[DJ Muller]

Originally Posted by ivanputski

I can only speak from the perspective of a first-year wetsuiter, so my advice will be limited, but here goes...
I have always used waders, but purchased a wetsuit this season... I dont swim hundreds of yards in it, just use it to get a bit farther out to rocks I wouldnt try to get to in waders... also, I feel much safer in rough surf. I wear my wader boots and korkers... you need to get thick neoprene socks to fill in your wader boots... I happen to have a van staal200 already... I would imagine that wetsuiting with a nonsealed reel will cause corrosion very quickly, but maybe if its packed to the very brim with grease it might be ok... I wouldn't let not having a 700$ reel stop you from trying the wetsuit... it doesnt mean you have to "swim"... maybe try a spare reel at first that is decent, but wont break your heart if it gets a bit rough from getting dunked...
I would think conventional is not the way to go... especially if it has a level-wind...
If you have a wetsuit already, give it a shot!!! The wetsuit helped me get a 30#er during very rough surf... I was able to reach a rock my friends could not, and all they could do was watch me land 3 solid fish in 45 minutes while they went fishless... your first outing just do what you normally do in waders...

I second Ivan's advice. Good for starters! Definitely will change your game.