Do you like summer fishing? It’s almost here! Soon the moist, hot, sticky air of the Tennessee summer will be upon us. Heat, humidity, and not a breeze to be had. This is probably the time people fish the most during the year. So, how do you beat the heat and concentrate on fishing?
It helps to set yourself up with the right summer fishing gear. Four items should be in every angler’s bag this time of year.
These four items are:
- sunscreen;
- sunglasses;
- a hat; and
- a bandana or sun hood.
I consider these items to be necessary in all fishing situations.
First, to protect your skin from painful burns, wear a good sunscreen.
There is a debate on what SPF to get, but I would suggest anything from SPF 30 plus. Keep in mind that fish can smell, and any trace of sunscreen that gets on lure or line can cause fish not to bite. So, apply the sunscreen liberally to your body only! … and don’t forget the top of your ears!
Secondly, good sunglasses will serve three different needs.
- They protect your eyes from airborne lures or flies.
- They protect your eyes from the sun’s rays and, if polarized, help you see into the water for boating or wading hazards.
- Last but not least, they make you look cool! Kind of a “young Steve McQueen” vibe going on. A definite bonus! 🙂
Next, you’ll want a hat. Hats are a personal choice, but I recommend that you use a hat with a dark underbrim.
A light underbrim will reflect the light into your eyes, so stay away from that. I use primarily three types of hats in the summer; however, there are pros and cons you might want to consider:
First, a visor (not recommend to those follically challenged) keeps the sun out of your eyes and doesn’t hold in the heat on top of your head. However, even with lots of hair, you can still get a sunburn on your scalp.
A traditional baseball cap is a second option. Some baseball caps have a mesh back; but, keep in mind, you can still get your scalp burned through the mesh. I go with a light-colored cotton baseball cap. When it gets real hot, I can dip it in the river and put it back on to cool off.
The third option is a wide-brimmed hat, like a planter’s hat or fedora style. Some have mesh to help the hat breathe, and these hats are great at keeping the sun at bay. But, they are not so good for bushwhacking your way to or from the stream, as every branch will try to knock it off your head.
Finally, a bandanna or sun hood is really handy to have.
Sunscreen wears off over time and with exposure to water, but a bandanna or sun hood is really good at keeping your neck from turning several shades of red.
I wear a light-colored sun hood, pulled up over my neck and ears to just below my glasses. You can dip a sun hood in the water to cool off too. They are comfortable and easy to wear; I forget I have one on during most trips.
If you wear a hood, you might want to remember that look like you are about to hold up a stagecoach; so be sure to pull it down when you go into the convenience store (after receiving terrified looks from a clerk behind the counter) when you pick up a cold drink for the ride home.
The above listed items are what I would consider essential. But what about the rest of your fishing ensemble?
The great debate has raged for centuries. There still is no definitive consensus on the matter of pants or shorts. So, the choice is yours, with consideration of your needs. Some things to think about are location, watercraft, and duration of trip.
To me, shorts are more comfortable. However, I often forget to apply sunscreen to my neon-white legs when in a boat. 🙁 The tops of my feet also burn too, if I wear sandals.
When in a watercraft, I will normally wear long pants to avoid the sunscreen. I also don’t have to worry about blood-sucking mosquitoes feasting on my legs, or about those darn horseflies! But when I wet-wade streams and creeks, shorts are great as you can feel comfortable in the water and you don’t really have to worry about sunscreen.
One very, very important thing to keep in mind is this:
If you are bushwhacking your way to or from a stream or a new location, your legs are exposed. They’re exposed to scrapes, cuts, bugs, and, most importantly, plants such as poison ivy and poison sumac. After a bout with poison sumac and a round of antibiotics about a year ago, I now wear pants when exploring new areas.
For pants, one great option is the zip-off-leg pants. Normally made of nylon or Supplex, those pants are the best of both worlds and they end the great debate.
My summer fishing shirt is a collared, vented fishing shirt. With lots of pockets on the shirt, I frequently load them up with what I will need for the day and go without a fishing pack or vest. Most of these shirts are made of light cotton or nylon, which are great for hot conditions. I wear long sleeved shirts, as I can always roll up the sleeves and use sunscreen and roll them down for sun protection.
So, you have some choices for your summer fishing wear. Drink lots of water, wear sunscreen, wear glasses and a hat, and have a great time on your favorite water!
What gear do you consider essential for the summer fishing season? Leave a comment below!