Can't say enough good things about Frogg Toggs...
Had their Hellbender waders for almost 3 years, and put probably close to 400 trips on them. Many of those days were bushwacking into remote flows, through salmon berry, etc. Fell down 2 rock faces over the years that would have measured 10-15 feet or better, even split myself open through the waders on one of those falls and no tears. IMO the best wader on the market for $130.
The Tekk Toad jackets are very worth the $50. We've put around 100 trips on ours the last year here... and they have held up well. Wearing them with waders that have Velcro (neoprenes) is a pain, as the Velcro will tear apart the inside of the jacket and jam up the Velcro with the fuzz that comes off the jacket. These jackets also came on many crazy bush wacking excursions, and held up better than I expected. They felt thin so I thought they would tear on everything and anything salmon berry or blackberry like, but they have surprised me many times. I've put maybe 6 holes in mine in the past year, but they are incredibly easy to patch with some shoe goo or marine goop and won't leak after the patch. You only need to patch the back, shoulder and arms, every where else has multiple layers and only the stuff in the pockets will get wet if you get holes on the front/sides.
As for your rod/reel. I'd honestly get a baitcaster, but that's just me. Longer casting range, get more casts into a day (pins take forever to reel in), can toss spoons and spinners. I've had some issues with the pin on island rivers as you can't reel in fast enough fishing some spots and all your gear gets caught in overhanging branches if you are fishing slots mid to other side of river. Only advantage of a pin is that it gets better drifts and is more fun to fight fish on being single action.
Last thing... don't cheap out on boots. Boots that are ratty will wreck the feet on your waders. Stay away from Chota's, they are complete garbage and not worth any amount of money. If I were doing everything all over again with the knowledge I have now, I would be looking for an old pair of Hodgeman's (either the leather or canvas ones). Things are bomb proof besides the felt, but the felt is easy to replace for 20 bucks.
Last thing... don't buy Frogg Togg's waders in Canada... Every shop I have been to for the waders has had them extremely over priced, around $50 more than the states. Going from $130 to $180 makes them no longer worth the price. Best cheap wader on the market but if you're going to pay $180 for them, get a better wader in that case... Jackets seem to run about $50 everywhere I've seen them!
Cheers,
Dan
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Topic: Opinions needed:Gear-Float/Drift fishing salmon/steelhead (Read 7155 times)