The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

The kid came home from hunting last week with two wet socks. I've been trying all week to find the leak in his Dan Bailey breathables, but no luck at all. These things look picture-perfect. What the heck am I missing?

If its in the Gortex, use some rubing alcohol and where it turns dark, there's your leak. If its in the neoprene, good luck! I just sent my G-3's back to simms for repairs after 2 1/2 years. The booties were shot and there were more than a few pinholes due to berry bushes on the Trinity. Get em back next week.

It's bound to be in the neoprene -- it was only his socks and the hem of his trousers that were wet. I'm half tempted to tell him to stay in the canoe and the blind tomorrow. Wonder which he'd hate worse: not setting dekes, or freezing feet?

It wouldn't be duck hunting without freezing feet!

Go into a darkened room with a flashlight, like the bathroom. Put the flashlight inside the wadersand turn it on. Where the light shones thru is where the holes are.

Loretta

Send em' back to Dan Bailey's. I had a pair of their Yellowstone waders, couldn't find the leak, and sent them back for repair. They shipped me out a new pair via next day air. I have been very impressed with their service.

Chances are it is in the neoprene booties....which is always hard to find. Send'em back.

Many years ago a friend told me to wear a set of neoprene socks over the waders, that way the wader booties don't wear out and your feet are warmer!

In all the years I've been fishing, I've NEVER had a leak in any of my wader's booties. It does mean buying wading boots at least one to two sizes larger than your standard shoe size. And it's rare that I ever have cold feet.....

The flashlight tip is great! ( http://www...133-Wader-Leak.html#3133 ) Unfortunately I didn't find anything when I actually tried it. Unless I can convince Mrs. that we need to take a trip to Livingston, they'll get sent back. It was so darn windy around here on Saturday that I didn't let him get in the water as it was.

I like the neo sock idea. He wears a handed-down set of small adult waders, so the booties are a couple sizes too big for him in the first place. I'm hoping to find him a pair that will be "his" this year, and maybe we'll come up with the socks as well. He's getting extremely serious about fishing and duck hunting, so the "plunge" is inevitable. I don't know, though. Maybe bootfoot waders are the way to go for a kid. Much more user friendly.

I would send them back but if you don't....have you tried to turn them inside out and fill from the knees down with water and see if they leak that way????