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WHAT TO WEAR TO BE COMFORTABLE IF NOT FASHIONABLE

UNDERWEAR

PERHAPS a writer is getting "altogether too personal," as the saying goes, in discussing the kind of underwear an angler should don when faring forth for fish. However, I feel duty bound to recommend underwear of wool, or of a goodly proportion of that material,

for early or late fishing or when wading with or without waders. When wearing waders in fair weather woolen underwear absorbs perspiration and prevents the angler getting chilled when he takes them off or if the temperature suddenly drops - something that often happens when angling. Besides, even when wearing waders, the possibility of getting a " ducking " by making a misstep into a deep hole or with the fiendish and conspiring aid of slippery or rolling stones (which do gather moss in streams), is by no means remote. The discomfort occasioned by such a catastrophe is greatly lessened if the hapless angler is protected by wool. When wading without waders woolen underwear prevents chilling and guards against those " inflrmyties," mentioned by Dame Berners, that come from getting cold and wet. For the same reasons all-wool sox and stockings are advisable.

BOOTS AND WADERS

The ideal way to wade a stream is to don woolen underwear, an old pair of trousers and shirt, put your smoking material and matches in your hat and go to it. Early and late in the season and in streams that are spring fed and cold, this is usually too rigorous for the average angler.

Next best is to fish a stream shallow enough to permit the angler to " pick " his way along in hip boots or wading stockings. Such streams, if of stony bottom, are likely to be dangerously slippery and the adjustable sandals, studded with hob nails, should be worn over the boots. These sandals come in two sizes, large and small, and are adjustable several sizes each way.

When considerable deep water is to be waded, the regular waders, or wading pants, should be worn, These garments are sweat boxes in warm weather and are hardly comfortable in cold but they offer the only protection known when wading streams of fair depth and must be looked upon as " necessary evils."

HEAVY WADERS

The heavier waders are made of mackintosh or of some other equally stiff and heavy waterproof material. Their chief recommendation is that they wear longer than the lightweight. They come with both boot and stocking feet.

FEATHERWEIGHT WADERS

The English have produced a wader of very light and thin waterproof material known generally as "featherweight" waders. Although they are not as durable as the heavy weight style they wear fairly well and are more comfortable and easier to " navigate " in. They are made to come well above the waist, with a puckering string at the top and often with a pocket in front to hold a fly book or leader box. Being made only with stocking feet they may be rolled in a remarkably small package.

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