Wet wading pants

[nativebrownie]

Knee high waterproof socks and lightweight quick dry hiking pants rolled up...

 

[wildtrout2]

Dear wildtrout2,

It wasn't meant to be a joke. I've never seen them. Maybe I'm just stealthy and skilled in avoidance.

Fair enough, but I still found it amusing. I can tell you this much about nettles, if you do encounter them, you won't forget it. And, you'll make sure you can identify it in the future.

 

[redietz]

Dear troutbert,

If they are that common, I suspect that I am one of the people that they do not affect.

They affect everybody. Even deer know to avoid them. Unlike, say, poison ivy, which causes an allergic reaction in many (not all) people by causing the body to produce histamines, nettles cut out the middle man and directly deposit histamine on the skin.

OTOH, I haven't had a problem with them since I started wearing wading pants. Even the cheapest quick-dry, zip off pair seems to be sufficient in my experience.

 

[JeffK]

Back where I came from we called stinging nettle cow itch. When I was a kid and only wore shorts they were a real problem. Beside along trout streams, nettles always seemed to grow most near the best places to pick wild raspberries. A real nightmare is poison ivy/cow itch combo since the nettles will inject the PI oil deeper into the skin. Another wading shorts nightmare were deer flies which seem to like stream side vegetation.

Never had real problems once I started wearing wading pants; haven't been to the harshest spots in tights.

 

[troutbert]

Back where I came from we called stinging nettle cow itch.

We used to call nettles "burn hazel."

Probably the most common name is stinging nettles.

 

[wildtrout2]

Back where I came from we called stinging nettle cow itch. When I was a kid and only wore shorts they were a real problem.

When we were kids we called it five minute itch, but it lasted longer than five minutes. 😀

Edit: I was mistaken, we called it seven minute itch, not five minute itch. It still lasted longer than that.

 

[lycoflyfisher]

I have yet to find a true lightweight quickdry pant that keeps stinging nettles out. You need something with more nylon

Some of the lighterweight hunting pants block nettles. The first light corrugate pants do, but they are probably a little heavy for a dedicated wet wading pant.

 

[Kms]

When we were kids we called it five minute itch, but it lasted longer than five minutes. 😀

lol a friend dubbed them 45 minute itch.

 

[tomgamber]

it doesn't hurt that much and goes away shortly after getting in the water. There is a huge patch of nettles at the top of mill creek above Laughlintown. When my boys were teens they kept fishing up ahead of me a goofing around (not that in itself is a crime) but eventually they headed off and I "forgot" to tell them about that lush green patch of knee high plants. found them a little later in a plunge pool trying to wash it off. told them when they have service again to Google it.

BTW Nettles make very good pesto.

 

[troutbert]

BTW Nettles make very good pesto.

Yes indeed. Nettles pesto is delicious.

 

[wildtrout2]

lol a friend dubbed them 45 minute itch.

That sounds more realistic. 😀

 

[Innerlooped]

x4 or 5 or whatever we’re on for the Columbia PFG convertibles. I like the ones with the belt too. If you aren’t opposed to used, you can find a ton that seem barely worn for dirt cheap on the auction site. As for nettles, I know there are a few proponents of snake gaiters on here and I’m a recent convert. They’re pretty light even when wet and a side benefit is no nettles are getting through those….

 

[redietz]

Yes indeed. Nettles pesto is delicious.

In fact, common nettle isn't even native to the New World; it was deliberately introduced as a food item (and for its supposed health benefits.)

 

[Bamboozle]

Since I wet wade 99% of the time, I've tried a lot of different lightweight nylon pants over the years. The best bang for my money has always been the Cabela's branded stuff which of course, is no more.

I recently bought a pair of their "World Wide Sportsman" convertible pants at the Hamburg store and while they appear OK, the material is a LOT heavier than my old pair. I don't know if I'll like the thicker material as much, but I got them with points so...

What I've liked & disliked about the various brands I've used over the years...

I DON'T like the mesh briefs so I usually cut them out and just wear regular briefs. If the regular briefs get wet and don't dry before I walk into a post-fishing restaurant or business and everyone thinks I'm incontinent...​

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I don't give a rat's arse.​

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I like the pants to have deep pockets and a zipper pocket is a plus. I don't care much about cargo pockets.​

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A belt or built in belt is a plus as is a stretch waist band when sitting or bending.​

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I never use the zip-off/convertible feature so IF I can find pants without I'll buy them.​

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While Velcro tabs on the bottom of the pant legs seems like a good idea, but the added bulk can sometimes create a pressure point that is irritating once I wrap the pants around my ankle and into my socks & wet wading guard sock.​

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The pants are usually so thin, a tab really isn't needed so I prefer pants without. If I can't find those, I'll cut off the tab.​

Experience in regard to nettles...

The usual lightweight nylon versions don't do SQUAT to protect against stinging nettle. I use my ever present wading staff to push away observed nettle as I walk, but I usually feel a "sting" or two.​

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I'll also never forget close to a 100 yard walk through stinging nettle to get to the Brandywine Creek. The wet wading pants didn't help one tiny little bit. By the time I reached the water, my legs were absolutely on fire and the close to 80 degree water temp of the creek didn't help much to cool the burn...​

Experience in regards to poison ivy...

I get poison ivy all the time so I always wear long pants and I'm VERY careful. I was wearing my fishing pants one day while bank fishing on a really hot day so I was perspiring heavily and my wet wading pants in the leg area were soaked.​

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I started down a trail where the poison ivy was ridiculous and backed out because I could see leaves brushing against my pant legs...​

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Yep, the combination of the wet pants from perspiration allowed the urushiol from the poison ivy to pass through the pant material to my skin and give me a rash.​

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And before any disbelieving experts chime in, I've had poison ivy more times than most combined with a few hospital and doctor visits thrown in the mix. Because of this and the precautions I take, this particular outbreak and where it occurred on my legs could only have happened THROUGH the pants.​

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Good luck!

 

[Bamboozle]

Fair enough, but I still found it amusing. I can tell you this much about nettles, if you do encounter them, you won't forget it. And, you'll make sure you can identify it in the future.

The late Charles K. Fox was the person who first taught me to be beware of and how to identify stinging nettle one day in his backyard as they are everywhere along the Letort and I was clueless at the time.

Even though I haven't avoided them entirely over the years, at least IF I encounter them, I know WHY my skin is on fire...

 

[kbobb]

Wrangler outdoor pants at Walmart - under $30, nylon so quick drying and have a little elastic type give.
Also use athletic compression pants with swim trunks overtop - very nice in hot weather, good for bugs but probably not plants with thorns, etc.

 

[wildtrout2]

In fact, common nettle isn't even native to the New World; it was deliberately introduced as a food item (and for its supposed health benefits.)

When you unknowingly encounter it, you'll no doubt question any supposed health benefits.

 

[albatross]

These arrived today. Anxious to try them on the water. No match for the nettles, but light, comfy, and sun protection.

https://a.co/d/09swHB0A

 

[Highstickdrifter]

The late Charles K. Fox was the person who first taught me to be beware of and how to identify stinging nettle one day in his backyard as they are everywhere along the Letort and I was clueless at the time.

Even though I haven't avoided them entirely over the years, at least IF I encounter them, I know WHY my skin is on fire...

Many decades ago when I was foolish enough to test my fledgling fly flinging skills against the legendary Letort browns, I tripped and fell face first into a patch of stinging nettles. I doused my burning face and hands in the cold water (to moderate, temporary avail), got stuck in the quicksand muck and have ever after dubbed the stream LeTORTURE!

 

[dryflyguy]

I dont wet wade anymore.

But underneath my waders, I wear ****ies work pants.
They're pretty thin, and dry out fairly quick when wet.
But think they still might be thick enough to block out nettles.

Walmart sells them pretty cheap, and they're probably worth trying