Simms released a beefed-up version of their neoprene bootie for wet wading, plus the new Flyweight Packable Wader. Winning the genius award, Simms’ Daymaker net with interchangeable handle is the best net for kayak anglers.

person holds up a Yakrods magnetic rod tether at ICAST 2024 YakRods Saves Your Fishing Rods

The Best New Simms Gear for 2025

Flyweight Packable Wader

When I first saw the new Flyweight Packable Wader I started cooking up ways I could use them. Not only can I stow the waders in my luggage to travel to my next fishing expedition, but I can stash an extra pair of waders for emergencies.

photo and details of Simms Flyweight Packable Wader on display at ICAST 2024
Photos: Kayak Angler Staff

The Flyweight Packable Wader uses lightweight breathable material for wading comfort with heavier material in legs and lighter material in the bib to balance durability with packability. Buckles at the waist allow me to fold down the bib on hot days and one-millimeter neoprene booties keep my feet warm and protected. The waders pack into their own pocket.

Nothing is worse than arriving to the fishing grounds only to find a hole in my waders. I’m going to keep a pair of Flyweight Packable Waders in my gear bag so a wader failure won’t end my fishing trip.

Daymaker Boat Net Long & Short Handle

Buy from:

SIMMS FISHING AMAZON BACKCOUNTRY BASS PRO SHOP

When I’m fishing in a high-seat kayak or standup paddleboard I need a long-handle net. When I’m fishing in my low-seat kayak, a shorter handle saves space. The Daymaker net does both. It’s built of composite carbon material to save weight while the mesh is coated to protect the fish’s slime coat and avoid snags for a clean release.

Kayak Angler editor Ric Burnley stands holding the Simms Daymaker Net with interchangeable handle
Feature photo: Kayak Angler Staff

The net’s hoop was designed with cooperation from tennis racket designers so it is light and strong with the net secured to the hoop for years of landing daymaker catches.

Flats Zipit Bootie

Buy from:

SIMMS FISHING

The Flats Zipit Bootie features a neoprene body with vulcanized rubber reinforcement in the toe and sole. A locking corrosion-resistant zipper makes it easy to pull on the bootie. A rubber pad in the heel allows me to kick off the booties without damage.

Intended for wet wading, I plan to use them with my paddling pants in cold water. I wear neoprene booties with my paddling pants because they are comfortable and light and take up less space in my kayak than wader boots. An answer to my prayers, the Flats Zipit is designed to wear with light water socks or barefoot, so I can use the boots when the water warms up.

I usually replace my paddling booties every couple of years; the Flats Zipit will extend the life of my paddling booties for years of abuse.

Feature photo: Kayak Angler Staff

 

Previous articleFirst Look: Connect-Ease Yak-Ease Power Pak Pro
Next articleYakRods Saves Your Fishing Rods
Ric Burnley
Kayak Angler editor Ric Burnley has been kayak fishing since the dawn of the sport. In 2007, Burnley wrote The Complete Kayak Fisherman, with chapters on how-to make a PVC rod holder and glue a fish finder transducer to the hull. In 2013, he landed his dream job as editor of Kayak Angler magazine. Burnley is a regular contributor to Salt Water Sportsman, Sport Fishing, Outdoor Life, In the Bite and other print and online publications. Burnley lives in Virginia Beach with his wife, adult daughter, daughter’s boyfriend and daughter’s two cats. Experience In 2004, Ric Burnley stole his first milk crate from behind a 7-Eleven and fashioned it into a gear crate for his Ocean Kayak Prowler 15. Many years and many milk crates later, Burnley has witnessed the rise of kayak fishing from a bastardized fringe element to a legitimate industry with millions of devotees. The journey to becoming an angler started early in Burnley’s life. His father, Eric Burnley, is a renowned outdoor writer and former fishing guide, so the boy grew up in the cockpit of a charter boat and in the pages of national magazines. After college, Burnley lost easy access to his father’s boat, but not his passion for fishing. Once he had exhausted the limits of land-based angling, Burnley decided to try out a new thing called kayak fishing. About the same time, Burnley was looking for extra work to pay for his expensive addiction. His father, editor of the Mid-Atlantic Fisherman Magazine, offered him freelance assignments for the weekly publication. That led to a position as regional editor at Salt Water Sportsman, publication of The Complete Kayak Fisherman and editorship of Kayak Angler. Meanwhile, Burnley and his partner-in-crime, “Kayak Kevin” Whitley were exploring the boundaries of kayak fishing. With the bountiful Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean as their playground, the two anglers were the first to target big red drum, cobia, trophy striped bass, monster black drum, sheepshead and many other species. Once inshore species were exhausted, Burnley loaded his kayak onto motorboats and fished for bluefin tuna, blackfin tuna, king mackerel and amberjack. All the while, Burnley shared his experiences and knowledge with anglers through print, photos, video, radio, seminars and online. Almost 20 years later, Burnley continues to fish obsessively and share the stories. His recent projects for Kayak Angler cover the latest trends in forward-facing sonar and remote-controlled electric motors. Over the past two decades, kayak fishing and Ric Burnley have come a long way from PVC rod holders and stolen milkcrates. Education ● Radford University: BA English; Virginia Teacher’s License. Highlights ● Other Interests: Mountain biking, traveling, hiking, surfing and skateboarding ● Day Job: High School English teacher at an alternative school for at-risk students Fun Fact Ric’s name is a contraction of Eric. Ric is named after his father, Eric Sr. To differentiate between the two Erics, Mrs. Burnley removed her son’s E. To this day, she writes the boy’s name ‘Ric, with an apostrophe replacing the E.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Leave a Reply