With warmer weather right around the bend, check out these suggestions on the best spring fly fishing gear for the season. Tight lines!
1. Orvis Silver Sonic Guide Wader
When you want the best, use what the pros use. Orvis designed their Silver Sonic Guide Wader to stand up to the abuse of those who make their living on the water, making them 300% more abrasion resistant and 40% more puncture resistant than their other waders. The four-layer nylon construction is not only supremely durable, it also is supremely breathable, so you can spend an entire day on the water in comfort, just like the pros. $395; orvis.com
2. Howler Bros. Pescador Shirt
Howler Bros. set out to create the perfect fishing shirt, and the Pescador pretty much nails it. Hidden vents, snazzy pearl snap buttons, and a straight cut bottom, make it equally at home on the drift boat, in the waders, or at the bar. The quick-drying poly-nylon blend with keep you cool, dry, and protected from the sun, and the relaxed fit will let you double haul all day without feeling restricted. $85; howlerbros.com
3. Smith Chief with ChromaPop
Smith breaks visual ground again with their ChromaPop lens technology, which blocks light wave intersections, basically taking the guessing game away from your brain to reduce eye fatigue and producing true color. To put it a better way: it’s like your current polarized fishing sunglasses, except way, way better. When paired with the full coverage, lightweight Chief frame, there will be nowhere for fish to hide. $209; smithoptics.com
4. Kast Vapor Tech Top
Springtime on the water means being ready for anything. Chilly mornings give way to warm afternoons, and then back to chilly evenings when the sun dips below the ridge. Keep your body temperature regulated with this piece that can be used as a moisture wicking, sun-protecting (30 SPF) base layer, or as a low-bulk mid-layer. The bamboo blend is soft to the touch, quick-drying, and anti-microbial so you can wear it all day and not have to worry about stinking up the bar afterwards. Your fish stories will do that for you. $49.99; kastgear.com
5. Redington Butter Stick
Glass is not dead. Long the neglected younger brother of modern graphite, fiberglass is making a comeback as a rod material, and for good reason. With a slow action similar to classic bamboo rods, it performs well on a mountain creek when trying to land tiny flies in tiny water to spooky wild trout. The flex gives a delicate presentation while still having enough backbone to roll cast to the far bank. Plus, when you hook up, that 8-inch brookie will feel like a steelhead on the end of the Butter Stick. $250; redington.com
6. Montana Fly Company Aluminum 10-Compartment Fly Box
From the aesthetics of the perfect cast, to the fur and feathers, the world of art and the world of fly fishing intersect both on and off the water in this fly box. No one has utilized this connection better than Montana Fly Company with their reels and aluminum fly boxes featuring stunningly beautiful River Camo fish art. The box is made from rugged aluminum and features a classic 10-compartment design on one side and foam slits on the other. Pulling a piece of art out of your vest will always put a smile on your face, even when you are getting skunked. $40; montanafly.com
7. Fishpond Westwater Zippered Duffel
The last gear bag you’ll ever need, this rugged duffel has enough space to fit everything you require for a day, or week, on the water. With double rod tube holders, removable backpack straps, heavy-duty lash points, and over 5,000 cubic inches of storage, Fishpond packed on the features. But at under three pounds, they also kept the weight down. This bag can be used for everything from international travel to backcountry camping trips, or even as a boat bag. $200; fishpondusa.com
8. Rio Trout Perception fly line
When stalking finicky trout in clear water, you need all the help you can get, and Rio’s new premier fly line is here to lend a hand. Rio made their line from ultra-low stretch material, allowing for more touch when casting, more precise mends, and more sensitivity to subtle takes. The line also features a hydrophobic coating for better flotation and AgentX slickening formula for shooting line faster. The line also features three distinct color segments for precise distance casting at a glance. It all adds up to more fish in the net. $90; rioproducts.com
