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(Photo: Inga Hendrickson)
Even the best waders can feel stuffy, but these use four-layer nylon that’s thin and breathable enough for hiking. Fasteners lengthen the shoulder straps to drop the Ultralight to your waist, shedding more heat.
Derek DeYoung’s bright and flashy fish art is legendary. These hats make use of his iconic style while keeping the sun off your face.
No two days on the water are the same, so flexibility is key. The Switchback has attachments for your net, rod, wading staff, and drink. Best of all, there’s a pack that slides around the belt for optimal placement.
The majority of fishing happens at close range, where presentation matters. Scott’s newest rod is made of an epoxy-fiberglass blend that ensures smooth, accurate casts—perfect for placing flies at the top of the pool.
There’s plenty of tech in Bauer’s latest reels—namely, a carbon-fiber drag mechanism that could stop a racehorse. But no need to dwell on that. The SST is balanced, light, and gets the job done. Enough said.
A good line loads the rod and turns over the fly for clean, accurate presentation. This one has a coating to make it durable and slick, reducing friction.
Handcrafted in Washington from fine hardwoods and turquoise inlays, Bitterroot’s custom nets are pretty enough to hang.
Patagonia supplied the grippy Vibram soles, and Danner designed the leather-nylon upper. The result: a boot you can walk in for miles, built to last a lifetime.
Columbia’s Omni-Freeze Zero technology puts sweat to work. Polymer rings on the fabric use evaporation to lower the shirt’s temperature when they touch moisture.