MY BEST PIECE OF KIT

The first time I wet waded I swore it would be my last. But today, two decades later, I am a total convert. I suppose my introduction was just a bit too hardcore. Somewhere in the remotest of remote New Zealand, fording chilled rivers, sodden head to toe, fired entirely by excitement and adrenaline, I was the master of that particular universe. No fish was out of reach; none eluded me. It still rates as one of my most amazing fishing days ever. But… As I lay in our corrugated bivvy that night, shivering uncontrollably with early stage hypothermia, I did wonder (briefly, it must be said), whether it was worth it.

It took a while, metaphorically and literally, to dip my toe back in the wet wading water and, as ever, with many things in life, it happened by accident. As a good fishing guide you are expected to be super organised. That particular day I wasn’t. Opening the back of the pick-up I saw to my horror that I had packed my wading boots but not my stocking boot waders. I could picture them hanging in the drying room but as that was an hour away and the client was already snug in his chest waders I took a deep breath, nonchalantly pulling on the boots as if this was my everyday guiding attire. I could tell the angler was impressed. I was clearly a hardcore, rough and tough guide. If only he knew.

As it turned out, my poor packing skills had an upside. Of course it was cold and wading boots designed to be worn with waders are not recommended footwear but you do suddenly have a freedom of movement denied to you by waders. You become part of the river rather than some oddly attired interloper.

So it was that I became converted to the wet-wading cause with wading shoes becoming my favourite bit of kit. Packing for fishing is now a whole lot easier. No longer are barbed-wire fences the obstacles ready to rip shreds in both my waders and wallet. Of course, when it comes to that timeless question of what to wear I advise that you turn your back on angling stores.

For some reason, fishing clothing manufacturers seem to think all wading boots should be modelled on the basis of the shoes worn by Herman Munster. Turn to surf stores or chandlery outlets. Windsurfers and boaters seem to get it: comfort and a bit of style can go together. Adidas and its ilk have a range of footwear expressly designed to be worn wet. These shoes are light, comfortable and pliable. You can buy them in the most absurd Day-glo colours, which is rather fun, but most of all I really like the cool draining vents in the sole. Ten steps out of the river and you’ll be dry again, the coolest dude on the riverbank. Simon Cooper is a professional fishing guide and founder of Fishing Breaks, the chalkstream specialists. www.fishingbreaks.co.uk