Fly Shop Tour is our annual celebration of fly shops, fisheries, and the communities they support. Each year, we hit the road, traveling to a new region, discovering new shops, and making memories along the way. What you see in each episode is the raw moments that make this series so special to us. But what you don’t see behind the scenes is the planning and preparation it takes for a month-long filming, fishing, and traveling. This year we headed to the Midwest, a region vastly different state to state both in terms of fishing and gear. For those following along this year, here is everything we wore on Fly Shop Tour Season 4.
Fly Shop Tour Favorites
Challenger Fishing Bib
Many of the Midwest fisheries are only accessible via boat, and just like in the river, you can’t control the elements. Whether it’s raining or a long boat ride in rough weather, a pair of bibs will keep you dry and warm. The go-to for this season was the Simms Challenger Bibs. This proven pair of bibs got a recent upgrade featuring stretch 3-layer construction for a comfortable, waterproof, and breathable pair of bibs. We wore ours in some soaking rains this year, and despite the bad weather, caught plenty of fish.
Challenger Fishing Jacket
Any bib set needs a matching jacket to stay truly dry in bad weather. The Simms Challenger Fishing Jacket pairs perfectly with the Challenger Bib for a complete waterproof set. Just like its counterpart, the jacket features the same 3-layer construction for a comfortable and waterproof fit. In addition, the jacket hood and cuffs are adjustable to seal out any water, no matter how hard it rains. It’s available in five colors, though the windy jasper is our favorite and the one you’ll see throughout Fly Shop Tour.
G4Z Waders
Outside of Fly Shop Tour, the Simms G4Z Waders have been our go-to waders for years, so it’s only natural that they make their way on the tour. The G4Z Waders are the flagship zip-front offering from Simms, which come packed with features. For starters, these waders feature 4-layer Gore-Tex lowers and a 3-layer upper. This combines for a durable wader built to cover some serious ground, which is a regular occurrence on Fly Shop Tour. In addition, the pocket layout has ample room for fly boxes, tools, and, in our case, mics.
G3 Guide Waders
The Simms G3 Guide Waders are a staple for our crew on Fly Shop Tour. They feature the same upper and lower construction as the G4Z Waders, just without the front zipper. While you won’t see them on screen, our camera crew frequently uses these for filming. Their durability handles up to the thick brush and harsh conditions our crew goes through to get the shots in every episode. You can also use the waders as a pouch, as long as you secure the wading belt for additional storage, which our crew does regularly for extra lenses and camera equipment. Simms also makes this wader in a limited-run Grateful Dead version, for all the Deadheads out there, who also love to fish.
Solarflex Sun Hoody
Sometimes in the making of Fly Shop Tour, we’re so focused on fishing and filming that we forget to put on sunscreen. That’s where quality sun shirts come in handy. The Simms Solarflex is one of the lightest-weight and most breathable shirts we’ve used. Available in a range of colors and sizes, you’ll find us wearing these any time it’s hot, and we’re on the water.
Fantail Sunglasses
Whether fishing, filming, or traveling, we always have a pair of sunglasses on hand. One of our favorite options over the years has been the Costa Fantail. These medium-sized frames have an 8-base curve, meaning they curve around your face to maximize the amount of light they block out. The green mirror lenses are a great, versatile lens color for the Midwest’s lakes and rivers.
Tideline Adjustable Sunglass Retainer
You’ll likely notice all of our sunglasses have a pair of retainers on Fly Shop Tour. Chums has always been our brand of choice for this. Their variety of options fits any glasses we may wear and keeps them secure. The Tideline Adjustable retainer is a lightweight option that is easily adjusted to fit any angler. When filming, these are a must to take off our shades and know they’re not going anywhere.
Dry Creek Duffle – 60L
One of the things we’ve mastered over the years of filming Fly Shop Tour is packing, particularly packing a lot of gear. For this, we needed bags that could hold a lot of equipment and gear, like the Simms Dry Creek Duffle. Not only is this bag waterproof, but its 60L of storage and rugged outershell make it perfect for traveling on and off the water. You can also use this bag to carry multiple bags or cases, which, for flying, means you can check one oversized bag instead of multiple smaller ones and save some money.
Dry Creek Z Backpack
On the water, we carry lots of expensive camera equipment when filming a fly shop tour. Add to that spending time on boats, and wading rivers, and it’s inevitable someone will take a spill with some equipment. To mitigate dunking lenses and cameras, we rely on the Simms Dry Creek Z Backpack. The Dry Creek lineup of bags is fully waterproof and submergible. For us, this zipper version offers decent storage and quick access for camera gear, but there are other packs, like the sling, that are also waterproof and may better suit your fishing style.
Access Wading Boot
This year, we added the Simms Wading Boots to our gear list for two reasons: they’re light, and they’re durable. This new boot from Simms features a partially rubberized outer that shaves off weight. This same technology also reinforces stress points, like the toe, while offering great ankle support. Lastly, the dual-compound Vibram technology greatly improves traction, something especially important to us when we’re mic’d up.
Challenger 7″ Deck Boot
You can’t complete a rain gear set without waterproof footwear. For that, we ran the Simms Challenger 7″ Deck Boot. These deck boots, at 7 inches, are slightly taller than most. This comes in handy when wearing bibs in the rain. No matter how you sit or stand, your bibs won’t ride up over the boot, allowing water in. The Challenger Deck Boot is also comfortable, a necessity for standing all day while fishing.
Midstream Wool Insulated Hooded Jacket
Our last and one of our favorite pieces of gear we used this year is the Simms Midstream Wool Insulated Hooded Jacket. This versatile outer layer is made of Lavalan wool. This material retains warmth, manages odor, and does both even when wet, all while cutting down on bulk compared to traditional wool sweaters and jackets. In other words, it’s not your granddad’s wool jacket. In the Midwest fall, this was a pivotal layer for cold mornings and rainy days.
