Q Are waders really that important for bass fishing? PHIL MCMADDEN, SWINDON

HG says: For me a pair of breathable chest waders is as important as my lure fishing rod and spinning reel, and I will also put wading boots into that mix as well. I am not particularly keen on wet-wading here in the UK or Ireland, and even in the middle of summer I don’t really want to be standing waist-deep in the sea for long periods of time. I am obviously not wading all the time; indeed, for much of my bass lure fishing from the shore I might not actually spend that much time in the water at all. However, I choose to wear those lightweight chest waders virtually all the time. If it rains, I am dry. If I get splashed, I am dry. And if I do need to wade to a rock, or across a gully, or move through some very shallow water to get somewhere a bit deeper, then I can do so without having to get wet, and potentially cold in winter and spring especially. I am so used to wearing chest waders that I would feel a bit naked without them to be perfectly honest. If it starts raining or there is lots of spray flying around then you only need to put a waterproof smock or jacket on to remain dry. I lure fish for much of the year so cold can also be an issue at times.

You need to think about your fishing and where you do it though, because there is every chance you might be able to get away without wearing waders. They are not cheap, and they will end up leaking eventually, however well you look after them. So if you can get away without them, or you are braver about wet-wading than me, then have a good think about it. Different kinds of fishing call for different approaches though, and breathable chest waders do make a lot of sense. Please, please, wear an auto-inflate lifejacket out on the rocks, and especially if you are wearing waders.

I am aware of a small and forwardthinking bunch of anglers who have adopted some of the lightweight neoprene leggings from the kayaking world especially, and this really interests me. If you watch the Japanese (sea) bass videos on YouTube then you will notice that a lot of their anglers are wearing neoprene leggings, and from my initial research into how this might translate across to our fishing, it does seem to be that modern kayak gear is the best to wear with how the leggings and long johns better suit fishing and the moving around and walking we tend to do. Of course, you will get a bit wet wearing this type of gear because it’s not sealed up like a pair of waders, but the lads I know who are wearing this gear assure me that you don’t even notice after a few minutes of fishing. I am really interested in exploring this stuff.