Welcome back to “The Rundown,” an editorial series where we provide an all-encompassing look at the latest and greatest products from your favorite brands in the fly fishing and outdoor space. Here, we’ll run over high-level info, tech specs, and our opinions—all paired with a behind-the-scenes interview with product designers who have poured their hearts into bringing these creations from blueprints to the showroom floor.
In this installment of The Rundown, we take a look at RepYourWater, a fan favorite amongst the fly fishing community. Since its start in 2011, RepYourWater has redefined what it means to be an apparel brand in the fishing space, creating a line of gear that allows anglers to promote their favorite state, fisheries, and species, all while supporting conservation. This spring, they’ve launched their newest performance fishing apparel collection. So join us as we dive into the newest collection and sit down with Co-Founder Garrison Doctor.
Background:
In 2011, Garrison and Corinne Doctor started RepYourWater. It began as a lifestyle brand, inspired by their shared love of fly fishing and Garrison’s artistic talents. You may remember the early days of RepYourWater and their state and region-themed fishing apparel. The brand’s early success stemmed from these creative designs, which resonated with anglers and their local fisheries. Every angler cares about where and what they fish for, and RepYourWater gave them the gear to show that off.
Since the initial region-themed apparel, RepYourWater has continued to expand on its offerings to include socks, belts, and even drinkware. In addition to their success in the fishing space, they have also pushed into the hunt space with RepYourWild, bringing the same creative regional designs to the hunting world. As the brand continues to grow and expand its lines, it has never strayed from its core values of conservation. Today, a portion of every purchase is donated directly to conservation partners like Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, The Wild Steelhead Coalition, and Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, and the brand is an active member of 1% for the Planet.
What’s New:
In 2026, RepYourWater launched its spring collection, an entire lineup of performance-driven fishing apparel, designed to bridge the gap between on-the-water comfort and off-the-water style. The collection includes four new apparel pieces, including the Bitterroot Shorts, Deschutes Short Sleeve, Roaring Fork Pants, and Wellfleet Long Sleeve. Follow along as we break down what each piece of apparel has to offer.
Wet Wading Shorts and Pants
One of the many highlights of RepYourWater’s newest apparel line is its bottoms, designed with features made for anglers who love wet wading. While these pants and shorts can be worn for everyday use, features like drain holes in the pockets and DWR finishes are just a few key technical additions anglers will appreciate. Here’s everything you need to know about these pieces of gear.
The Bitterroot Shorts, inspired by the legendary Bitterroot River in Montana, are a lightweight fishing short for summer fishing and wet wading. The shorts feature a hybrid elastic waistband, a 7″ inseam, and tight weave construction paired with a DWR finish. In addition to premium material construction, the shorts have a well-laid-out pocket configuration with two main, draining pockets, a zippered side pocket, and a zippered rear pocket.
Along with the Bitterroot Shorts, the spring collection includes the Roaring Fork Pants, inspired by the river we at Flylords are fortunate enough to call home. These pants are designed with angling and wet wading in mind. For starters, it features a side-zip pocket, two zippered back pockets, and a side stash pocket for easy access. RepYourWater took the design one step further with cinchable ankles, doubling as a gravel guard when wet wading. The pants feature a durable weave for longevity and are available in two colors and a variety of sizes.
Button-Ups for the Water
RepYourWater introduced two new button-up fishing shirts as part of the spring collection. Designed to bridge the gap between style and technical performance, these two shirts are at home on the water and around town.
The first new button-up is the Deschutes Short Sleeve shirt. This button-up combines the fit and feel of a lifestyle shirt with the materials and features of a technical fishing shirt. RepYourWater constructed this shirt from a recycled polyester blend, minimizing weight while maximizing breathability. In addition, features like a zippered chest pocket, a built-in sunglass cleaning panel, and a vented back make it an excellent choice for anglers on hot summer days. It’s also UPF 50-rated and available in four color options.
Another new shirt offering in RepYourWater’s spring collection is the Wellfleet Long Sleeve Button Up. This shirt shares many similar features with the Deschutes, like the zippered pocket and sunglass cleaning panel, but in a long-sleeve configuration. If you find yourself fishing in the shoulder seasons or simply want more sun protection, the Wellfleet is the shirt of choice. It is also available in four unique color configurations.
Performance Fishing Hoodies
Lightweight fishing hoodies are one of the most popular and versatile pieces of apparel that anglers rely on. RepYourWater took this into consideration when designing its new collection, releasing two new lightweight hoodies—one for sun and the other a baselayer.
The Flolite Performance Hoody is RepYourWater’s answer to a lightweight sun hoody. It’s constructed from a polyester blend that wicks away moisture and has a lightweight feel, perfect for hot summer days. In addition, this hoody has micro-perforations that aid in moisture wicking while adding another layer of breathability. It’s rated UPF 35+ and has silver-free odor control for extended trips when doing the wash is not an option. Lastly, RepYourWater included several signature art-themed offerings depicting big brown trout or the mythical permit.
The last piece of gear in this collection is the Merino Breeze Performance Hoody. As its name implies, this hoody features a merino wool-polyester blend. This translates to a material that wicks away moisture, maintains a lightweight feel, and naturally controls odor. For Western trout anglers, this is a do-it-all piece made to bridge the gap from chilly mornings to sweltering afternoons.
Our Experience:
Prior to RepYourWater announcing the new apparel collection, we were able to get our hands on it for a recent trip south of the equator to one of our favorite angling destinations, Argentina. The trip was slated for the end of April, which for US anglers means warming temps and the beginning of trout season. However, in Argentina, the seasons are reversed, meaning we’d be heading into fall, with a mix of cooling weather and lingering summer-like days. For our review portion, we’ll focus on the two standout pieces of gear we used most—the Merino Breeze Performance Hoody and the Flolite Performance Hoody.
Shoulder season in Argentina can be particularly fickle; one moment it’s windy and blowing 30 miles an hour, the next it’s high sun and dry as can be. These ever-changing conditions require clothing that adapts to keep you comfortable in every scenario. For that, the Merino Breeze Performance Hoody was our go-to piece of gear. On cool mornings, we wore it as a base layer, wicking away moisture and regulating our body temperature when paired with an outer layer like a puffy jacket. It’s also worth noting that the blend RepYourWater uses is one of the more durable merino garments we’ve tested, preventing pilling when worn under waders or other layers. As the day went on, we’d shed our outer layers, relying on the Breeze Hoody as a standalone piece of gear to protect us from the sun.
In Argentina, we also covered a lot of ground. Hiking around remote lakes and walking the river banks searching for rising fish will work up a sweat fast. Do this over multiple days, and most standard apparel will start to smell ripe. However, the nature of merino wool, combined with RepYourWater’s Optimer Freshguard technology, excels at controlling odors. On a multi-day trip in the middle of nowhere, this is a great perk.
On days with a good forecast and high sun, we opted to wear the Flolite Performance Hoody. As its name implies, this hoodie is designed to be as light as possible. As a result, we were able to fish comfortably even with the hot sun and dry air of Patagonia. What we liked most about this hoodie is its comfortable fit. Although it’s a performance fishing shirt, it is not skin-tight, allowing room to move around and breathe. The same comfortable fit also translates to a great piece to wear off the water around the lodge and around town. While we used this hoodie exclusively in freshwater, the lightweight feel and impressive breathability would make Flolite right at home in the salt.
A Short Interview with RepYourWater:
After testing RepYourWater’s Spring Collection in Argentina, we sat down with co-founder Garrison Doctor to learn more about this lineup of technical fishing apparel and what’s next for the brand.
Flylords: Who are you?
I’m Garrison Doctor, Co-Founder, Creative Director, and Marketing Director for RepYourWater. I’m also a passionate fly tyer, traveler, bird watcher, and artist. Art and fly fishing have really been the two throughlines that shaped my life and career ever since I picked up a fly rod at 10 years old. The artist path was already there, and fly fishing just gave it another outlet and direction.
Flylords: What is RepYourWater?
RepYourWater is an apparel brand born from my passions for art, design, and fly fishing. In the early days, simple, iconic regional graphics helped carve out a space for us in the industry. We grew slowly, but with intention, always trying to support conservation and constantly pushing creatively with new artwork and product ideas.
Over time, those graphic-driven pieces evolved into a much broader apparel line. Today, alongside the artwork people know us for, we’ve become a trusted source for lightweight performance hoodies, merino wool socks, technical outerwear, and now shorts, pants, and button-ups!
Flylords: Can you tell us a little about this new line you’re launching?
The 2026 line is a massive accomplishment for us. Our team spent years developing and refining these products. While every piece is rooted in fly fishing and designed for time on the water, versatility was a huge focus from the beginning.
We wanted gear that works just as well hiking, mountain biking, traveling, or simply wearing around town as it does during a long day of fishing. These are pieces designed to become staples in your everyday rotation, not just something you wear a few weekends a year.
Flylords: What inspired this line?
This line was inspired by utility, passion, and versatility. We want RepYourWater to feel like a true head-to-toe apparel brand with products people genuinely reach for again and again.
A lot of thought went into creating pieces that are functional and technical without feeling overly specialized or restrictive. We wanted apparel that performs hard outside but still feels natural everywhere else life takes you.
Flylords: What sets this line apart from all the other apparel brands on the market? (Why should it exist?)
I think our perspective brings something unique to the industry. We’re rooted in the Mountain West, but we also design with a much broader perspective shaped by travel and time spent fishing all over the world.
Every product in this line went through extensive testing, revisions, and refinements. These pieces were shaped by real experiences in varied climates and conditions, from road trips and airports to rivers, saltwater flats, and backcountry camps. We wanted apparel that could truly hold up to all of it.
Flylords: What are some unique approaches you took when designing these pieces?
When designing the 2026 line, we wanted to bring all of our accumulated experience to the table. From wet wading the Bitterroot River in Montana, to camping along the Deschutes in Oregon, to floating the Roaring Fork in Colorado, to wading the flats of the Seychelles, we know what good apparel needs to endure.
One thing we really believe in is creating products that transition seamlessly beyond fishing. We want every piece to work just as well, grabbing a beer after being on the water, walking around town, traveling, or just hanging out. The best gear earns its place because you naturally keep reaching for it.
Flylords: Do you have a favorite piece? If so, why?
For me, it’s definitely the Bitterroot Shorts. They’re lightweight, quick drying, super durable, and incredibly comfortable. Honestly, they’re the only shorts you need for the whole weekend. Hell, maybe the whole summer.
I’m also a huge believer in thoughtful pocket utility and organization. The pocket layout on the Bitterroot Shorts is excellent. The front drop-in pockets are deep and easy to access, and the side pockets make for seamless organization. I’ve gotten to the point where I choose these shorts even when I’m not fishing because I know exactly where everything goes. Keys in the side drop-in, chapstick in the zip pocket, phone here, wallet there… Once you get used to that setup, it’s hard to go back.
Flylords: What kind of angler is this line designed for?
Honestly, just about any angler. And truthfully, even non-anglers.
These pieces are rooted in fly fishing performance, but they’re intentionally designed to work far beyond that. The shorts are great for hiking, the pants are ideal for travel, and the hoodies work for all kinds of outdoor pursuits. The goal was to create apparel that performs exceptionally well on the water without looking or feeling overly technical everywhere else.
Final Thoughts
RepYourWater’s newest spring collection marks a pivotal change in the brand, focusing more on technical fishing apparel than lifestyle tees. This lineup is designed with wet-wading anglers in mind and, in our testing, excelled at just that. All pieces of the collection are lightweight, packed with features anglers expect, and some they didn’t know they needed. For more information on the Spring Collection, check it out at RepYourWater.com.
