Salomone: For the ladies on the river
Vail Valley Anglers/Courtesy photo
I’m a father of girls. Proud to say it, even more proud to live it.
My girls can shoot, row a raft and cast a nice loop. What they can’t do is find quality fly-fishing gear that is cut and styled for a lady. Not just a man’s set of waders with pink details but actual gear for women and made that way.
That is, until recently. Industry-leading companies like Orvis, Patagonia and Simms have recognized the need for women’s fly-fishing gear and responded.
A growing facet of the fly-fishing industry is the inclusion of women on the water. It makes me smile every time I see a lady casting dry flies from a drift boat or a young girl pushing through the willows to gain access to brookies rising in a beaver pond.
The increasing presence of women on the water fly-fishing represents a desire for knowledge and a quest for proficiency. In Colorado, the importance of our time spent outdoors remains at the forefront of our activities. Women looking to connect with nature and increase bonding time with friends, family or spouse have gravitated toward fly fishing.
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Women consistently show an appreciation for the immersion fly-fishing provides. Stepping into the river with a fly rod produces a disconnection to the modern world that is highly desired. The science, skills and art of fly-fishing create an attractive venue for lady anglers. And fly-fishing is a sport where ladies can easily exceed the performance and skill set of men.
I’ve watched as little ladies wallow in gore-tex, their oversized, hand-me-down waders gathered in wrinkled bunches from the thigh down to the gravel guards, like mismatched Halloween costumes kids thrown together at the last minute. Waders that possess a proper fit with little excess material are more comfortable for walking and wading. They also deliver a higher degree of safety should an angler lose footing and take a spill into the water.
The Orvis Pro wader for women is a step in the right direction. Built with the same bomber tough materials as the men’s waders to deliver extreme durability and function but in a configuration designed specifically for the lines and contours of a woman’s body. Anglers wanting to bust through the brush, scramble over high mountain boulders and battle beaver-chewed willow spears will want the protection the Orvis Pro waders provide.
The Pro waders are not the only women’s wader option coming from Orvis. The Convertible and the Clearwater waders for women are placed in a more comfortable price range. The Convertibles are made of lighter material and can lower the top half of the waders to create a pant wader.
Just like everything Orvis makes with the Clearwater name on it, the waders work extremely well for their entry-level price point. Cut, styled and designed with the same focus for delivering quality while providing a proper fit, the Orvis Clearwater wader is the ideal choice for the casual angler.
Jackets on the river have been a collection of Dad’s old gear pulled over unwieldy layers of insulation, not anymore. Patagonia has always stood at the pinnacle of performance when it comes to quality outdoor gear. Their fly-fishing garments deliver at the highest levels and in the most extreme conditions. Combine that with a proper fit to support athletic movement and Patagonia provides some of the best jackets for the river.
Women feel the need to relinquish the bulk and a desire for a streamlined fit in their high-performance gear. Patagonia’s Nano Puff and Micro Puff are cut for the needs women demand while providing warmth on the water. While the Patagonia Down Sweater has been a proven, timeless winner, the Puff series of jackets delivers a higher degree of performance in damp fishing conditions.
Simms, Orvis and Redington are making wading boots specifically for women. This eliminates the clumsy, “just subtract two sizes” men’s boots as the only choice. Wader boots made for women increase the comfort factor and elevate the enjoyability of the fishing experience. Employing gear that enhances your time on the water elevates your performance.
With all this new gear for women, I’m getting excited for summertime. I think it’s time to grab my girls, stop into Vail Valley Anglers and purchase them some proper women’s fly fishing gear. They deserve it. And so do you.
