[Winter Fishing Gear] Purchase Report on Waders and a Fishing Jacket for Winter Stream Fishing

When I started fishing for rainbow trout in winter, I found myself wanting serious cold-weather protection. So I decided to buy waders and a jacket. After getting the items I liked, I took them out to the field and tried them in actual use.

Purchased Waders and a Jacket for Winter-to-Early-Spring Stream Fishing & Report

With winter here and the weather getting colder, the gear I had been using up to now just wasn’t enough anymore. In stream fishing, both the air and water temperatures gradually drop, so I decided to buy waders and a jacket suited for the cold season ahead.

The items I chose were Little Presents, a domestic brand: the “W-46 N3 Chest High Wader” (42,680 yen) and the “JK-24 Tactical WD Jacket” (20,680 yen). Those are the prices on the official site, but I was able to get them a little cheaper on Amazon.

The W-46 N3 Chest High Wader gives peace of mind without ever feeling the cold

Fishing waders are items where waterproofness and breathability matter most. There are two types: integrated bootfoot and stockingfoot, which has no boots. They also come in various lengths, such as knee-high, waist-high, and chest-high, and the type I bought is a chest-high stockingfoot model that reaches the chest.

First of all, what clearly sets these waders apart from others is that the chloroprene part of the sock section (the wetsuit-like material) is firmer and thicker. Before this, I had been wearing chloroprene socks, but they were made of a much more flexible, softer material.

As for the wader size, I chose an S size based on my sock size (24–25 cm), which corresponds to a recommended height of 158–166 cm. When I tried them on, being 163 cm tall, they fit perfectly.

When I moved to the river to enter the stream, they didn’t interfere with walking, and because no water got in, I was able to fish comfortably without feeling cold. This should be useful right up until the spring opening season. At the time of filming (early November), I was using thin inner tights, but depending on the cold, I’ll probably switch to thicker ones to adjust.

It’s also nice that seeds from grasses and flowers, which are often a nuisance on pants, don’t stick as easily. Perhaps because the outer fabric uses a high-density waterproof, breathable material, the tiny spines on the seeds don’t catch very easily.

However, compatibility with wading shoes is hit or miss

When I paired them with my wading shoes (Montbell Sawtooth Trekker), I couldn’t wear them unless I removed the insole. It seems the thickness of the sock section is affecting the fit, so compatibility with shoes may vary. Once you get into the water, the fit becomes even tighter, so the design may feel a bit roomy on land by comparison.

The JK-24 Tactical WD Jacket has impressive storage capacity

The Little Presents “JK-24 Tactical WD Jacket” I bought together with the waders turned out to be surprisingly convenient. The short length doesn’t bunch up around the waist, and the military-style design looks really cool. The size I’m wearing is M.

This isn’t limited to this jacket, but I really felt how well the fishing-jacket-specific “D-ring” feature, which lets you hang a net from it, suits stream fishing. With this, it seems like I can avoid dropping the net by snagging it, or fumbling when taking it out while landing a fish.

Until now I had been carrying my net on a belt, but this is so comfortable it may change my mind.

The front has a large pocket and D-rings, so I was able to store everything I’d been keeping in my bag, such as lure cases, my smartphone, and wallet. Not only did it eliminate the feeling of pressure from the waist pouch around my stomach, but the storage capacity also improved, making it very comfortable. This may well be enough to make my winter fishing gear complete.

A worthwhile fishing trip where I could confirm the functionality of both items

As for the stream fishing itself, perhaps because it’s the off-season and there are fewer fish, I’ve been having a pretty tough time... On this day, I only saw lots of waterfowl flying through the cold sky and didn’t spot a single fish. Without the new waders and jacket, my spirits would have chilled along with the weather.

It was a lonely outing with full gear and not even a single bite, but it became a very worthwhile time because I was able to confirm the functionality of the items. I want to fish more comfortably and more enjoyably this winter, so I plan to look for other useful items as well.

Reporting and text by Kazuma Tanaka

Search JK-24 Tactical WD Jacket on Amazon

Search W-46 N3 Chest High Wader on Amazon