The ultimate hiking & fishing combo: lightweight breathable stockingfoot waders paired with studded sole boots

Access to remote fishing spots

Do you like fishing away from other people? Given the popularity of fishing and fly fishing around the country, you’ll need to work a little harder now to get that solitude. A lightweight and packable design is crucial in a wader for this type of activity. Waders designed with the features you need, in a small and light enough package to fit in a backpack, will allow you to reach difficult to access fishing spots. 

The new Session Lite Convertible waders and Session Lite Wading Pants are both built in a small and light enough package to roll up and stuff in a backpack.  Oftentimes if we are hiking into a spot that’s further than 3 miles then we will opt to put the waders in a pack and put them on after the hike. This is where a stockingfoot design comes in handy, because it enables the hiker to wear a padded sock (neoprene or thick wool) inside their regular wading boots for the hike, and then change into waders once they arrive at the fishing destination. 

Studded roles provide superior traction when wading rivers and streams

Improved stability and traction

That leads us to the ideal boots to use for backcountry hike-in fishing. We choose Korkers wading boots for all of our adventures, and especially this type of active fishing. All models of boots give ankle support and provide the huge benefit of swappable soles. You can literally change the soles out to match whatever conditions you encounter.  We usually opt for a studded felt or studded rubber for hike-in fishing trips. The combination of studs and felt or studs and rubber performs well in dry and wet conditions, making the transition from hiking trail to river wading seamless. 

Studded roles provide superior traction when wading rivers and streams

Now get out there and do some backcountry angling!

So if you’re a fan of hike-in backcountry angling already, or looking to get away from the crowds then pick up a set of light convertible waders, some hiking ready wading boots, load up your fishing pack, and get after it!  Lightweight breathable convertible waders paired with the right boots will take you there and back in comfort, and lead to many days of fishing adventure in the woods. 

The only question once you’re geared up is where to go. We suggest checking out local maps (Google Earth or paper maps) to find areas where your river of choice isn’t accessible by road. Then it’s all up to your legs to get you there and back. 

That’s it, that’s all! Happy fishing. 

The fun times to be had hiking and fishing the backcountry

That’s Deep | Hip hop and Fly Fishing by Mark Steudel [video]

Very entertaining short edit out of WA state from Mark Steudel (Mark Steudel Fly Fishing Stories on Youtube and @msteudel on Instagram). Highlights are from a quick trip with Leaf Seaburg of Methow Fishing Adventures. Eats on dries. #flyfishing #DRYFTculture

DRYFTculture fly fishing steelhead

Summer’s last hurrah – trout fishing bonanza

With the warm easy days of summer fading in the rearview mirror, we took time out for a quick trip over the mountains to the dry and fertile area of Eastern Washington for some trout fishing. We met up with Leaf Seaburg of Methow Fishing Adventures, and set off with high expectations. All expectations were exceeded with plenty of fish catching and fun having. Enjoy these photos from this great early fall day on the river.

We woke up early (5:15am!), strapped up our DRYFT Primo Zip front waders, stuffed lunches and drinks into our BKCNTRY packs and headed for the river. Fishing didn’t slow up all day- with solid takes on dries and streamers keeping the action moving quickly from first light well into the afternoon.

Trout Fly Fishing PNW photo gallery

Gear Featured in this post:

Primo Zip Waders, BKCNTRY waterproof backpack, Ambush UPF sun shirt, MTN hat, and Wizard Facemask.

Alpine suprise – backcountry adventure

All of the planning that goes into a backcountry hiking adventure is so worth it to find solitude in the mountains, along with plentiful and willing trout. This was our summer 2020 alpine adventure. There was hiking, camping in the woods, lots of fishing, boulder hopping, star gazing and paragliding.

High up in the mountains, we found a perfect campside nestled between boulders and trees. For the next three days we caught endless trout on a variety of flies and lures. Exploring the lake by raft and wading the shallows in our DRYFT SEEKR wading pants was a perfect way to experience all this area has to offer.

Having no previous firsthand knowledge of this area, this was a pleasant alpine surprise. Check out the photos below for some of the highlights.

Gear featured in this post

DRYFT in AK [video]

What’s #DRYFTinAK all about? For the past few years the DRYFT crew has been exploring some of the delights Alaska has to offer. In this video series we’ll share some of the highs and lows from those adventures. Welcome to episode 1.

 

Horror on the Kenai

Recently we heard rumors of some half man half wolf beast terrorizing fish with a fly rod up on the Kenai. We investigated and this is what we found…

 

Oh, the horror.

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Bunnies and bullies

When fall first hits, before the big rains, the rivers drop low and salmon move their way into the upper reaches. Bull trout follow, and so do we.

 

While getting ready to do the real business of the season, they certainly aren’t past cozying up behind spawning salmon and smacking a big bunny fly or egg sucking leech.

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