The Best Fly-fishing Gear to Snag Before Your Next Angling Adventure

With spring and fly fishing season back in full swing, it’s that time again to revisit your angling kit and stay properly equipped before casting your next line. Whether it’s in your local stream or on the angling trip of a lifetime, waiting until you're on the water to realize your gear isn’t up to task is the wrong move against any fish.

From lightweight packs and fly rods to get you downstream with ease to the best net to land an unruly trout, here are 10 essential items to ensure your next fly fishing excursion goes swimmingly.

Best Fly-fishing Gear

Fly-fishing boots may be the most important piece of gear any angler can invest in. If your feet aren’t happy, nothing is. With Orvis PRO Wading Boots, you can get to and from the water with ease and wade all day without fear of slipping. These are built for professional anglers and river guides, so they’ll meet your demands. The boot’s innovative Michelin Outdoor Extreme outsole (created in collaboration with the tire company) provides superior traction and abrasion resistance. Orvis also partnered with OrthoLite to create 3D molded insoles to keep your feet comfortable and protected all day long.

While the Tenkara Rod Co.’s unique Japanese-style fishing rods are well known, few are familiar with the company’s carbon-fiber landing nets. If you’ve ever tried to land an unruly fish without a net, you know how important a solid net can be—and Tenkara makes some of the best around.

For long, lightweight excursions deep into the backcountry, Fishpond Ridgeline Tech Pack is a versatile vest that doubles as a sturdy backpack that can shoulder everything you need for the day with ease, from fly boxes to reels. A generous supply of interior and exterior pockets help anglers keep their gear organized and close at hand—with space for lunch and a beverage or two, as well as an extra shirt or jacket. The backpack also has a dedicated pocket for a water bladder to keep you well-hydrated.

Shade can be even more elusive than the fish during those long summer days on the river or lake. Ibex Sun Hoodie is a wise addition to any angler’s kit when battling intense rays. Lightweight merino and Tencel wool wicks moisture to keep you cool and comfortable on the water, while the hoodie’s three-panel structure offers complete coverage from both sun and wind. Smart additions like offset shoulder seams prevent chafing, and an elastic thumb hold keeps the sleeve secure if you layer the hoodie with a jacket.

Marrying a water filter to a lightweight fly-fishing hip pack is just plain smart. Simply throw a fly box and snack in Grayl's pack, attach the water bottle, and you’re good to go. Grayl’s UltraPress compression system is as simple as it gets: When you’re thirsty, fill the bottle with river water, compress the filter down, and drink. It has a one-way valve for electrolyte drink mixes, so anglers can carry just one bottle for filtering and drinking. The water-resistant hip-pack comes in four 500d Multicam Cordura color options with a BottleLok tie-down system and an EasyCollapse pocket for 12- to 16-ounce cups.

When you’re fly-fishing in the backcountry, it’s important to know where you are and where you’re going. It’s also imperative to make sure you’re fishing in public waters and not trespassing on private property. OnX Backcountry is a great tool to have in hand to find the best fishing spot and avoid places where you don't want to be.

A waterproof pack is a must-have for any fly-fishing adventure that involves getting wet. At 30 liters, Orvis Pro Waterproof Pack is large enough to carry all your fishing gear and ensures everything inside will stay dry as a bone. Constructed using durable, 840-denier ballistic nylon, the pack stands up to rocks, trees, branches, and harsh weather without a hitch. Heavy-duty MasterSeal zippers keep water out even if you’re coastal fishing in crashing waves. The pack also includes a rod tube and water bottle pocket with a leash, so nothing floats away.

Probably the gold standard of ultralight, packable waders, these lithe water-blockers drop the usual neoprene bootie (which is bulky and heavy) for a seamless synthetic rubber. Lighter and thinner than neoprene, it works just as well, though not quite as warm. The waders themselves are stripped down to just one chest pocket, but include a no-snag belt and adjustable suspenders. They're also made with 64 percent recycled materials and weigh 36 ounces while packing down to the size of a Nalgene bottle.

Weighing in at just 3.6 ounces for the 5wt version, this CNC-machined reel is the perfect choice for weight-conscious fly-fishermen who love to sport a little bling at the bottom of their rod. Looking like a supercar wheel with its spidery spokes, the airy, strong design not only cuts weight drastically, but also promotes quicker line drying. Form doesn't restrict function: The click-stop drag knob utilizes a special spring to give you a linear progression that makes for ultra-fine adjustments at the lighter end of the drag.

At 17 inches broken down, there’s no excuse not to pack this hand-built rod on every hike. The seven-piece, 9-foot Tumbledown weighs only 3.6 ounces and is made from a carbon blank, local birch reel seat with bio-based epoxies.