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The September equinox has come and gone, as has the official end of summer fishing. The days are getting shorter, and water temperatures are falling as anglers look forward to one of the best times of the year to target trophy trout. But with the change in seasons also comes a change in gear. Swap that 5-weight dry fly rod for a beefier streamer setup, your wet wading shoes for a proper pair of waders, and layer up for fall fishing weather.
To make the transition easier, we compiled a list of layering essentials from legacy fly fishing brand Simms, from the early days of fall to the inevitable first snow of the season. Whether it’s a light base layer or a fully insulated kit, these gear pieces will keep you comfortable regardless of the conditions.
Layer Like a Pro
Fall Run Insulated Jacket
One of the most important pieces of cold-weather layering systems is a good mid-layer puffy jacket. This style of jacket helps insulate you from the elements and keeps you warm even when wet, without adding bulk like traditional jackets. The Simms Fall Run Insulated Jacket falls into this category, thanks to Primaloft® Rise insulation, which keeps you warm while minimizing bulk. In addition, this newest iteration features a matte finish that improves the jacket’s durability. As a result, anglers get a puffy jacket that they can confidently fish hard in without worrying if their jacket will tear—a common theme for other puffies. Lastly, the Fall Run Insulated Jacket is fairly slim for a puffy, meaning anglers can easily pack this in a bag or boat hatch for when they need it.
Midstream Wool Insulated Hooded Jacket
When it comes to layering and insulation, no material is more versatile than wool. It offers incredible insulation properties, stays warm when wet, and does an excellent job at neutralizing odors. The only issue is that no one wants to wear an itchy wool sweater. Luckily for anglers, Simms created the Midstream Wool Insulated Jacket, giving us the performance of wool with the comfort of modern technical fishing apparel. They were able to accomplish this with Lavalan® Wool insulation, a type of fibrefill sheep’s wool insulation. Essentially, Lavalan figured out a way to make wool similar to down-fill insulation to stuff inside garments.
The end result is a comfortable mid-layer jacket perfect for early- to late-season fall fishing conditions. The properties of the wool combined with body-mapped insulation maximize warmth while minimizing overall bulk. Anglers also benefit from the odor-reducing properties of wool, making the Midstream Wool Insulated Jacket an excellent choice for extended stays on the water.
G3 Guide Wading Jacket
As summer weather patterns shift into fall, cold, rainy days are inevitable. The good news is that doesn’t mean you have to stop fishing. A premium wading jacket should be in every angler’s fall layering kit to extend the season and keep you dry and comfortable. After all, the fishing can be lights out when a storm pushes through.
The Simms G3 Guide Wading Jacket offers unmatched weatherproofing for the wettest days of the season. It’s designed with 3-layer GORE-TEX® construction, which keeps water out while allowing the garment to breathe—especially important in humid, wet environments like the PNW. Plus, watertight cuffs, large fly box pockets, and a shorter jacket length make it the perfect outer fishing layer when worn with waders. At $600, this is the most expensive piece of layering gear on our list, but one you’ll be thankful to have come a rainy day on the river.
Fall Run Insulated Vest
Shoulder season is upon us—the time of year when summer temps creep up in the day but crisp fall mornings greet you at the ramp. For these conditions, one of our favorite pieces of layering apparel is a quality vest. The Simms Fall Run Insulated Vest has many of the same features as the Fall Run Insulated Jacket, minus the sleeves. During shoulder season, this keeps your core insulated while still allowing your arms to move freely for casting. As the days warm up, you can still fish comfortably in the vest or can shed it and stow it away without taking up much space at all. For those looking to stay warm and maintain a full range of motion, we highly recommend adding a puffy vest to your apparel lineup.
Coldweather Hooded Shacket
Recently, the fly fishing industry has grown fond of the shacket (a hooded shirt), especially when it comes to sun protection. Simms, however, saw this as an opportunity to create a viable layering garment in the form of the Cold Weather Hooded Shacket. At a glance, it looks like a flannel with a hood, but inside it’s much more. Simms packs this layer with bonded fleece for incredible warmth, while maintaining the classic flannel styling. Additional side pockets also double as hand warmers, and the hood protects you further from the brisk fall air. For anglers, the shacket excels as a standalone piece for early to mid-season fall fishing, but don’t be afraid to wear it under a puffy well into winter.
Fjord Pants
Our last pick for layering essentials is one of the most overlooked pieces of layering gear: underwader pants. As water temps drop in the fall, keeping your legs comfortable under your waders is a must. For this, we highly recommend the Simms Fjord Pants. These sweatpants-style underwader pants feature a stretch waistband for maximum comfort. In addition, stirrups and ankle cuffs keep the pants in place when you’re sliding on waders. But the biggest benefit to these pants is the double-layer fleece insulation. When you’re standing in frigid water all day, this keeps you warm and focused. After all, the more time you can spend fishing in the water, the more likely you are to catch a fish.
Final Word on Fall Layering
Fall can be one of the hardest seasons to properly layer for; afternoons are hot, and mornings can be freezing. Our picks for fall layering essentials from Simms are adaptable offerings for any condition you could face. From blistering summer-like days to early-season blizzards, these apparel pieces will keep you comfortable on the water.
