Want to look cool while fly fishing? It’s about presence, poise and just a hint of flair

Come summer, there’s no shortage of tips on how to stay cool while fly fishing. But where’s the advice on how to look cool? Summer is when we’re most likely to share the outdoors with others, and let’s face it, we fly anglers stand out. As a minority on most Canadian waters, we draw attention with our fly casting from both conventional anglers and passersby. So, caring how we appear isn’t about vanity—it’s about representing with a little dignity. And maybe not looking like a total doofus.

Very few of us are blessed with the timeless, effortless cool of a James Dean, Miles Davis or David Bowie—or, for the younger set, think Zendaya or Timothée Chalamet. I surely don’t have it myself (and even if I did, telling people how cool I am would be the single least cool thing I could do). The cool factor I’m talking about is hard to define, but it’s generally thought of as a mix of aesthetics, attitude and behaviour. Here’s how that can apply to fly fishing…

AESTHETICS

According to fashion experts, dressing cool means looking put-together without seeming like you’ve tried too hard. You don’t need expensive clothes, but a cohesive vibe is good. In fly-fishing terms, that means a tweed jacket just does not belong with a trucker hat.

Consider your style. Are you a Tweedy Troutster wearing a flat cap and earth-tone sweater? Maybe you’re an Orvis Dad with a fleece vest, zip-off pants and cotton ballcap, or a Glamour Caster, immaculately coiffed with labels strategically visible and ready for the perfect Instagram shot. I’m a failed Orvis Dad who now primarily identifies (especially in summer) as a Weedline Wrangler, wearing faded, untucked shirts and looking a little too country for respectable fly fishing, but perfectly geared up for chucking flies into the cabbage for bass and pike.

Then there’s the hat. It’s essential and practical, but also a stylistic anchor, much as shoes are to women’s fashion. A few guidelines: No one older than 30 can pull off a flat-brim ball cap; fedoras best suit mature anglers; and Stetsons belong in the West (unless you’re in the West in your mind, in which case go for it). Finally, your tackle doesn’t need to be fancy, but make sure it’s set up correctly and in working order.