and up:  This is wear the best really begin to shine. Many may not want to spend the extra money for a top of the line set of rainwear, but it will pay for itself after time. This is generally a lifetime set. How many different sets of rainwear have you already gone through?  At this range, look for first rate materials with high quality construction. All models should have highly reinforced wear areas like the knees and seat. You will generally find that these are also made with Gore-Tex waterproofing materials.  One of the leaders of the pack, in terms of angler use seems to be the Guidewear series by Cabela’s.   This series is made with 330-denier Cordura nylon, and nice cuff seals, full Velcro sealed flaps to keep water out of the zippers and more.  Another great choice is the 100-MPH series from Bass Pro Shops. This top of the line series offers many of the features found in the Guidewear, and is sure to keep you dry in even the worst of storms.  Columbia offers a fairly new line called Titanium. While this does not use Gore-Tex as it’s waterproofing material, it does combine high quality Columbia material called Omni-Tech Double Rip/CXB. I’ve not seen much marketing of this quality suit towards anglers, but it is available in mountain shops and will surely meet the needs of any boater.

In summary, do a little homework, get yourself prepared, and you’ll be ready to chase the greenbacks no matter what ol’ Mother Nature throws at you. Find a set of quality rainwear that fits well, and is in your price range and you can’t go wrong. It makes all the difference in the world.

See you on the water  ---  Comfortable and dry!