Patagonia Watermaster wader

We got a shocking rain storm today. The rain came down like someone tipped a whole swimming pool from the roof top.

As I was struggling to get to my car at school car park, I wished if I had my wader with me. So, today, I write bit about Patagonia's Watermaster wader that I have been using for some years.

If I am allowed to get to my conclusion straight, the wader is well made, but I wouldn't be surprised if it starts to leak within the first 12 months or so.

My first pair had a life of one year and bit, then the second pair started leaking in 12 months. The third pair lasted only 3 months, and I used the next one for 6 months. I am on the fifth pair now. All of my previous waders suffered from the same problem. Leaking along the seam tape on legs. Nothing more, nothing less.

Why do I keep going back to Patagonia's waders?

Because apart from their environmental cause that I support, Patagonia's customer service is excellent. Patagonia has replaced all of my leaking waders (the only thing I paid was a shipping cost to send it back to the factory) without making me feel like I am being a bad customer.

I think based on the premise that every wader leaks soon or later, it is a better to go with ones with a good warranty, so when the wader fails, I get a replacement. Of course, if people make their waders to last, I don't need to get a new pair every year which is clearly better for the planet.

The current model of Watermaster wader has these buckles which can be used to adjust the length of the shoulder belts easily without taking them off. It is a handy option for dealing with the nature's call without taking the wader off (provided you are men).

The only problem with these buckles is that one on the back digs into my spine when I sit on a bench, chair or car seat while I am wearing my wader. It is very annoying and it would have been better if they didn't put these things on the back (use Velcro or something instead).

Other than the problem of their leaky seam tapes, the fabric is very tough. When I was using other waders from different companies, I was getting pin holes all the time. With Patagonia's wader, I rarely get pin holes (apart from getting punctured from barb wire, with those annoying thistles in NZ, and of course barnacles).

As I said, the wader is quite well made and comfortable to wear (apart from the belt buckle). It will be an excellent wader, only if it lasts longer (say 3 seasons).

They use their own breathable material called "H2NO"


Socks are thick and comfortable


A stainless steel hook on the gravel guard. It can catch fly line though.


Speaking of catch, here is my catch on the week end.


It is a interesting book to read about the company's philosophy

Did Canon Timer kill my camera?

Buddhist monk says "everything with a form is destined to break down", and as the Buddhist teaching goes, my Canon D10 failed today.

I have been using the camera for over one year and it served me well in the wind, rain, and under the water. It is pain in the neck though that electric gadgets often get kaputt as soon as their warranties become expired as if they got chipped with a self distracting time bomb.

I saw many SONY walkman got broken soon after their warranty periods finished when I was at school, and like many of my school friends, I used to believe that SONY products had a built in SONY Timer, a kill switch which kicks in as soon as the warranty expires. To be honest, I am still living with my past, and it is the only reason for me to stay away from SONY products even to this date. The irony is that it wasn't SONY Timer this time, it was Canon's.

Anyway, I got a nice size chopper tailor this morning, and I was glad that the camera was able to take a few shots of the fish before started acting funny. I will probably send it to Canon repair mob in Tokyo. I had to get my 50mm macro lens fixed last time, and getting it serviced over there was a lot cheaper than getting the lens repaired locally (I paid about $80 for something which was quoted $300 originally).

It's fun to get this one on my #4 rod. Lucky it didn't bite off 3X tippet.


For tailor of that size being around, no wonder dolphins looked busy.


This was the last shot I took with my Canon D10.


I switched Canon with Pentax Optio another waterproof point & shoot.

Can herring ever feel blue?

I fished Mandurah estuary today to chase some herring.

Although I managed to hook up a few of fish, fish weren't that switched on to chase my flies. I got them on a steamer but I had no success on a popper. There was one fish came up for it. It hit a fly once and it was gone. After that I didn't get anything even switching back to streamers.

Usually it is hard not to hook up herring when they are in their hunting mode. They get so agitated that they hit anything that moves around in front of their nose including a piece of red plastic straw or even bare hook.

It looks like even herring can be in a blue mood from time to time.