Fishing Clothing:
Dressing Properly for Spring Fishing

Fishing clothing isn’t always the same.
Take spring. Spring, in some respects, can be the
worst time of year for fishermen and other outdoor
sports enthusiasts. Why? Because the weather is so unpredictable.
In the space of an hour you can literally go from
summer-like conditions to deep winter, or anything
in between. Dressing properly, however, let’s you laugh
at the weather and keep on fishing.

The Boy Scouts have it down pat, you know. Be prepared! It says it all.

The question is, what are you prepared for? As a fisherman, you can’t possibly prepare for all contingencies. You can’t carry every bait in the tackle store, or build a first aid kit that handles all risks, or repair all damage to your boat or motor.

One thing you can prepare for, though, is the unsettled weather that marks spring. The weather people on TV seem to think that changing conditions and radical shifts in temperature are unusual. But we know better.

I was down at a local lake the other day, checking out the crappie fishing. Not a big lake. At 274 acres, it’s one of those sleeper lakes, particularly early in the season. When the fishing is off, it’s way off. But when it’s good, it is very good indeed.

When I arrived at the lake, mid-morning, it was a balmy spring day. Sun was shining in a bluebird sky. Eventually the thermometer reached the low 70s, and I was fishing in my shirtsleeves. When the front swept through, later that afternoon, the temperature plunged from about 73 to the low 40s.

This is not unusual at all. Our local weather guy and his colleagues may be profess surprise by such differences, but we just call it “spring.”

The thing is, such radical differences shouldn’t faze you. Not if you’re prepared for them, in terms of your fishing clothing. The key to everything is to dress in layers that create pockets of dead air, to keep you warm, but which allow your body moisture to pass through, so that you don’t get all sweaty and chilled.

Your basic fishing clothing system consists of three layers. Next to the skin is a set of long underwear that creates a pocket of dead air, but whose main task is to wick body moisture to outer layers.

There’s no secret about the need for such a layer. As far back as WW II it was recognized, and fishnet underwear was developed for troops fighting in northern climes. Nowadays, a synthetic such as polypropylene is the more likely choice for fishing clothing.

Incidentally, skip those puffy cotton long handles billed as “insulated underwear.” They are the next best thing to useless, in terms of passing body moisture. And if you wear waders, the “pillows” get crushed, and lose what little insulating value they had. Eventually they will become damp, from absorbing your sweat. And then you’ll get chilled. This is just one reason experts in outdoor dress say that “cotton kills.”

Over your wicking layer you want a lightweight layer of fishing clothing that traps dead air, but which is relatively unaffected by moisture. Traditionally, wool was the choice here. And it’s still a good option. But modern synthetics, such as fleece, do a better job.

Fleece is more versatile because it’s available in various thicknesses, from micro-fleece to expedition grade. You are better off with several thin layers than with one heavy one. Several reasons for that. First off, the border between layers itself becomes a trap for dead air, increasing the overall insulation value. Plus, as you take layers off or put them back on to meet changing conditions, multiple thin layers give you better total thermal control.

Finally, your outer layer of fishing clothing should consist of material that is wind proof and water resistant. Note that I do not say waterproof. There are such garments, similar to the old oilskins. The trouble with them is that they are impervious to water from both directions. Pretty soon, wearing them, you are just as wet from you own sweat as you would have been from the rain.

There are several modern synthetics, however, that are breathable which still repel rain and snow. That’s what you want on the outside.

For really extreme conditions you can get such outer garments that include an insulating layer. Duck hunters are particularly fond of them. But for fishermen, most of the time, they are overkill.

I was fishing Montana two or three years ago. I was out there for the semi-secret March trout fishing. Because snowmelt has not started, the streams are as perfect as they’ll ever be. But if you think weather where you are is changeable, just imagine what it’s like in the Rockies.

My problem was I’d expected extreme cold. So my outer layer was an insulated wind-proof jumpsuit. When the temperatures climbed into the 60s and low 70s, I was spending more time stripping off fishing clothing than comfortably targeting trout. A windsuit over several layers of fleece would have been a better plan.

Don’t forget, as you assemble your fishing clothing system, hands, feet, and head. Your body’s primary job is to keep your brain warm, and will happily let your extremities freeze if that’s what it takes to do the job. “If you’re feet are cold, put on your hat,” is an old maxim. But there’s no reason not to protect both.

Wool makes the most sense for socks. If you’re comfortable doing it, two thin socks are better than one thick set. The reality is, however, that most people are not comfortable that way, because the socks tend to ruck and shift in different directions. So a medium-thick layer, that will fit in your footwear without binding, is the best compromise.

Don’t neglect that last statement! Your footwear should fit snugly enough to assure support, but not so snug that it binds. Sometimes, in winter and spring, this means a second, larger, set of boots.

For your hands, try a pair of those mittens that fold down to expose your fingertips, or the knitted gloves with the fingertips missing. Lightweight Jersey gloves, inside them, protect you fingers while still allowing the necessary dexterity.

And a knit cap is your best bet for keeping your head warm. It’s only drawback is that it has no brim, to help shade your eyes from bright sunlight. So you might carry a separate ballcap for those times when the temperatures do not require wool on the pate.