It’s a little spooky out there on the river today.
Spooky day on the river from DRYFT on Vimeo.
Category: DRYFT Fishing
#DRYFTinAK 2019 in pictures
In the net!
Bass days of summer
Bass bass bass bass bass.
Fill it up and go fishing. The BKCNTRY Waterproof Fishing Backpack by DRYFT
Step 1: Fill it up. Step 2: Go fishing.
Backcountry Steelheading photo journal
When the backcountry calls you better answer. This spring we had the opportunity to hike away from civilization and experience true wilderness. We only saw one other person over the three days we were there, and saw almost no signs of other people at all. No garbage. No development. Nothing. After fishing downstream all day it was more surprising to see an actual human boot print in the sand than more elk, bear, deer, or coyote tracks.
We could have asked for better fishing conditions, but there were a few fish around. With low and clear water the fish we did see were spooky and not much inclined to play with us.
If you’re in need of a re-set from the hectic day-to-day of modern life then consider unplugging from the stresses of the work week, stuffing a backpack and hitting the trail.
I call this plugging into nature.
words & photos by Nick Satushek
That’s a happy face if I’ve ever seen one.
Squatch Sighting
Strolling through the woods we were struck dumb. Not 20 feet from us was a squatch. We couldn’t believe what we were seeing. He had just landed a real trophy and was prepping it for release. The hook was out as he cradled it gently in the water. A branch cracked under my foot, he looked up and made eye contact. He saw the camera pointing at him and hoisted his catch up high for a quick hero shot. Click click click. The camera whirred away taking shot after shot. This could be it. Proof that the legend exists!
And wouldn’t you know it…he was all decked out in DRYFT wading gear. Looks like we found our new unnofficial mascot.
Trade show season is here
We’re kicking off the 2019 trade show season with the Washington Sportsmen’s Show in Puyallup WA January 23rd – 27th, then following that up with the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show in Portland February 6-10th and finally finishing it off with the Central Oregon Sportsmen’s Show in Redmond OR (Bend) February 28th – March 3rd.
If you’re in the area come see us!
Booth 940 in Puyullup
Booth 1353 in Portland
Booth 165 in Redmond
Ooooh yeah, we’ll have show specials at the booth so stop by and we’ll show you what’s so hot right now.
How to safely clean your breathable waders
Why wash your waders?
First off, you may be wondering why you would want to wash your waders. There are several reasons why you should wash your waders. Keeping them clean and free of dirt, oils, fish slime, etc will prolong the life of the materials and help your waders last longer. Washing them will also help get some of the funk out, so they won’t be quite so pungent stinking up the car on the drive to the river.
We get questions from time to time on the best way to wash waders, so here are some tips.
Wash your waders by hand
We recommend hand washing your waders with some Revivex Pro Cleaner (or mild non scented soap) in cold or lukewarm water using a soft rag. A mild scrub down should work to clean as much of the dirt that will come off by hand and keep the waterproof fabric repelling water like it should. Do not use harsh detergents, cleaners or scented laundry detergents. Any cleaner that is formulated for outdoor fabrics, including for Gore-Tex, is best and safe to use as long as it can be applied through a hand wash. Nikwax, Gearaid, and others make cleaners that are specifically designed to be safe for outdoor fabrics such as those used on our waders. Keep it simple and use Gearaid Revivex Pro Cleaner.
Hang dry until completely dry and then if desired use some DWR spray reviver on them. Nikwax and GearAid (maker of Aquaseal) make spray on DWR reviving applications for use after cleaning. The GearAid ReviveX is a good product that does a great job of reinvigorating DWR coatings. You will want to clean up the waders as much as possible (hand wash) before using it and then just spray it on when the waders are dry.
We don’t recommend machine washing waders and when it comes to using the dryer we just say no. Our reasons are that we don’t like the possible abrasion and catching or bunching that could possibly occur during the wash cycle (this sort of depends on the machine type), and also don’t like to soak the inside seams with water. Never put waders in the dryer as the heat can damage the seam tape.
Once your waders are all washed up just hang them to dry and then store in a cool dry place.
- SOLD OUT
Revivex® Durable Water Repellent$12.95 -
Revivex® Pro Cleaner$10.95
Breathable wader care tips – how to take care of your waders
So you just picked up some new breathable fishing waders, and now you want to make sure you get the most possible use out of them? You came to the right place to learn how to take care of your new fishing waders.
Luckily breathable waders are pretty low maintenance, and doing just a few things will help prolong the life of them.
Drying your waders between uses
One of the main things you can do to prolong the life of your waders is dry them thoroughly, inside and out, between uses. Wet and damp waders stuffed in the trunk of your car or dumped on the garage floor tend to grow mildew, which breaks down materials inside and out.
Always hang dry your waders after each use, and not only will you avoid breakdown of materials but the wader funk won’t turn your head on a swivel next time you go to put them on. If there is any moisture from condensation on the inside it’s important to dry the inside as well. This is usually accomplished just by hanging them right side out in a cool dry place. In the winter time hanging them in a furnace room, or near a de-humidifier to dry is a good idea. Otherwise a cool, dry place with airflow works just fine.
Zipper care
Keep all zippers, especially waterproof models, clean and free of any dirt, oils, fishing line or other debris. Foreign matter caught in the zipper can result in damage which may not be covered under warranty. Keep it clean and never force a stuck zipper. If it sticks gently back off in the opposite direction if possible, then clean and lube the entire zipper thoroughly before using it again. We highly recommend using zipper protectants and lubricants such as Zipper Lubricant Stick and Zipper Cleaner + Lubricant to keep your zippers performing as they should for years to come. Use the snap at the top (if applicable) to take stress off and keep it from pulling apart while wearing.
How to wash your waders
We recommend hand washing your waders with some Revivex Pro Cleaner, or a mild soap, in cold or lukewarm water using a soft rag. This should work to clean as much of the dirt that will come off by hand and keep the waterproof fabric repelling water like it should. Hang dry until completely dry and then if desired use some DWR spray reviver on them. Nikwax and GearAid (maker of Aquaseal) make spray on DWR reviving applications for use after cleaning. The GearAid ReviveX Durable Water Repellent is a good product that does a great job of reinvigorating DWR coatings. You will want to clean up the waders as much as possible (hand wash) before using it and then just spray it on once the waders are dry.
We don’t recommend machine washing waders. Our reasons are that we don’t like the possible abrasion and catching or bunching that could possibly occur during the cycle (this sort of depends on the machine type), and also don’t like to soak the inside seams with water.
- SOLD OUTRevivex® Durable Water Repellent$12.95
- Revivex® Pro Cleaner$10.95
Transporting waders safely
When transporting waders in luggage or just back and forth during fishing trips, the safest way to transport is to roll them loosely from the feet up and pack them at the top of your bag with heavier items under them. If you have a waterproof zip front model, it is very important to unzip all the way before rolling or packing them. If the zipper is zipped and then folded it can create a crease that can cause the zipper to fail.
That’s pretty much it!
