What to Wear Fishing

A few handy tips will make each fishing trip dry, warm (or cool) and comfortable.

8 Min. Watch | Fishing

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[00:00:00.11] Hi,

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[00:00:00.11] Two men in hooded sweatshirts stand in a room filled with vintage fishing gear.

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[00:00:00.38] I'm Garrick, and I'm a fishing enthusiast.

[00:00:02.66] And I'm Matt, a fishing merchant here at L.L. Bean.

[00:00:05.54] Today, we're going to talk about what to wear for fishing. But before we get started, Matt, what exactly is a merchant?

[00:00:11.63] Well, it's my job to introduce new products and technologies to our fishing line.

[00:00:15.86] That

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[00:00:15.86] A man uses an L.L. Bean fishing rod, waders.

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[00:00:15.95] sounds like an awesome job. Sounds like you're the guy to talk to about fishing.

[00:00:18.77] Absolutely. I sleep in my fishing apparel.

[00:00:21.53] Wait, really?

[00:00:22.58] Let's jump right in.

[00:00:24.24] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:00:24.64] Text, L.L. Bean. What to wear fishing.

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[00:00:28.62] I love fishing all year long, no matter what the weather is doing. With

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[00:00:31.62] A man stands in knee-deep water fly fishing with a long pole.

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[00:00:31.92] the right clothing, the weather shouldn't matter to you either, right Matt?

[00:00:34.68] Right. All it takes is a little planning and preparation, and you'll be warm, dry, comfortable, and protected on every fishing trip.

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[00:00:42.02] A man and two children fish from a rocky shoreline. A woman holds a spotted fish in her hands and grins. She releases the fish under the water's surface.

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[00:00:42.30] Great. Well, want to start with what to wear in hot temperatures?

[00:00:45.45] I'd

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[00:00:45.45] Text, warm to hot weather.

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[00:00:45.63] love to. The great thing about today's technical fishing clothing is it's extremely versatile. I usually find myself wearing the same outfit in a variety of temps.

[00:00:54.24] So Matt, what's special about these fishing pants?

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[00:00:56.43] Garrick tugs on his khaki colored lightweight pants with zips and pockets. Text, Synthetic long pants. Lightweight and quick drying, cool and breathable, protection, moisture-wicking.

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[00:00:56.70] Well, technical fishing pants are designed to be lightweight, breathable, and cool. Even in hot temperatures, they will keep you comfortable while you're on the water.

[00:01:04.68] They also look like they'll keep out bugs and brush, right?

[00:01:06.66] Exactly. If you're hiking along a stream, these will keep you protected.

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[00:01:10.41] Matt wears a long-sleeved green hoodie. Sun protection.

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[00:01:10.62] A long sleeve fishing shirt or hoodie protects you from the sun and breeze to keep you cool and comfortable.

[00:01:15.84] And

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[00:01:15.84] Garrick puts on the hood of his blue hoodie.

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[00:01:16.23] if I pull up the hood?

[00:01:17.34] Extra sun protection for your neck and ears. A wide-brimmed sun hat keeps the sun off your head and out of your eyes. A

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[00:01:23.16] Garrick wears an off-white baseball cap.

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[00:01:23.31] baseball style hat works well too.

[00:01:25.41] So what about my feet?

[00:01:27.03] A

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[00:01:27.03] Matt wears a pair of gray hiking shoes.

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[00:01:27.24] combination of breathable quick-drying and lightweight wool-blend socks with light hiking shoes will do the trick. If you dip your feet in the water, Muck style rubber boots are perfect.

[00:01:37.15] OK, so what else should I bring or wear if I know I'm going to be out in the sun fishing all day?

[00:01:41.08] In the tropics where the sun is extreme, a buff style face covering gives you maximum protection. Sun

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[00:01:46.09] Matt hands Garrick a neck buff, a tube of fabric. He dons gray gloves without fingertips.

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[00:01:46.36] block and fishing gloves give you excellent dexterity because they have their fingertips cut off, but they provide protection for the back of your hand where it's tough to reach with sunscreen. No matter where you're fishing, a good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must.

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[00:02:00.79] A fisherman in waders, a baseball cap, and sunglasses fly fishes.

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[00:02:01.06] Add a sunglasses strap to keep them secure.

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[00:02:03.64] Garrick puts on a pair of sunglasses with a strap around the back of his head.

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[00:02:04.12] I dig 'em. What if it's so hot I want to keep everything I'm wearing even lighter?

[00:02:09.28] Great question. I think this is going to require an outfit change.

[00:02:12.73] Cool. Let's do it.

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[00:02:13.87] The two men walk off and reappear in short sleeved button-up shirts with breast pockets.

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[00:02:14.36] [MUSIC PLAYING]

[00:02:15.82] I really like these.

[00:02:16.93] Shorts and short-sleeve shirts are fine, especially in really hot conditions. But keep in mind, all that exposed skin will need sunscreen. They

(DESCRIPTION)

[00:02:24.97] Text, Use sunscreen or bug repellent on exposed skin.

(SPEECH)

[00:02:25.24] also leave your skin vulnerable to biting insects.

[00:02:27.73] Well,

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[00:02:27.73] Garrick touches his beige colored knee-length lightweight shorts.

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[00:02:27.91] I really dig them. They feel normal.

[00:02:30.58] Right? I mean, today's fishing clothing looks good enough to wear out for a casual drink, or bite to eat after the fishing is done.

[00:02:36.79] I feel like the breathability will really come in handy when I hit the dance floor.

[00:02:40.66] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:02:40.96] Garrick shimmies and grins. Matt raises his eyebrows.

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[00:02:42.55] OK, that escalated quickly. Let's cool things off and see what you need for cold weather.

[00:02:47.71] Sounds good.

[00:02:48.72] [MUSIC PLAYING]

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[00:02:48.92] The two men return wearing heavier zip-up jackets.

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[00:02:50.91] Putting this on, I was thinking about one word, layers.

[00:02:54.60] You got it. Keeping warm and comfortable is all about layering. You can start with the clothes we've already talked about. The key will be adding layers under and on top. The technical layers we've already talked about are loose-fitting enough so you can wear warm base layers underneath. Base layers are form-fitting lightweight tops and bottoms made from synthetic materials or wool.

[00:03:13.68] They

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[00:03:13.68] Garrick looks at the lightweight green shirt under his olive green jacket.

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[00:03:14.07] don't weigh much, but they're really warm.

[00:03:16.41] They're incredibly warm for their weight. Plus,

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[00:03:17.85] Text, warm and dry outer layers.

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[00:03:18.45] they're moisture-wicking and breathable. I prefer wool because it's good at resisting odors. If the temperature dips below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, a lightweight fleece jacket with a wind-blocking membrane is the perfect choice.

[00:03:29.91] So what if that's not quite warm enough?

[00:03:32.67] An insulated mid layer is ideal. Finally, a wind and water-blocking shell over it can be the key to staying warm and dry on Sundays. And you can easily unzip or remove layers depending on how hot or cold you get. Throwing

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[00:03:44.25] Matt and Garrick put on beanie style hats.

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[00:03:44.76] on a warm wool or synthetic hat is the best way to ward off the cold. Even on a day that's not too cold, a thin synthetic Nordic skiing hat can make a big difference.

[00:03:55.76] Mmm, toasty.

[00:03:57.37] In general, standard hiking boots will work fine for fishing. Insulated

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[00:04:00.91] Matt wears tall green rubber boots.

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[00:04:01.54] rubber boots are also great at keeping your feet warm and dry.

[00:04:04.99] So what about socks? Heavy wool socks are a great choice in cold weather. You can also wear a thin synthetic sock or wool liner sock beneath the heavy socks.

(DESCRIPTION)

[00:04:14.40] Text, warm, breathable, moisture-wicking, dry.

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[00:04:14.71] This will provide the best combination of warmth and moisture-wicking to keep your feet comfortable. The

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[00:04:19.87] Two men stand in water side by side adjusting their poles. They wear vests with utility pockets.

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[00:04:20.17] great thing about this system is you can remove or put on layers to match the temperature. So no matter how much the weather changes, you will be prepared.

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[00:04:27.90] Men swing their rods back and forth, flicking the lines over the water.

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[00:04:28.27] Great. Want to talk bugs?

[00:04:30.16] Let's do it.

[00:04:31.21] All right.

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[00:04:32.20] The men reappear in button-up shirts and baseball caps.

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[00:04:33.16] If you're going fly fishing, you're going to have to deal with bugs. It's right there in the name.

[00:04:37.33] Right. But the bugs don't have to bug you. No Fly Zone apparel has built-in bug repellent that keeps biting insects away. It

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[00:04:43.93] Matt wears long lightweight khaki colored pants and Garrick wears a light blue long-sleeved button-up shirt with breast pockets.

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[00:04:44.35] also has UPF 50-plus sun protection that blocks 97.5% of the sun's UV rays.

[00:04:51.58] Wow. That's an oddly specific number. OK, so now that we've got hot, cold, and buggy covered, what's left?

[00:04:59.56] Wet weather.

[00:05:00.64] [THUNDERING]

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[00:05:01.48] Lightning flashes and the men open umbrellas. A man fly fishes in a river in the rain.

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[00:05:04.94] When it starts raining, it's super important to keep it from soaking through to your clothes and skin. If that happens, your day of fishing is probably going to flounder.

[00:05:13.21] [DRUMS]

[00:05:14.42] Wow. So first off, I'm wearing the outfit for warm weather that we already talked about under all of this. So what do I have over it?

[00:05:21.98] These

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[00:05:21.98] Matt wears a pair of black waterproof pants.

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[00:05:22.31] are rain pants. They're waterproof and pull on easily over your fishing pants with zippers and an adjustable waist.

[00:05:29.15] And over my long sleeves?

[00:05:30.92] A

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[00:05:30.92] He wears a brown rain jacket.

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[00:05:31.16] waterproof rain jacket. This one has an adjustable hood to keep rain off your face, plus adjustable hems and cuffs.

[00:05:38.45] And am I wrong, or are these cuffs bigger than my usual jacket?

[00:05:42.80] Fishing specific wading jackets like this one have extra beefy cuffs. They keep your underlayers dry and water from running down your arms.

[00:05:50.54] Oh,

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[00:05:50.54] Garrick adjusts the thick cuff on his wrist.

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[00:05:50.81] cool. And I assume this isn't a normal backpack?

[00:05:54.17] A

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[00:05:54.17] He lifts a brown and gray backpack made of a thick slightly shiny material with multiple compartments.

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[00:05:54.32] waterproof backpack or lumber pack is a must-have on a rainy day. It'll keep all your gear, food, and spare clothes nice and dry. And when the rain stops, it's just the place to store all your gear.

[00:06:06.90] OK, so we've talked about hot weather, cold weather, rainy weather, buggy weather, all the weathers. Are there any other weathers left?

[00:06:13.38] That covers the weather, but I've got some bonus pointers that aren't about when you're fishing, they're about where you're fishing.

[00:06:20.91] Should we jump in?

[00:06:21.99] Funny you should say that.

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[00:06:23.24] The two men jump away and then jump back wearing waders.

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[00:06:23.49] [MUSIC PLAYING]

[00:06:26.30] Hey, looking good.

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[00:06:27.43] A man wades through ankle-deep water in waders with mountains in the distance.

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[00:06:27.68] If you're like me and love to get right in the water to fish, you'll need waders to stay dry and warm.

[00:06:32.72] That's it? Just add waders?

[00:06:34.76] Most

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[00:06:34.76] Text, warm, breathable, moisture-wicking, dry. Don't forget wading boots to wear over your wader's neoprene socks.

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[00:06:35.09] of the time, a simple base layer worn under your fishing pants will work. The exception is cold water. That's when a nice pair of heavier fleece-wading pants or insulated pants will save the day. You can wear them over your base layer, add some warm socks, and you'll stay nice and toasty. And remember to always wear a belt with your waders. It will keep your waders from filling up if you fall in. There you have it, Garrit, everything you need to know about what to wear fishing.

[00:06:58.94] Thanks, Matt. Now that you know what to wear, you can hit the water with confidence and feel great out there. Tell us your go-to fishing clothing in the comments, and

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[00:07:06.79] Comment below.

(SPEECH)

[00:07:07.10] don't forget to like and subscribe so you don't miss our next video. For more outdoor tips and inspiration, visit the Getoutside Guide at llbean.com/outside, and check out our outdoor discovery program fly fishing trips and courses at llbeanoutdoors.com. Want to go fishing?

[00:07:22.28] You don't have to ask me twice.

[00:07:23.72] Let's go.

[00:07:24.62] [MUSIC PLAYING]

(DESCRIPTION)

[00:07:25.05] They high five and leave together.

We love fishing all year long no matter what the weather is doing. With the right clothing, the weather shouldn’t matter to you, either. Here are some valuable clothing options for every type of weather situation you might encounter.

Warm to Hot Weather Outfit

Warm to Hot Weather Checklist

Long Pants & Long-Sleeve Shirts:

The great thing about today’s technical fishing clothing is it’s extremely versatile. You can usually wear the same outfit whether the temperature is 70 or 95.  First, technical fishing pants are designed to be lightweight, breathable and cool. Even in hot temperatures, they will keep you cool and comfortable.  A long-sleeve fishing shirt or hoodie protects you from the sun and breathes to keep you cool and comfortable.  A wide-brimmed sun hat also keeps the sun off your head and out of your eyes. A ball cap also works well.

Socks & Boots:

A combination of breathable, quick-drying and lightweight wool-blend socks with light hiking shoes will do the trick. If you might dip your feet in the water, Muck-style rubber boots are perfect. If you’re going out on a boat, you’ll want some boat shoes that won’t mark up the boat’s deck. 

Shorts & Short-Sleeve Shirts:

Shorts and short-sleeve shirts are fine, especially in hot conditions. Just remember all that exposed skin will need sunscreen and even bug repellent if biting insects are around.

Other Accessories:

A Buff-style face covering gives you maximum protection when the sun is really intense. Sun-blocking fishing gloves should also be part of your outfit. They have the fingers cut off, so you still have dexterity, but they cover the back of your hands.

Sunglasses:

No matter where you’re fishing, a good pair of polarized sunglasses is a must. They protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays while cutting the glare on the water so you can see the fish. A sunglasses retainer strap will keep them secure.

Cold Weather Outfit

Layers, layers, layers:

Keeping warm and comfortable in cold weather is all about layering. Simply wear warm base layers under your technical fishing clothing. Base layers are form-fitting, lightweight tops and bottoms made from synthetic materials or wool. They’re incredibly warm for their weight, plus they’re moisture-wicking and breathable. Wool is especially good at resisting odors. 

Warm Jackets:

A lightweight fleece jacket with a wind-blocking membrane is the perfect choice when things cool off. If that’s not warm enough, a light down jacket over the fleece is ideal. Finally, a wind- and water-blocking shell over it all can be the key to staying warm and dry on some days. And you can easily unzip or remove layers depending on how hot or cold you get.

Warm Hats:

We lose most of our body’s heat through our heads, so a warm wool or synthetic hat is the best way to ward off the cold. Even on a day that’s not too cold, a thin synthetic Nordic skiing hat can make a big difference.

Gloves:

Wool or synthetic fingerless gloves are perfect for fishing. They keep your hands warm while keeping your fingers free to tie on flies or lures.

Footwear:

Standard hiking boots with warm socks will work most days. On really cold days, insulated rubber boots are great at keeping your feet warm and dry. Throw on some heavy wool socks over a thin synthetic or wool liner sock and you’ll have an unbeatable combination.

Fishing in Waders

Jump Right In:

If you’re like us, you love to get right into the water to fish. But you’ll need waders to stay dry and warm most of the time. Some warm base layers worn under your lightweight fishing pants will do the trick. The exception is really cold water. That’s when a pair of heavier fleece wading pants or insulated pants will save the day. And remember to always wear a wading belt, it will help keep water from filling up your waders if you fall in.

Wading Boots:

You’ll need a pair of wading boots specifically designed to be worn over the neoprene feet of waders. Add some warm wool socks and your feet will stay nice and toasty.

Now that you know what to wear, you can head to the water with confidence and feel great out there.

Planning some fishing adventures? Get outfitted with everything you need:

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