Chest high waders or wading pants + jacket

I started off with 3mm farmer john wetsuit with splash jacket.  It worked great but I just didn't like the feeling of being soggy wet throughout the day.  After 4 years, I finally went with the dry suit and could not be happier.  Now I just unzip and jump out and I'm nice and dry vs being wet, clammy and nasty and having to peel off the wetsuit. 

Start with the FJ wetsuits if you're on a budget, but I'd highly recommend saving up for a dry suit. 

Another option would be tempest pants and jacket combo, but that easily adds up to nearly the cost of a dry suit.

Some of the drysuits designed for other sports cost less, so that m/b an option too...think waterskiing/wakeboarding or paddleboarding or...
But yeah, for years I rocked farmer-john wetsuit with splash pants & splash jacket...worked great for me. 

I cut the feet off my neoprene waders for when I finnaly dump in and not mean it. ... Those drysuits are too expensive for my cheap ass.

One thing that occurrs to me is there is a need for a clothing manufacturer (I'm looking at you FrogTogg) to make an inexpensive kayak dry suit.   

BINGO!!!!!!!!

http://www.mythicdrysuits.com/

These are high quality and great price. just i wish they had a little bigger size for my by ass.!

NRS has a new Sidewinder bib overall that has socks and a relief zipper.  I wear a Kokatat Gortex drysuit and wouldn't wear anything else but the new waders from NRS look interesting and they're about half the price of the Kokatat suit.  I think they're probably a great option for fresh water but nothing beats a full drysuit for the ocean.