Hodgemen H5 Wader Review

When I first got into the fly fishing game about 5-6 year ago now my first pair of waders where Hodgemens. I was super excited cause these where my first breathe-able waders from previously having neoprene waders making me look like Robin Hood..

I’ll say when Hodgemen released their new line of EXTREMELY improved waders I was very impressed. The quality and build is very similar to Simms but with a couple bells and whistles.

Hodgemen incorporated a liner called Core-Ins. A fleece liner that zips and buttons inside of the waders for winter use to keep you warmer and more comfortable while steelheading or winter trout fishing. So you can wear less layers to keep warmer.

The booties on these waders feature anatomically correct left and right foot booties for more comfort in your wading boot. I know on some booties they like to cram into the wading boot and bulge causing some un-comfort.

These waders also feature Comfort Fit gravel guards. It’s material with an elastic grippy bottom with a lace hook. WAY better then traditional neoprene guards. No extra pressure on your ankle. And keeps all debris, sand and gravel out of your boots.

The H5 means 5 layers of protection on the legs and seat area of your waders. The grey part. This material is puncture resistant and very durable. There’s no inside leg seams. About 80% of leaks are caused by the seams between your legs rubbing together causing wader failure. The upper lighter part is 3 layer for breathe-ability.

All in all for about 300 USD 400 CDN. Depending on the dollar you can have a very good wader without breaking the bank.

I’ll be doing another review in a years time to let you guys know how these are holding up.

Thanks for reading.

Tight lines.

In Body of Water: A Sage, a Seeker and the World’s Most Elusive Fish, Chris Dombrowski, a trout fishing poet from Montana, writes about a legendary Bahamian guide David Pinder and his lifelong quarry, bonefish, the ghost of the flats. The Mission caught up with Dombrowski to chat about the book, his writing process, guiding and more.

Brandt Botes, contributing illustrator to The Mission (check his work in issue 2) has put together the ‘There and Back‘ mix for The Mission’s Vol. 3 Playlist. Start fast, end slow, try not to kill any hobbits. Exactly right for a weekend spent fly fishing.

Expect Faith No More, Black Sabbath, Black Keys, Alabama Shakes, Puscifer, Lord Huron and even a little Chet Faker plus a bunch more.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust is pleased to partner with Nautilus Reels to host the Nautilus Reels Micro-Film Contest, open to professional and amateur filmmakers. We encourage anglers of all ages and experience levels to submit their best micro-films telling stories from the world of fishing and conservation. The top videos, selected by BTT and Nautilus staff, will be played and voted on during the Nautilus Reels Art + Micro-Film Festival on Friday, November 10th at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s 6th International Science Symposium in Weston, Florida.

Each winner will receive a *Nautilus reel* along with other prizes.

Rules:

1) Two Divisions: Amateur and Pro (anyone who has submitted videos to one of the film tours, is sponsored, or anyone defined as such by staff).

2) Suggested Themes:

Conservation: What does BTT mean to you?

“I'd rather be bonefishing”: Open to all species and habitats - what do you fish for when you can’t stalk bonefish on the flats?

The Rookie: Fishing with the next generation.

3) Videos must be no longer than one minute. Each contestant can submit only one video.

4) To be eligible, the contestant *MUST* post his or her video to Instagram, tag Nautilus Reels and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, and use the hashtag: #BTTSymposium

The filmmaker whose micro-film receives the most likes on Instagram between July 7, 2017 and November 10, 2017 will win a limited edition BTT Simms Headwaters Tackle Bag.

Submit your video by emailing it to BTT Director of Development Mark Rehbein mark@bonefishtarpontrust.org

This report won't be too much unlike the previous one, with a few exceptions!

Yakima River flows are down and the river has its proverbial arms wide open for fly anglers both in boat and on foot. October caddis and soon we will see BWO's/Baetis hatching as well. Some cool weather coming in will bring water temps down quick so make time to be over here over the next 2 months.

With the cool weather expect to see the small streams become a bit more challenging as the fish start to go into "hibernation" mode. Probably still find fish looking up for dries during parts of the day but putting a small dropper on there wouldn't be a bad idea either. Expect it to be hit or miss over the next month or so and finally more or less shutting down by mid to late October. Most of the small streams close at the end of October anyway so if these are your favorite, better get on them here soon before bidding them adieu for the year.

Puget Sound is flat out awesome right now. Surface flies like the Sound Searcher and Cutty Buddy are outstanding and while targeting cutthroat, these fall coho salmon will take a swipe at them as well so get in the game. Should be easy cruising in the local salt for the next few months. Tides will be less of an issue as sunlight is less intense.

Steelhead...have been some nice steelhead caught in the local rivers like the Skykomish here lately. Like everywhere else the cooler evening temps and the sun going away more quickly each day has brought water temps down and a tiny bit of fresh rain always excites the local Mykiss! If you are a purist, skating some flies on the surface would be a good choice right now. As soon as the weather begins to cool, our entire staff starts itching to get the two handed rods out and on the water.

If traveling to the greater Washington area, we can help so reach out via phone, email or social media and we will get you pointed in the right direction!

WHEN THE PLANETS LINE UP, it’s best to be there with your rod strung and your game face on.

After finishing work for the day, I was looking forward to seeing Kai Finbraten from Loop Tackle, who’d booked his fourth trip with me in as many years. We were to meet that evening at a restaurant for a couple of cocktails and to swap stories. On this trip, Kai had brought two “saltwater newbies” with him and it was a pleasure to be introduced to Lars Johansen and Rune Hansen, all experienced fishermen from Norway. As the first beachside beers of the evening were poured we discussed plans for the next day’s fishing.

It`s been warming up lately and everything is coming back to life again! There is plenty of water to be fished over the winter months in lower South Island, so if you feel anxious this would be the best time to get out and get into it again. Smaller lakes which remain open the whole year round would be my place to go. You don`t have to rush as the mornings are still cold and there is not much competition. But on the other hand it`s quite impressive to see how everything changes as the day progresses! Fish are patrolling shallows again looking for food. It`s important to get their attention without spooking them. If you struggle with your presentation, or fish simply follow but never take, here is my advice: Cast well ahead of the moving fish and let the streamer sink all the way to the bottom. Twitch as the fish are about a meter away, your streamer will most likely get smashed straight when the mud swirles and if not, a few strips should do the job. Fish drop offs, across weed beds, along tree logs or any obstacles in the water. Don`t forget the river mouths as there will always be fish lurking around and it`s also a great place to try different techniques and practise casting. Get out, explore, get the fishing going or just go on a walk (don`t forget to bring the rod though, always bring the rod)!

This fish pic about sums it all up - cloudy skies, waders and layers, handsome brown trout, happy anglers. Winter is coming, believe it!

As fall creeps into our area, despite our desire to cling to flip-flops and sunshirts, we can be excited for a very good fishing season. Blessed with average snowpack and near normal streamflows, fall in southwest Montana is shaping up to be one to remember. Here are some helpful tips to get the best out of your fall fishing:

Time your fishing appropriately. As the nighttime lows dip into the 30s, it will take longer for the water temperatures to rise and make for hungry and happy trout. Sleep in, enjoy your coffee, and focus on the afternoon mayfly emergence.

Invest in quality gear. A local angling legend once said “there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad gear.” Technology has evolved to create fabrics that offer a lot of warmth with very little bulk; and materials for outerwear and waders with exceptional water and wind resistance. From friction-fused microfibers to extreme vapor-fighting powers, are gear is winning the war against the elements, but like any technology, it’s only as smart as its user. Fortunately zipping a Gore-Tex jacket is much easier than programming your smartphone.

Adjust your fishing tactics. Fishing guides enjoy the change of tactics that occurs when morning frost shows-up. The most obvious and popular tactical adjustment is fishing streamers and larger baitfish imitations. Dry fly anglers will find matching the hatch becomes a little more important during these cooler months. On most of our rivers, the primary hatch is the fall Blue Winged Olive mayfly. A purple Parachute Adams or a Purple Para-Cripple will get it done most of the time.

Be ready to be flexible. Fall weather is unpredictable at times, and so is the fishing. Early winter storms bring some of the fishiest conditions we find, but you have to be in the right spots at the right times and unafraid of the forecast. Once you have survived the storm to see the blanket baetis hatch you will understand.

What is the best line for Atlantic salmon? I think I now have the answer — RIO’s new InTouch Single Handed Spey Line 3D. After using it this season it is, without question, my favorite line for not only chasing but actually catching Atlantic salmon. But let’s back up a second.

When people think of Spey casting, they think first of double-handed rods. Given the origins of Spey casting, this of course makes sense, but it neglects the notion that “Spey casting” does not describe a kind of rod, but a highly-versatile casting style. For instance, Spey casting can be done by both single and double-handed rods (maybe even Tenkara, probably, but I haven’t tried!), in both fresh and salt-water environments, in still and moving water, with the full gamut of line weights and sink rates. So why not try single-handed spey casting?

The advantages of single handed spey casting

After Spey casting for a number of years, I’ve come to believe that single-handed Spey casting offers some distinct advantages.

To begin, while Spey casting with a large double handed rod can be effective at throwing long casts over big water, it’s only as effective as the person is proficient at the cast. For many people, single handed rods are more familiar — they’re what we grew up with. I would suggest learning how to Spey cast with a single-handed rod is better first step than jumping right to a big double handed rod.

While fighting a fish with a double handed rod is more effective in some situations, this is most often true of only the large fish on large water. Even then, Lee Wulff offers a compelling counter-example of how one can effectively fight and land large fish on small rods. But I find that most often I don’t catch large fish, but nice fish, and fighting them with a large double handed rod becomes a kind of forgone conclusion. It dulls the connection to the fish, and takes the “risk” out of the fight. With a single handed rod, you feel directly connected to the fish; you feel all the movements, jumps, etc. Lee Wulff is alleged to once have said he could feel the salmon’s heart-beat. While this is no doubt an exaggeration, the point is well taken; with a smaller rod, you feel that unmediated, electrical connection to the fish.

With single handed spey casting, you can cast in smaller spaces, sometimes mend with greater precision, and feel many of the bumps, rolls, and other non-takes that, while they don’t immediately hook a fish, may eventually lead you to hook up.

RIO InTouch Single Handed Spey Line 3D

I took RIO’s new InTouch single handed spey line to the Gaspé peninsula this summer, and found it to be remarkably effective at catching fish, and an absolute joy to cast. There’s a few things that stand out for me.

The first was the “3D”, which refers to three different density coatings applied along the length of the fly line. This line has three different sink rates to it — first, a long section of floating line through the vast majority of the line and then, right at the end, a 1 IPS and a 2 IPS section (or floating, hover, intermediate). This meant that the line got down in the water column just enough so that it was more visible to the salmon without the herky-jerky nature casting a sinker, and without the risk of hooking bottom. I believe this makes a big difference. Given it’s a smooth, continuous line, the casting motion is wonderfully smooth, with none of the slappy, hinging movement that comes with a loop-to-loop connection.

Similarly, given the head is 34′ long, this is a line that you can confidently cast over-hand. If you’re not happy with your Spey casting, or are tight to a rock, you can easily pick it up and shoot line.

It’s also versatile in a way that I didn’t anticipate: throwing dries. Given it has two slow sink sections, I thought that this line would quickly and easily drag down dries, but I found that if I found a rising fish, I could switch and fish dries with it — sometimes even skating them, if the current wasn’t fast. This was remarkable to me: the kind of sinking line I like, with a head that slow enough to allow me to cast a dry. Damn.

The line is built on RIO’s ConnectCore, a line core that they claim reduces stretch so you can feel more takes. I can only say that I had a number of subtle rises and misses on this trip — and that I felt them all (or, all the ones I could see). This connection was extremely helpful.

RIO InTouch Single Handed Spey Line 3D: the best line for Atlantic salmon fishing?

I think it just might be. As I said in the video, I plan to fish this line almost exclusively for Atlantic salmon. It is now the top line I recommend, and the first line I reach for.

Find it at Rio’s website for $99.

1. GEAR UP LIKE YOU MEAN IT - Tying a streamer onto your regular tapered leader while fishing your 5wt will work, but I recommend you commit to fishing a streamer and rig up for it specifically. A 7wt or even an 8wt is going to be what you want if you are throwing BIG "bugs" all day. I recommend a shorter rod, an 8'6" 7wt is my go-to. Also, try a true sink tip line designed for throwing streamers. Airflow's Streamer Max Short is my personal favorite. When you rig up off of a sink tip, do not use a typical tapered leader. Instead run a simple section 2-4' long of 12 pound. You want your fly pretty tight on that sink tip so it will get down. Take it from me, do not skimp on the tippet. I have gotten lazy too many times and thrown a streamer on lighter tippet only to hook up to the one I wanted and had no chance of actually landing it.

2. FISH IMPOSSIBLE SPOTS - You can fish a streamer into spots that are impossible to fish with almost any other rig. Slap it down in front of a log jam and let it swing underneath. Skip it in under a bush and rip it off of a bank. Blast a couple of casts along the far bank. Yes, big streamers are expensive (or a time-suck to tie), but stay aggressive and know that you may lose a couple while fishing into cover. This is another reason to fish 12lb tippet to your fly...

3. FISH SLOWWWW - Obviously the best retrieve depends on how aggressive and reactive the fish are when you are out. Try it all until you figure out a pattern that works, but try slowing your retrieve down considerably. A slow swing with a subtle twitch can make the difference. Also, stick with your retrieve all the way to the bank. As the fly gets shallow you may get a couple takes or see a fish following it in. If you DO see a fish following, try speeding up your retrieve. In my experience if the fish is put in a position where their prey looks like it is making an escape, it will make a decisive move.

4. FISH BIG - Get out that articulated monstrosity that casts like a wet wool sock and let it rip. Trout, especially brown trout, love to take advantage of a big protein meal. Many of us have seen a big fish come out take swing at a smaller fish we have hooked up. That experience will make you look at your streamer box in a different light. The streamers that seemed giant all of the sudden may look on the small side...

5. STICK WITH IT AS THE SUN FADES - Low light levels can be key if you are looking to coax the big one out from under the log jam... Fire up the headlamp, crack a cold one and keep casting!

-Garrison Doctor - RYW Designer

Wow, where to start with what is going on around here. Let's begin with the exciting (horrible) news that an Atlantic Salmon net pen failed in northern Puget Sound freeing hundreds of thousands of non native Atlantic Salmon into the waters of Puget Sound. So...they are now available for catch and KEEP for all anglers in the region. Please come and take them away!

Besides this, Puget Sound has been fishing quite well for darn near everything lately. Pink salmon, though not in the usual numbers have been arriving and taking all things pink in the fly department while the resident Coho have also been playing very nicely lately. This late into the season, baitfish have grown in size so therefore choice of fly should parallel this. Herring and Sandlance are all about 3-4 inches in length so the salmon and cutts are paying attention. Also, the cutthroat are already in their fall mode of looking up and aggressively taking surface patterns, as are some of the Coho. In short, you'd be crazy not to be fishing the Sound right now.

Our small mountain streams we like to refer to as "Blue Lines" are at late summer flows...very low and gin/vodka/super clear! It is more about hunting down and really finding the fish these days as opposed to just showing up. Try the faster water and shadows, that should help.

Steelhead will begin to be more active now that we are having colder evenings. Early AM water temps are down a bit which helps them gain oxygen in each "breath" if you will, more apt to chase your swung fly.

Yakima River flows are dropping too and water temps are chilling to the hatches are already beginning to expand and fish being more active through more of the day. Caddis in the evenings is a great after work affair, flows should be down on the upper river in the next couple weeks to allow better walk and wade access. Lots of forest fires in the region of Cle Elum so be prepared to see/smell/breathe some smoke while over there.

Lastly, warm water species are still fishing well too. Bass and carp in the local lakes are active so if that is all you can squeeze in time wise and you have a fly rod, go hit it, nothing to be embarrassed about.

Happy summer's eve everyone, stop in and say hello if passing through Seattle.

A few weeks back I went out carping on a really, really, really neat river in my neck of the woods. A place I never really fished before, but let me tell you one of the best places I've been in a while. The environment these fish live in for the fly angler is just amazing. The river itself is literally all flat rock. So stripping flies along the bottom won't cause snags and being able to watch fish break off their path to chase your fly is just heart stopping.

Carp in general are just way fun to fish for! And out spending a day chasing them when they are usually active all day long not on and off like other species.

Get out there and give em a beating!

Summer Fishing on Putah Creek can be a bit tough be with persistence you can still get into some really nice fish for those willing to fish a bit longer and harder then in november and december

please keep me in mind when your looking for some help

Thanks for looking

Richard and Napa Valley Fly Guides

707 294-4738

We are exactly one month away from the Autumnal Equinox, but in Montana the 1st of September usually announces the end of summer and the start to our favorite season, the Fall. Archery hunters are already afield chasing pronghorn antelope, upland bird hunting opens next week, elk will be in full rut within a month, and some of our best fishing of the season is still to come.

The best part of fall fishing is that the summer swelter has passed. We don't like the heat and neither do the trout! Nighttime temps have begun to drop and so has water temperatures in most of our rivers, which is a good thing. Hopefully the wildfire smoke will also pass, no guarantees on that, but it certainly hasn't affected our fishing productivity. For sure we will be able to reset the alarm clock for more gentlemanly fishing hours, and before we know it the trees will turn and the Big Sky scenery will put on a show.

What do we love most about the fall fishing season in Montana? Here's the short list:

There's still some summer fishing to be had - hopper opportunities will continue into early October.

Our trout are at the physical peak in the fall, so searching for long and thick fish is fun and gets results.

Our trout know winter is coming so they must strap on the feedbag one more time before they take a long, cold nap.

The worse the weather gets, the better the fishing will be. We cheer for clouds and cool temps because it makes the trout happy. Pack some layers and hope you'll need them.

Some of our favorite hatches come off in the fall, most notably the Blue Winged Olive mayfly, a wild trout fave.

We have at least two more months of prime-time fishing left, and another month that can be real good if the weather holds, so there is plenty of time to treat yourself to one more Montana fishing adventure this year.

Our friend, Lizzie Urbina, just wrote an AWESOME fishing report about her DIYFishing trip down to Baja! Her and her boyfriend, Captain Ben Paschal, chased Roosters down the beach in order to catch the fish of a lifetime! Everybody, this is a MUST read and be sure to follow those guys on social media too! Way to go girl!!