Fishing is one of those activities that we’ve always found fascinating, but still know very little about. Some people reckon it would be a very boring activity to participate in, and while there are probably grounds for that argument, we think it’s a hobby that is very much location-dependent. If you’re lying in some sweaty camouflage tent with a few perfunctory rods cast into a muddy river, then sure, that sounds pretty horrific. But for this edition of Six of The Best, get that notion of fishing out of your head and think more about the kind that happens far, far away from the United Kingdom, somewhere like Colorado – fly fishing in a beautiful clear river for king salmon.
If we’re being totally honest, our fascination with fishing comes less about the act itself, but more about all the cool gear that anglers get to wear. loads of Gore-Tex, reflective sunglasses and silly hats. Think of this article as what we’d wear if Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse invited us onto an episode of ‘Gone Fishing.’
Gander Peveril Jacket
Booting off our selection of attire to while the day away fishing in is this Gander jacket. The Peveril Jacket has been modelled on traditional wading jackets and retains all the most important features – it’s short and has massive chest pockets. We’re not sure what fishermen keep in those pockets but whatever it is, there’s room aplenty. Bonus points for this jacket being brown so you blend in with your environment, obviously, you’re going to catch more fish if they can’t see you.
Gramicci Twill Packable Bucket Hat
Fishermen are rarely spotted without headwear, perhaps it’s a stylistic choice, but it’s probably to hide the fact they’re balding. The great thing about this Gramicci hat is it fills both of those criteria. It’s also packable, lightweight and quick drying – perfect for when it falls off your head and into the creek while you’re trying to figure out how a stick can look so fish-like.
Snow Peak Thermal Boa Fleece Jacket
Fishing isn’t the most active activity, is it? So you’re probably going to get a bit cold when doing it. That’s why we’ve thought to throw in this lovely fleecy number from Snow Peak. It looks to be very warm and has thumbholes which will no doubt improve your fishing experience one way or another. It’s also got two large pockets on the back, ideal for stashing stuff to entertain yourself with when you get bored (beer)
66° North Hornstrandir Gore-Tex Pro Pants
Probably the most important part of a fishing outfit is your trousers, let’s face it, you’re going to get your legs wet. For that reason we’ve gone pretty large for the legwear here with some Gore-Tex Pro trousers from 66° North, they couldn’t be a better fit really, considering the brand started off kitting out Icelandic fishermen.
Gramicci Gone Fishing Vest
Usually for these, we don’t like including multiple items from the same brand, but look at what it’s called, we could hardly leave it out. Besides having the most fitting name of all the items on the list, this vest from Gramicci has loads of pockets, is made of mesh and is a tactical green colour.
Merrell 1TRL Agility Peak 5 GORE-TEX® Zip Off
Merrell 1TRL recently released a collection inspired by fly fishermen, and these trabs are part of that. The Agility Peak 5 is one of the coolest pieces of footwear we’ve seen in a while, the entire shoe is waterproof and has a removable Gore-Tex jacket thing. Ideal for zipping on when the water gets deep. If you remove the Gore-Tex jacket, underneath is a pretty tidy-looking trail running shoe. Unfortunately, these aren’t available in the UK yet, but they should be soon.