Dear millertime,
A couple of things to consider about layering. Breathables work fine in the Winter provided you have room in them to layer clothes.
Synthetic materials like polypropolene are best for the base layer. Traditional cotton long johns are definitely not your best choice. Poly allows moisture, ie sweat, to pass through to the outer layer. Plenty of places offer "wicking" long johns made of poly.
There are plenty of options in fleece pants, Cabela's has a nice pair with stirrups on the feet to keep them from riding up on you for about $ 35.00 though they are by no means your only choice.
What goes for the pants also works for the feet. Get a pair of sheer poly wicking socks to wear as your base sock. After that the choice is yours though I prefer 100 percent wool as it insulates just as well when it is damp as when it is dry, and you can get warm wool socks that are thinner than many of the blended material socks.
The key is to get the moisture away from your skin. You don't have to dress like the Michelin Man to accomplish that.
Try searching at Sierra Trading Post to see your options in poly thermal underwear, they have a lot of it on sale in their bargain bin.
One last thing is that if you buy larger wading shoes than you wear in a normal street shoe don't get then too large. You can fill in a little space with socks but if you have to wear too much it can wind up binding your feet and work worse than too little insulation.
You need to have full range of movement and be able to wiggle your toes. That is why it can be really important to try your wading gear on before you buy it.
Regards,
Tim Murphy
