One Last Cast Taking A Leak

Ron Taylor recalls the time he chose to repair his chestwaders in the hotel bath…

To fish rivers of different sizes effectively requires the possession of at least one pair of waders – some of us have three, four or more. The essential quality of all the different types and makes of waders available is the ability to keep water out. Unfortunately, even the most expensive American pair available runs the risk of being punctured during an arduous day in the field, or they can split at the seam when a far too energetic manoeuvre is undertaken.

There are clearly innumerable circumstances that can lead to such a fundamental failure of this basic requirement but the inevitable result is a cold, wet part of one’s anatomy of varying size, depending on the location of the breach. When this happens, as it inevitably will to all of us, if it hasn’t already, we will be faced with the decision to fish on regardless of the growing damp or head for the bank and the repair outfit that was helpfully supplied by the manufacturer and nestles in the boot of the car at the bottom of the fishing bag.