There are two types of anglers. Those who fish through the winter, and those who do not. Both are legitimate fly fishers. For the sake of today’s discussion, the only real difference is that one discovers a wader leak on a random day in January while the other has a nasty surprise in April. So while anglers come across unexpected wet spots throughout the year, there is a concentration of said incidents in the springtime.
It is worth mentioning that a lot of these leaks are the result of poor wader storage. Creases, critters, and collisions all destroy high-tech breathable fabric. Dry, off-the-ground organization is the key to avoiding passive wader damage. There is more to it (and you can read about that here), but those tips are a good start.
But whether it is some mouse nibbles, a barbed wire incident, or simply wear and tear, there is usually hope for damaged waders. Catastrophic incidents do happen, but they are rare. Also, diagnosis and remediation isn’t terribly complicated or expensive.
The first step is to find the leak. You already know where it is in general, because you have a wet pant leg. You may even see a small tear. Or, you were the one who pulled the 1/O Clouser from your backside. In situations like the latter, you’re dealing with a puncture. While there was a foolish moment that probably led up to the damage (a bad cast, straddling a thorn bush, etc.), the fix is simple.
All you need to do is isolate the area on both the inside and outside of the waders. Even a hole from a big hook might be hard to find once the foreign object has been removed. If it isn’t eminently evident, there are a couple of quick ways to locate the leak.
- The least labor intensive method involves getting a flashlight. Turn the lights out and shine the light into the waders. When you’re in the general area of the leak, ensure the fabric is taut and direct the beam perpendicular to the material. The hole might reveal a bright spot of light. Mark it with a Sharpie on the outside. Then, with a finger on that spot reach inside the waders to meet your finger from the other side. Mark that point with a Sharpie as well. Of course, those last two steps should happen with the lights on.
- The most efficient way to find the puncture takes more time and effort. Take your wader outside, and insert a shop vac hose into the torso section. Make sure your vacuum is blowing, not on the suction setting. Using the wader belt or some other strap, cinch the material down onto the vacuum hose. It should be tight enough to “inflate” the legs of the waders. Once they’re filled with air, drop some soapy water on the area you suspect may have a hole. Any tiny punctures will cause the bubbles to grow or multiply. Dry the area and mark as noted above.
For these little holes or small tear (less than a quarter inch), you can likely patch things up with a UV epoxy made for waders. While there are plenty of sealants that will do the job, a UV activated epoxy is ideal because it can be used quickly in the field and because you can treat and cure both sides of the leak back to back without waiting for it to dry.
Clean the area and ensure it is fully dry. Then apply the epoxy directly to the hole or tear. Using a toothpick, spread a thin layer of epoxy around the hole so that it isn’t a bubble. A smooth transition will limit the patch getting snagged and popping off. Hit the epoxy with the UV light, then repeat on the inside.
Much more labor intensive, and potentially harder to fix, is a larger tear of a pulled seam. Seam damage can be identified using the vacuum method above. These leaks are the result of stretching, but also poor bonds between two pieces of fabric or between fabric and boots.
Because these areas necessarily flex a lot, epoxy might not be enough. Adding an adhesive vinyl patch (often included with waders, but also available to buy) is likely necessary. Out of an abundance of caution, a smooth layer of epoxy around the edge of the patch offers more protection.
Waders don’t last forever. But reasonable use, wise storage, and the ability to fix minor leaks will keep an angling investment working for you for a few more seasons.