The Carolinas - Grundens v waders when striper fishing

Help me understand why so many people wear grundens or HH rain gear when fishing. I have always worn waders. What am I missing? Is it a safety or sanitation issue? Please advise how to stay warm in grundens.

Ever watch Deadliest Catch on TV? That's how to stay warm in Grundens. I wear the Grundens pants, work boots, and a regular warm winter jacket. A lot of folks prefer commercial fishing boots to work boots.

Because they last forever! Seriously. When it is cold all you have to do is put on long johns then jeans/dickies and then the grundens and you will be warm as you can get.


And technically you don't need to wear waders until you get back to the dock where all the old men are shooting the $#!% because it can get really deep!

Safety. What would happen if you fell overboard wearing a pair of waders?

I wear grundens to keep dry when on the boat, and waders to keep dry when in the water WADEing, MattMutt hit the nail on the head, the last forever, and keep ya warm/dry.

For the sake of your loved ones please stop wearing waders while fishing from a boat... If you fall overboard (unless you are flats fishing) you won't stand much of a chance.

what is stated above. Waders are a no no on a boat. If you should go over the side you will "up end" and not be able to right yourself. The air trapped in the legs of your waders will make your lower half (Legs) float like a balloon making it next to impossable to get your head and upper body out of the water.

what is stated above. Waders are a no no on a boat. If you should go over the side you will "up end" and not be able to right yourself. The air trapped in the legs of your waders will make your lower half (Legs) float like a balloon making it next to impossable to get your head and upper body out of the water.

It happens more often than you'd care to think....Buddy of mine fishing for stripers off a jetty, fell in (deep water) and he was as good as gone until he pulled a knife out to cut the boots and let the air out.....unfortunately he was killed a few years later at work (electrocuted)

Instead of a regualar jacket you should wear a Mustang floatation jacket, they are warm and comfortable and if you fall in you have on a life jacket.

what is stated above. Waders are a no no on a boat. If you should go over the side you will "up end" and not be able to right yourself. The air trapped in the legs of your waders will make your lower half (Legs) float like a balloon making it next to impossable to get your head and upper body out of the water.


If you're out of shape. . . I was trained growing up to go into a semi-fetal position and hug my legs if I fell out the boat with hip boots/waders on. My dad had us practice this in the warmer water and saw it in scouts. They would act like a flotation device and also keep your core temperature up. Not sure if it works with the neopreme models they have out nowdays. I still have canvas boots. Nothing beats a PFD though!

THanks for the info - looks like I will be ordering some from Cabella's. Makes sense to me.:thumbsup:

Make sure you have your belt on and always carry a knife. I usually carry them in the boat this time of year in case I run aground and have to get in the water.