When fishing in the elements, keeping comfortable on the water is equally
essential as the baits and gear you use. During the late Fall, having the right clothing can extend your fishing day and keep you focused during some of the best fishing of the year.
Simms pros Ish Monroe, Brandon Palaniuk, Brent Ehrler, and Cody Meyer shared their must-have products for late fall fishing.
Ish Monroe – Gaiters
The sun gaiter has become a must for anglers in all seasons. They do an excellent job protecting our skin from the sun and keeping bare skin from getting too cold on early morning boat rides.
Ish Monroe says they are a must for all seasons and will switch to thicker versions from Simms as the weather gets colder.
“They make sun gaiters with different thicknesses and I’ll use the thicker one during the late fall and winter,” he says. “They also have a Lightweight Wool Neck Gaiter.”
There are many options for neck gaiters and Monroe like Simms versions for several different reasons.
“They are lighter and softer,” he says. “They are way more comfortable to wear and fit great. The sun gaiters have UPF 50 sun protection and I like the breathable holes on the front. I’ll flip it backward or sideways on a long boat run to keep me a little warmer.”
Monroe also sees a side benefit in these times of masking up to enter public places.
“I always have them in the truck and I forgot my mask going into the hardware store the other day,” he recalls. “I still had my sun gaiter around my neck and that worked.”
#GetaGaiter
Brandon Palaniuk - ExStream Hooded Jacket
Hailing from northern Idaho, Bassmaster Elite Series pro Brandon Palaniuk knows a thing or two about fishing in cold conditions. He spends the off-season chasing bass as late into the year as he can and understands the importance of staying warm during the late Fall in the Northwest, which is colder than some climates get all year.
His choice is the Simms ExStream Hooded Jacket, a premium insulated jacket that will keep you warm and comfortable for those late fall days on the water. Palaniuk says he uses it in several different ways.
“It is a great layering piece to wear under your raingear,” he says. “You can also wear it as a standalone piece when the weather starts to get cooler on fall and winter days.”
#ExamineExStream
Cody Meyer - GORE-TEX ExStream Foldover Mitt
Meyer had trouble choosing just one since the late Fall and winter are his favorite times of the year to fish. He fishes in all conditions, from rain and wind to full-on snow, searching for big spotted bass each year during his off-season from professional tournaments.
His choice as a must-have for this time of year is the GORE-TEX ExStream Foldover Mitt.
“Simms makes a ton of different gloves and they are all really good,” Meyer says. “I like the mitt versions this time of year because you can wear them like a mitten on those cold boat rides and then just flip them over when it is time to fish.”
The foldover portion is a fleece-lined neoprene and the inside and cuff are a GORE-TEX lnfinium™ windproof stretch fleece.
“They keep your hands from getting cold on those miserable days that you start to see late in the fall,” Meyer says. “Everything about these is awesome and it makes it easy to stay warm and still be able to fish when the weather is bad.”
#FindAFoldover
Brent Ehrler - Katafront Hoody
When asked for his must-have Simms product for the late Fall, Ehrler chose the Katafront Hoody.
“It is a good all-around jacket for this time of year and also works great as a layering piece,” says the California pro. “You can wear it by itself or pair it with other layers. I start wearing it a lot in the Fall when it is starting to cool down.”
The hoody has an adjustable hood and water-shedding fabrics to keep you comfortable. It also features a zippered chest pocket and two zippered pockets for warming your hands.
“It provides good warmth and it looks really good,” Ehrler adds. “I also really like how well it fits. Some jackets and hoodies are pretty loose and you end up getting your rod butt hung up and it seems like the sleeves are always in the way when things aren’t fitting correctly.”
Simms makes a host of different products to keep you protected from the sun, wind, rain, and more. Out of all of the products they manufacture, the above four are must-haves for late fall fishing.
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