Category: DRYFTculture

Fall Wade Season Is Coming

Summer isn’t over yet, but the seasons are changing. Cooler mornings, shorter days, and the return of steady rain mean fall and winter fishing are right around the corner. Before the weather turns, now is the time to make sure your waders and outerwear are ready for the months ahead.

A little preparation now can save you from discovering a problem when you’re standing knee-deep in cold water.

Fall is Coming

Get Your Waders Ready

If your waders have been sitting in the closet all summer, give them a quick inspection before their first big fall outing. Check the booties, straps and zippers, and give your waders and zippers a good cleaning to remove dirt, oils, and other buildup from the previous season. Clean out your pockets to start the new season fresh.

Read Wader Care Articles →

It’s also a good time to refresh the water-repellent finish on your waders. Proper cleaning and reproofing can help maintain the performance of the fabric and keep water beading on the surface like it should.

Shop Wader Cleaners & Protectants →

Gear Up for Cold, Wet Days

Fall and winter fishing are all about managing the elements. Your waders provide the first line of defense against cold water and rain, but the right layers make the rest of the day a whole lot more comfortable.

A waterproof, breathable rain jacket adds another layer of protection when the forecast turns ugly, while a warm puffy jacket provides insulation when temperatures drop. Layer them together and you have a system that can handle everything from crisp fall mornings to cold, wet winter days.

The goal isn’t to stay inside when the weather gets bad. It’s to have gear that lets you stay out there anyway.

Shop Fall & Winter Gear →

Don’t Wait for the First Downpour

The best time to find out your gear needs attention is before you’re standing in the river. Take a few minutes now to inspect, clean, and refresh your waders, then make sure your jackets and insulating layers are ready to go.

Fall fishing is coming. Get your gear ready and make the most of it.

Where I’m Meant to Be [video] – Fly Fishing Film Tour 2025

This is a story about identity, belonging, and rediscovery.

For Oregon native Megan Brown, figure skating was everything—her identity, her purpose, her world. But when she left it behind, she faced the challenge of finding herself all over again. Years later, she discovered a new passion that reconnected her to that same sense of purpose: fly fishing.

Where I’m Meant to Be is a short film about how who we are—and where we belong—can change over time, and the courage it takes to embrace a new chapter when life’s purpose is recast.

Shot on location in Oregon
Dir / DP / Edit: Andrew Krantz

Featured in this film

Why convertible breathable fishing waders are the best choice for backcountry fishing trips

Do you like to fish places where you might not see another angler all day long? If the answer is yes, then you may want to consider the benefits of backcountry angling. 

We’re really into the backcountry style of fishing, and are going to discuss why breathable fishing waders, and specifically the convertible wader style, provide several advantages for backcountry anglers, making them essential gear for your next backcountry fishing trip.  

What are convertible top fishing waders? 

Convertible waders are simply where the upper portion of the wader is constructed on a sliding system, to be able to be unsnapped from the top end position and pushed down to the users waist. Usually they incorporate snaps or buckles, to allow the top to be secured in the upper position. Our new Session Lite Convertible Waders use a magnetic snap to make this function effortless. 

Session Lite Convertible Breathable fishing waders being used in the backcountry

Convertible waders increase mobility and comfort through breathability and function

Advantages of convertible straps and stockingfoot wader design

Waders with a convertible style top will increase your comfort by allowing you to drop the top when you’re warm and hiking, and pull it back up if you get cool or need to cross a deep stretch of water. Waders designed with an easy snap method, like the magnetic snaps on the Session Lite Convertible waders, are a necessity. We recommend a stockingfoot design for active fishing, as you can wear wading boots designed for hiking that will be comfortable all day long. Also, lightweight stockingfoot waders will roll up and fit in a backpack for a long hike in. 

High quality fishing wader neoprene stockingfeet

How do breathable fishing waders actually work?
Breathable fishing waders are constructed of a multi layer fabric that allows air, but not water, to pass through.  A waterproof membrane is sandwiched between layers of durable fabric, giving the fabrics the ability to pass air through but keep water out. This is a huge advantage to any active angler, and most quality waders are built using this technology now. 

Benefits of breathable material
The main benefits to breathable fishing waders is that it helps prevent overheating and sweating. Keep in mind that getting hot and sweating can still happen while wearing them! It just significantly helps compared to older styles of non breathable waders. 

Fly fishing in the backcountry

Comfort and mobility of waders designed for backcountry fishing
The importance of using the proper waders for backcountry angling cannot be stressed enough. If you want to enjoy your day, be comfortable and mobile then you will want to use the right waders. Lightweight, breathable, and convertible systems will help make the most of your trip.  

We hope you enjoyed these tips, and hope you enjoy lots of happy and comfortable fishing this season!

Session Lite Convertible Breathable fishing waders being used in the backcountry

Recommended products

Keys to the Kenai

Join Waist Deep Media and Fishology with this look into what makes the Kenai river so great as an accessible fishing adventure.

Winter escape to bonefish paradise

Recently some of us had the sublime opportunity to escape the PNW winter, to a beauty of a place called Belize, for a few days. Seven days chasing bonefish, permit, baby tarpon and more was everything it was imagined to be and more. Going from 38 degrees and raining to sunny skies, warm temps, and the very real threat of sunburn is about all you can ask for on a winter escape.

The time was enjoyed, and the Sun Wizard UPF hoodies performed ideally in these conditions, keeping the sun off our arms, heads and backs while our BKCNTRY backpacks and hip packs carried our gear in safety.

Snow & Steelhead

A calm day on the river after a snow is a magical thing. Snow in the trees, gentle flakes falling with little to no wind. A perfect day for a float, with dry hands, warm bodies and thoughts of leaping chrome fish. If we’re lucky enough to see a couple fish throughout the day we feel pretty good, and enjoy the time spent on the river with friends.

After all snow and winter steelhead pair together like so many good things. Bacon and eggs, bourbon and orange, peanut butter and jelly. Snow and steelhead.

Photo courtesy of Joey Mara (Waistdeepmedia)

Happy fishing out there. Stay dry and fish hard!

We Out Here – Full Film Episode 1

We Out Here – Episode one featuring Austin Leonard

Part one, of a new four part series, showcases Austin Leonard’s story. Enjoy part one and stay tuned for more coming soon!

We Out Here – Ep1 Trailer (full film available 1/25/24)

We are thrilled to bring you the trailer for episode 1 of the We Out Here web series by Waist Deep Media. Full film dropping 1/25/24 for free on YouTube!

Join host Gian Lawrence (Instagram @theblackstonefly) in central Oregon for this raw and powerful look into what makes Austin Leonard (Instagram @theburrrprint) simply one of the most talented, inspiring and fishy dudes anywhere. Monster browns and skated steelhead provide some incredible fish porn but it’s Austin’s willingness to tell his story that really steals the show. Mark your calendar!

#steelhead #filmseries #filmmaking #shortfilm #browntrout #wildsteelhead #swingingforsteelhead #steelheadonthefly #wildbrowntrout #MadetoWade #DRYFTculture #DRYFT

Planting Trees Along Salmon Streams

Recently we met up with the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association for a brisk morning of planting native trees and plants along a small salmon stream. This was a fun time with family and friends, and gave us the chance to get our hands dirty and help replant a small stretch of stream bank along a local waterway. 

All year long we partner with One Tree Planted, who coordinates planting trees where they are most needed along salmon bearing streams in the Pacific Northwest. For every wader we sell One Tree Planted plants one tree. This has been a good partnership for us because we like fish, and trees provide fish in the river with the shade, cool water, and structure they need to survive. 

We hope you’ll join us in donating to conservation this year.  You can make a contribution to One Tree Planted directly here – https://onetreeplanted.org/

Donate to One Tree Planted

Lastly, you can read more about our commitment to conservation and sustainability at dryftfishing.com/conservation.

Read our conservation commitment