Conference wahoo::fishing

    
    
    Tim, I too hedged over spending big bucks on Gore-Tex, but
    finally ordered the 10x style from BPS.  It's proved to be 
    worth it so far.  Buy a larger size jacket to fit over winter
    clothes.  The pants are cut to wear over jeans, so order
    your usual size.
    
    For a few less bucks  less look at a suit made of the same material
    as Don Mac has... I think BPS Omega series may meet your needs,
    but Don got a bargain on his rain suit.
    
    Why wait for xmas... buy now... pay later.  You'll get some use
    out of it for fall fishing.. and besides if someone buys one as
    a gift for you, it may not be quite what you want/need.
    
    cheers
    
    harbormaster 

Tim,
	After a tournament last year where I got totally soaked with my the same
set up as you described and the same problems, Santa took care of me.  I ended 
up getting the Rain Warrior gear endorsed by Roland Martin, which also is in the 
BPS catalogue.

	So far I've been very pleased with it.  It's not made of gortex but this 
hasn't been a problem for me.  It was designed with the fisherman in mind. 
Rather than bore you with all the features, look in the catalogue it give a good
description.  I believe you can get the whole set up for about $50.

	On thing you might want to concider in your purchase is how much 
fishing you'll really do in the rain.  I'm not putting anyone down but spending
big bucks for the best you can get only makes sense if you fish a lot come hell 
or high water, or you do a lot of tournaments, or you got lots of money.  Don't 
buy the cheapest thing you can but don't spend big bucks to get something you 
might not use all that often. 
 
	Do like we all do, save that money to buy more lures that we never use, 
or more different colored rubber lures than a Crayola Crayon box (spending money 
to do this doesn't need any justification it's called Fishing disease.  After 
you get your boat then we'll tell you about the hole in the water theory)

						regards,
							Madd Matt

The Rain Warrior (BPS p. 386) is the one Matt refers to.  It looks like a pretty
good deal for 36.95.  My main concern is the inner material.  Does it stick to
you? Suits which are simply PVC plastic with no liner will always stick to me.

Tim

    Goretex is great stuff, the Harbormaster's suit is real nice, but ya
    have to pay for it.  If I had the cash to blow, I'd get goretex.  
    
    My suit that the harbormaster referred to is a 'first mate' bought at
    MVP sorts for around $70.  For the money, it's a nice suit.  Pretty
    heavy duty.  I call it my 'storm suit'.  It has bibs rather than pants.  
    However, it's too heavy duty to wear when it's 80F, I use a cheap plastic 
    suit when it's hot out.
    
    I fish alot in the rain, and snow, and worst of all, freezing rain/ice.
    Those cheap plastic suits do not cut it when it's really wet, or really
    cold - but when its warm they are fine.  
    
    Check out the Omega in the BPS catalog, then look at the Firstmate at 
    MVP sports, similar suit for 1/2 the price - although I wouldn't doubt
    if the Omega is a nicer suit.
    
    Personally, I don't fish well when I'm cold and wet.  So I would
    definitely put a quality rainsuit high on the priority list for any
    serious fishermen.
    
    donmac

 I have a set of Grunden's rain gear, which is a Swedish manufacturer. They are
basically commercial fisherman's gear, and are extremely durable. I have worn
them while fishing in April, and I know that I would have been miserable without
them. They definitely keep you dry. They are, unfortunately, big bucks.

 I recommend them if you are going to be fishing on the ocean and dryness is
your overriding concern. I find that the pants are extremely tough and 
resilient.

 If you are going to do mostly fresh water fishing, they may not be the best 
choice for the following reasons.

     The pants are not as soft as Gore-tex. I think Gore-tex is a better
     choice for a rowboat sized envornment where you will spend alot of time
     sitting. They do not wick away moisture, nor do they breathe. They are
     relatively warm.

 The jacket is fine for any application. It keeps you completely dry, like
the pants. It does not breathe as well as Gore-tex, and is slightly less
tactilely pleasing than Gore-tex.

 My recommendation: if you spend most of your time fishing in light rain when
it's warm and you are unlikely to wear much underneath the suit, or if you
are going to be in a very small boat in fresh water, Gore-tex is probably
the best solution if you can afford it. If you are going to be spending alot
of time on the ocean with unpredictable weather, or tend to fish no matter
how nasty it gets and want to be comfortable even when it really sucks out,
go for a set of Grunden's. They seem to be in the same price range. (~$200-250
for a full suit.)

 The Doctah

     I haven't bought anything but Gore-Tex since I started Steelhead
    fishing 8 years ago. It kills wind DEAD (!!) and is the BEST in rain.
    It supposedly deteriorates after awhile in salt water use, so think
    about that.
     I wouldn't necessarily buy one from BPRO. I'd look at REI, EMS, IME -
    the mountain shops - and decide what functionality you want. I'd
    recommend a detachable hood, internal storm skirt or mid drawstring to
    keep wind from blowing up and underneath. A two way zipper covered with
    a good storm flap (with velcro closures or snaps) is CRITICAL. A soft
    internal collar liner is comfortable and keeps cold out. Pit zippers
    are good too, and velcro cuffs are important. Pockets should be big
    enough to suit your needs, be roomy and have good flap coverings. If
    it's hot and rainy, just "drop trou" and wear the GTex pants over your
    skivvies. Bibs are better tan pants, but are too hot in summer.
    Cabela's has a pretty good selection, and I'd recommend a shell you can
    "layer" under for all season use. The real "Cadillacs" are made by The
    North Face, Marmot Mountain and Moonstone.
     Hope this helps. Give me a call if you have any questions, I've got
    more of this stuff than I can remember (but I'm STILL buyin' fishin'
    tackle).
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

    
    There is also another company out of Pa. called "Cool Dry". They make a 
    variety of of colors and camo for hunters. They come in 3 styles,Jacket
    & Pants,Jacket & Bib Pants, and Parker (knee length). The prices can
    range from $70 to $110 based on who is selling them, but take it from
    me they work real well.
    
                                                            Guy
    

     A buddy of mine wore a "Kool-Dri" shell moose hunting in Newfoundland
    and said it worked great. Feels lousy though.
    
    --Bandito

    How about gloves?
    
    I haven't tried any of the new neoprene (or smiliar) gloves yet.
    
    I use fingerless wool gloves with leather mitten shells.  I like these
    but occasionally my fingers get cold.
    
    What do others use?
    
    donmac

    
    
    	I have a pair of neoprenes with index finger and thumb with slits
    	and velcro patches so you can fold them back on/off easily based
    	in your needs or situation.  Got them late last spring from BPS
    	so I haven't had a chance to break them in yet.
    
    	Harbor master.... who fishes trout till ice-in down in RI
    
    	

     I've tried a lot of neoprenes. Forget 'em. I use th L.L. Bean light
    wool gloves with little rubber grippers all over 'em and I ScotchGard
    'em to keep 'em water repellent. I do the same for wool Army glove
    liners.
    
    --The Skoal Bandit

    I drink coffee and grit my teeth, jump up and down, and blow on my
    hands. I HATE wearing gloves.
    
    Chris

    Wool gloves with tips of thumb and first finger cut off are handy
    when temps go down to 0�C and below. Even thou I hate using them.
    In wet conditions I cover them with "surgeons cloves" with similarly
    cut off fingers. 
    
    Another good way of warming hands is a hot mug of tea/coffee beefed
    up with a splash of good dark rum. Good stuff that bottled Caribbean
    sun!  ;^)
    
    Eki  

       I wasn't sure whether to put this in here or in bargains.
    
       There is a warehouse clearance sale for Eddie Bauer clothing, boots
    etc. in a store in Milford, MA.  Everything is 50% off marked price.
    I picked up a $89.00 pair of felt lined boots, the packs with the
    shearling around the top, for $30!  They had been marked down from $89
    to $60 on the tag and I got them for 50%.  They have expidition weight
    Down parkas for ~$105, Gore Tex ski pants for $50.  And so on...
    Well worth the drive if you're looking for end of the season bargains
    on winter clothes.
       The store is located on RT16 in Milford right beside the Super Stop
    and Shop in the Quarry Plaza.  People were walking out with HUGE bags
    of stuff so if you're interested don't wait!
    
    						B.C.