THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411170203
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Ford Reid
LENGTH: Medium: 63 lines
The other night when I put on my waders, my wife thought the basement had flooded again.
When I walked into the bathroom wearing them, she thought that I had finally snapped.
Nah. I was just doing my semi-annual leak test. I put on the waders, then sit in a bath tub full of water. If they are leaking, and they usually are, it is better to find out at home in warm bath water than in a howling wind with the ever-chilling waters of the Atlantic Ocean lapping at your legs.
You might feel kind of silly, but you will thank yourself for it later.
For most of the year, dressing for surf fishing could not be simpler. A pair of shorts, a T-shirt, a good hat and a liberal dose of sun block and I am ready to go.
In the fall, when the fishing is best but the elements can be cruel, it is a different matter.
There are glorious days in November, and even in December, when you can fish in shorts and a light shirt. But that comes as a happy surprise, not something that you can count on.
Especially if you are driving some distance, you'd better come to the beach prepared this time of year.
That means, first of all, waders.
Even the finest waders are, at best, a pain in the anatomy. They are hard to put on, harder to take off, and even harder to walk in. Anyone who has ever tried to run down the beach chasing feeding false albacore while wearing waders has known true frustration.
Many who have done that have known a good bit of pain, too. Running in waders tends to lead to some nasty falls in the sand.
But not wearing them can cause pain, too. Just thinking about a 20 knot nor'east wind against bare, wet legs is enough to make a dedicated angler question his choice of hobbies.
I hate waders. Really hate them. But not as much as I hate freezing to death just as the fish arrive.
After waders, the next best defense against a miserable day of fishing is layering your clothes.
The weather this time of year is unsettled. It can go from cold to hot and back to cold during one sustained bluefish blitz. If you are counting on one heavy jacket to get you through, you are going to be miserable at least half the time.
With layers, you can strip a few off, then pile a few more back on as the sun plays peek-a-boo from behind the clouds.
How you fish makes a difference, too. If you are a bait fisherman who likes to make a cast, then sit back and wait for a bite, you will want to dress very warmly. The longer you sit, the colder it gets. That is a law of nature.
If you are a more active caster, you might even work up a sweat. But, like a basketball player, you will want something warm to put on when you take a break.
The fishing this time of year is great. But it is not much fun if you are cold and wet.
Dress properly and you will go home talking about your fish, not about your double pneumonia. by CNB