Some people want their trips to be spontaneous, fun, and unpredictable. And being prepared for the unexpected things that inevitably happen while fishing can make your trip more enjoyable. No one enjoys fishing in the rain, cold and hungry, knowing their rain suit and lunch are left back home.
The most important thing you need to know about dressing for a day of fishing is that it’s not as simple as putting on a pair of shorts or a T-shirt. You have to consider what weather conditions are likely to occur during your outing and how those conditions will affect your clothing choices.
We’ll outline the basic things you’ll require before going to the water. Don’t fret, you won’t need everything for your next fishing getaway; the less you have to carry, the better. But we offer guidance on this page on what to take that prepares you for most of your fishing adventures.
What to Wear When Fishing – The Basics
What you wear while fishing isn’t to impress other anglers. But it should be for safety, comfort, and success. When choosing what to wear for fishing, these are the things you should consider.
The general rule is to choose the right comfortable clothes and work for you in all seasons and all weather conditions. As with anything else, you will also need clothing that doesn’t scare fish away and helps you catch fish. You need to wear clothes that don’t make noise and provide camouflage. You need garments that allow you to get close to the fish while remaining as quiet as possible.
Wear Layers
You don’t need to dress better, you need to dress smarter. Experienced anglers swear by layers and layers of clothes. Wear layers is the key to adjusting to various climate conditions while fishing. Even on a calm, sunny day, you face big temperature swings on a typical fishing trip. Once starting, possibly before dawn, a day begins dim, cold, and wet. Four hours later, you find yourself under a blazing sun. Other than that, conditions can change rapidly storm rips in, the rain falls, and the wind blows. The wind fluctuates as it goes up and down. One outfit won’t match all of these ever-changing conditions. So you need to dress in layers to be comfortable all day or night when fishing.
The Basic Setup
The following setup below is a great choice in most instances, and it’s flexible enough to handle the range in which most anglers fish throughout this season. Change it if it’s sweltering, without a chance of anything cool happening, or if it’s cold and going to stay that way. With this list, you’ll be able to be prepared for a range of weather from 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the range from which we fish most often.
1. Underwear
Wear an old cotton t-shirt and shorts all year round, except for the coolest weather. If you’re planning on wearing long pants, wear them over underwear. This prevents chafing and keeps your legs warm. Put on a light jacket over your shirt and shorts for cooler temperatures. In warmer weather, wear only a short sleeve shirt.
2. Long-sleeve cotton turtleneck or shirt
This layer will protect your neck and upper torso from wind, especially if you’re fishing on a boat. It provides good insulation against heat loss. A long-sleeved shirt works well too.
3. Long underwear
Long underwear made of silk or synthetic fabrics that can be worn in various conditions is cheap and extremely lightweight. You can also use it fishing without needing to take anything else along. Even if you don t need it during the trip, it’ll take up almost no space, and you’ll be glad you have it on if your jeans are wet and you have t bring spare clothing to get back to the car.
Natural fibers such as merino wool, nylon, polyester, spandex, and fleece provide a snug experience during colder weather.
5. Hiking or athletic shorts (with pockets)
Please put them in your gym bag to be ready for when you need them. This means packing a gym bag with a few changes of clothes. We prefer hiking shoes, and they’ll come in handy if you want to hike around after the fish.
6. Jeans or khakis
Many people tend to wear these pants automatically since they’re comfortable and offer protection from the sun. There s a reason these trousers are so ineffective at keeping cool. Cotton, nylon, polyester, and fleece can all supplant cotton if you’d like clothes whose thickness minimizes the wind.
7. Long-sleeve cotton shirt
We always wear a long-sleeve cotton shirt during hot weather to keep the heat off. At this stage of the game, we believe most individuals recognize that prolonged exposure to the sun is terrible for the skin. And fishing is a mode of recreation that offers lots of sun exposure compared to other activities. Modern clothing, made from sunscreen-friendly material, displays the UPF rating, as do all shirts by default.
For cold weather, put on a long-sleeved wool shirt. Wool keeps you warm even if it gets wet.
9. Fleece pullover
There are many brand names for this material, a fleecy material for cotton. All are soft, warm, and comfortable. They’re inexpensive and easy to pack. Fleece is not waterproof, but it does insulate against moisture. Put one in your gym bag.
10. Waterproof raincoat
If you plan on fishing in the rain, a waterproof raincoat is essential. It should fit comfortably and be big enough to cover your entire body. The best ones are designed specifically for fishing. Some models include hoods and zippers. These are important because they allow you to stay dry while still being able to see what’s going on.
Get one that fits over your fishing vest. Make sure it has a hood. Waist-high is the best length for wading anglers.
Tip:
If you forget your rain jacket at home, you can make a cloak from a large trash bag if you do not have one. Remove the top of the bag and double-cut it into your arms, neck, and head, and you can help yourself out any time since then. You may look funny wearing it, but you’ll be dry.
Other Essentials
We can not speak about fishing without hats, sunglasses, and gloves as accessories. These may seem trivial, but they become essential when you spend the whole day outside.
Hat
A hat protects your face from the sun and helps prevent water from getting inside your eyes. A baseball cap is ideal for fishing. You can get a cheaper one at Walmart or Target if you don’t have one. Some people even use hard hat liners. A lot of people like light hats with a broad brim. They shield your face and neck from overheating.
Polarized sunglasses
These glasses help prevent glare and can shield your eyes from the damaging effects of UV rays. Polarized lenses are ideal for fishing. When you wear the water’s surface, you can see the brightness of the water’s surface, and you can see your prey effortlessly.
Gloves
You need gloves to handle fish safely. Fish will bite your hand if you touch them. You can buy gloves specifically for fishing, and they’re all designed to help you handle fish easier. Gloves are also useful for handling hooks. We recommend using rubber gloves because they won’t slip off your hands. Sometimes, wearing gloves while handling fishing tackle or during the summertime may not make much sense. You can also get light gloves with UV protective qualities.
Pack your foul-weather bag
No one enjoys being out on the water when it is storming, but you can make the experience a little more tolerable if you are prepared. These items you should consider packing in your foul-weather bag.
Waterproof packsack
Buy a waterproof packsack, available at most sporting goods stores and from major distributors like Cabelas or Bass Pro Shops. The ones I like most have roll-down lids that shut. It should be reasonably compact and about the size of a loaf of bread. It should be waterproof and submersible.
This is where you stuff the clothes and gear you need if the weather change or an emergency happens.
What to pack in your FWB?
The rain suit, knit hat, gloves, pullover, matches, and socks are on top of our list. The rain suit stays near the top because that’s what you’ll use most often.
Tip:
It can be a challenge to drag your FWB along, especially if you’re walking a long distance and are on foot. If you know you’re likely to be out and about for a short time, and the weather is unlikely to change, you can leave it behind. But if you aren’t sure, you’ll be glad you have extra clothing if you get cold or wet. And safely protects your gear if you don’t need it.
Keep your bag packed and just put it aside. If you use or wear something, simply put it back after using it, and you’ll be ready for the next trip without having to repack your FWB.
Pull-on waders
Pull-on waders are perfect for fishing when you want to move quickly and easily through the water.
If you intend on wading in streams or surfcasting, you need waders. Although you can rent wading gear in the warmest months for as little as a few dollars, waders last for about a year and cost several hundred dollars. Essentially, waders are waterproof hip boots designed to protect your lower body from cold water.
Waders come in various styles, made from a few different kinds of materials. Like tents and boots, Waders are made to be waterproof, but they also suffer tears and punctures. Fortunately, a minor tear or hole can be patched.
Waders come in several different styles and are available almost anywhere tackle is sold:
Boot-foot waders:
This one-piece chest-high outfit incorporates rubber boots with each of its legs, making this design the most convenient for dressing in a hurry. It is also the only design for surfcasting because sand or pebbles cannot get inside the boots.
In buying boot-foot waders, you must choose between felt or lugs on the soles of the boots. They are extremely slippery when rocks are covered with algae, wet leaves, dead seaweed, or unidentifiable slime. Felt soles cling and help to counteract the slipperiness. However, lugged soles work fine if you fish mostly in sand or mud.
Note: On some streams, felt is not allowed because it tends to transfer invasive species.
Some manufacturers now offer soles made of things like crushed walnut shells to counter that. Look for these eco-friendly soles, or use cleats or lugs.
Hip waders:
Hip boots are suitable for fishing streams in summer. Hip waders reach the top of your thigh and can be secured to your belt with garter straps. You can not dive nearly as far in hip waders as with chest-high waders, but if the creek doesn’t get that deep, why waste the day wearing chest waders? It will also make it easier to go to the restroom with hip boots.
Among the features of some wading shoes, such as those made by Korker, is interchangeable soles. You can also buy strap-on cleats that fit over your respective soles. Depending on the situation, these allow you to switch from felt to cleats quickly. Metal cleats are necessary when climbing on slippery boat rocks.
Waders are often made of the following materials and vary in durability and comfort:
Rubber and nylon:
Among the cheapest of the bunch, rubber waders are rubber boots that reach the knees. They are usually reinforced with reinforced knee patches and factory-sealed seams. They can also be preserved for quite some time when properly maintained.
Breathable:
Waders equipped with breathability membranes are the most expensive, but they’re also ultra-comfortable. The membranes of these waders make it possible for you to stay cool in warmer months.
Tip:
Always carry a roll of duct tape to patch holes.
Wading Vests
A wading vest is made from materials that will keep you warm while you fish. The vest also has pockets that are perfect for storing your gear, and it is machine-washable, so you can keep it looking new. You can buy vests with a gazillion pockets, and you can stuff every one of those pockets.
Here are the five features to look for in a vest:
1. Two large outer pockets suitable for holding a box of lures or flies:
The pockets should open and fasten from the top. If your vest has pockets that open on the side, you’ll forget to zip up one day, and eventually, you will lose a box of expensive flies or lures.
2. Four inner pockets:
These are smaller, and it’s okay if they only have Velcro and no zippers. You may put a box of split shot in one pocket, tippet or leader material in another, and bug repellent in another.
3. Four small outer pockets:
One should have a zipper for an extra car key. The rest are for a small box to carry flies, floatant, and this and that.
4. A metal ring:
You can tie your clippers onto this. They make retractable pin-on gadgets designed as clipper holders, but we’ve had bad luck breaking those gadgets. Save old fly line for these kinds of jobs instead. Tie your clippers on with them. Fly line is also a free alternative to Croakers for holding your sunglasses when you want to keep them handy.
5. Outside back pouch:
Put your rain jacket in here, or maybe your lunch, water bottle, extra reel, etc.
Things to carry on your vest:
Now that you have a vest, here are ten things you should always carry in it:
However, we recommend taking as little as possible in your vest. When wading, it’s advisable to travel light.
Sunscreen: Use it for all daytime fishing.
Insect repellent: For obvious reasons.
Clippers: For cutting leader and trimming knots, clippers are preferable to teeth because clippers don’t need to go to the dentist.
Thermometer: Many tackle shops sell inexpensive thermometers designed to withstand being tossed in your vests and tackle boxes. With a thermometer, you can tell what fish species may be most actively feeding.
A plastic garbage bag: You may not keep fish as a rule, but every so often, you will want to, and who needs a vest full of fish slime? You don’t need a lawn-size Hefty bag; a wastebasket liner is more like it.
Forceps: They help remove hooks more easily. This is good for the catch-and-release angler who
wants to get the fish back in the water in a hurry. And it’s always good for dealing with fish with sharp teeth.
Rain jacket: It doesn’t take up much room, and it makes a big difference, especially when it rains!
Spare car key: Everybody loses the car key sometimes. It’s a bummer if this happens when it’s
dark and cold by the side of a trout stream 20 miles from home. If you have a key with electronics, keep it in an airtight plastic bag.
Flashlight: They make small flashlights that you can clip on and aim to have two free
hands for knot tying, removing hooks, and so forth. Then, on the way to the car, you can see where you are going.
First aid kit: It’s easy to find a compact first aid kit. Buy one and keep it in your vest at all times.
If you’re allergic to bee stings or other insects’ bites, make sure you have something to treat severe allergic reactions.