Mountain trout waters are cold no matter the time of year, and on a late fall or early winter day, keeping warm is a must. That translates to warm, well-insulated chest waders, and my personal preference is for the stocking-foot variety that let you wear boots with good traction. A fall in icy water not only is not fun; it can be downright dangerous. With that in mind, the safety belt near the top of chest waders should always be good and snug.
Beyond waders and footwear, thermal underwear, vests with long sleeves in fleece or other warm fabrics, headwear that protects one’s ears, and angler’s gloves are all recommended.
In addition to matters of safety connected with the possibilities of hypothermia and avoiding getting soaked in chilly water, there are some fine mountain trout streams that bring another safety consideration into play. Once hunting seasons open for bear, or in areas where hog hunting is common, there is considerable hunting activity in some watersheds. If you plan to fish in popular hunting destinations in the Nantahala and Pisgah national forests — in the Standing Indian area of on upper Big Snowbird of Santeetlah creeks — either think twice or at the very least wear highly visible hunter orange.
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