Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

eelslinger · 03-10-2005, 05:21 PM

I got a suit last year and wish I had it 10 years ago. I got Henderson 7mm farmer john and I'm glad I did. I don't walk far in it so I can get away with 7 mm. I swim to a rock with it and it is warm and buoyant. I don't use fins or korkers. I am only swimming short distances and swimming vertically is much easier. It is hard to get back to vertical if you are horizontal in the water. I have special shoes that are amazing on rocks but about equal to felt on blue green algae above the barnacle zone. I use 3mm neoprene socks and my feet stopped being cold after I quit trying to wear a 0.2 mm neoprene sock liner inside them. My circulation was cut off with them so a lesson learned. It took me a fair bit of time to get the gear worked out and to learn how to use it but the freedom a suit gives is great. I would buy new unless you like someone else's urine next to yours. Taking a leak is the biggest down side with a wet suit. Urine will give you a rash after a while. There is a zinc (oxide?) salve that helps with that. Wash the suit with fresh water after use. Neoprene doesn't like salt according to some web sites. Hang it from big hangers not wire ones. Keep in out of the sun. Don't store it folded. I got a police tactical belt to carry gear which is handy. Less is more with a wetsuit. You can't carry a lot of gear with it. A rain jacket\windbreaker with a good hood is great when out of the water and it is windy. The hood helps as does a neo swim cap. A small flexlite clipped to the cap is very handy and casts enough light while swimming to see rocks without blinding you. A bigger light around the neck can be used when needed. The cap also helps hold my glasses on. I have considered a hockey helmet for extra protection but haven't done it yet. I have a whistle on a lanyard with line clips and my truck keys. I always wear gloves used by box handlers to protect against barnacles, rocks and fireline. I have tried eels in ziploc bags but the eels resisted hooking and it isn't as easy as I'd like. I have a small plug bag with a few lures.

It pays to be in shape too. Not only are wetsuits unforgiving looks wise but climbing rocks and swimming comes easier if you have some strength.

Check cowhunter's posts

03-10-2005, 05:21 PM	#4
eelslinger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 98	I got a suit last year and wish I had it 10 years ago. I got Henderson 7mm farmer john and I'm glad I did. I don't walk far in it so I can get away with 7 mm. I swim to a rock with it and it is warm and buoyant. I don't use fins or korkers. I am only swimming short distances and swimming vertically is much easier. It is hard to get back to vertical if you are horizontal in the water. I have special shoes that are amazing on rocks but about equal to felt on blue green algae above the barnacle zone. I use 3mm neoprene socks and my feet stopped being cold after I quit trying to wear a 0.2 mm neoprene sock liner inside them. My circulation was cut off with them so a lesson learned. It took me a fair bit of time to get the gear worked out and to learn how to use it but the freedom a suit gives is great. I would buy new unless you like someone else's urine next to yours. Taking a leak is the biggest down side with a wet suit. Urine will give you a rash after a while. There is a zinc (oxide?) salve that helps with that. Wash the suit with fresh water after use. Neoprene doesn't like salt according to some web sites. Hang it from big hangers not wire ones. Keep in out of the sun. Don't store it folded. I got a police tactical belt to carry gear which is handy. Less is more with a wetsuit. You can't carry a lot of gear with it. A rain jacket\windbreaker with a good hood is great when out of the water and it is windy. The hood helps as does a neo swim cap. A small flexlite clipped to the cap is very handy and casts enough light while swimming to see rocks without blinding you. A bigger light around the neck can be used when needed. The cap also helps hold my glasses on. I have considered a hockey helmet for extra protection but haven't done it yet. I have a whistle on a lanyard with line clips and my truck keys. I always wear gloves used by box handlers to protect against barnacles, rocks and fireline. I have tried eels in ziploc bags but the eels resisted hooking and it isn't as easy as I'd like. I have a small plug bag with a few lures. It pays to be in shape too. Not only are wetsuits unforgiving looks wise but climbing rocks and swimming comes easier if you have some strength. Check cowhunter's posts Last edited by eelslinger; 03-10-2005 at 05:27 PM..
eelslinger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2001 Posts: 98