When the Summer heat is blazing and your local trout water seems dead, summer can feel like the off-season for fly fishing. But it doesn’t have to be. With the right mindset and a few smart gear choices, summer can become one of your favorite times to fish.
This list isn’t about rods and reels and other basics for general fly fishing—it’s for anglers who already have some experience and want to level up their summer fly fishing game.
1. Wet Wading Shoes
Ditch the waders and feel the water. Wet wading is the ultimate summer experience—cool, freeing, and fun.
Good Options:
- Orvis PRO Approach Boot – Purpose-built wet wading boot with grip and drainage
- Simms Guard Socks – Great for pairing with normal wading boots
- Crocs – Surprisingly grippy, lightweight, and great for quick trips
Tip: Trail runners or old sneakers can work in a pinch, but you’ll lose out on traction and toe protection.
2. Insulated Water Bottle
Cold water makes a hot day tolerable—and helps you fish longer.
Picks for All Day Hydration:
- Yeti 64 oz Rambler – Great for boats or long days
- Ozark Trail ½ Gallon – Budget-friendly and solid performance
- Yeti 26 oz – Portable and durable
- Hydro Flask 21 oz – Lightweight and reliable
3. Hooded Sun Shirt
Stay cool and protected. A long sleeve sun hoodie blocks UV rays, keeps you dry, and cuts your sunscreen
Options by Price:
- $15 BaLeaf Hoodie – Best budget pick
- $30 Columbia PFG – Affordable, solid quality
- $80 Simms SolarFlex – Premium performance
- $100 Patagonia Tropic Comfort – Premium performance
Loose fit = more airflow. And don’t forget a solid hat and neck gaiter.
4. Polarized Sunglasses
Summer is the time for sight fishing, and the best way to improve your sight fishing is with polarized sunglasses. Good lenses = better visability, safer wading, and no hooks to the eye.
My Lens Picks:
- Costa: Green Mirror, Copper Silver Mirror, or Copper
- Smith: ChromaPop Green Mirror, Bronze Mirror, Gold Mirror, or Brown
- Low Light:
- Costa Low Light Silver Mirror
- Smith ChromaPop Low Light Yellow (review coming soon)
Go try them on—fit matters as much as lens color.
5. Quick-Dry Shorts
Fishing, swimming, wading—these shorts do it all.
- Patagonia Baggies – Crazy Durable, Do it all summer short. My favorite shorts EVER
- Columbia Backcast – Budget-friendly and feature-packed (with belt loops)
6. Bluegill & Panfish Flies
When other species get picky, bluegill save the day. Always willing, always fun.
Buy From: Call Unicoi Outfitters
Topwater:
- Boogle Bug Popper (Size 8): Yella Fella, White, Blue
- Mini Stealth Bomber: White, Chartreuse, Yellow/Black, Blue
Subsurface:
- Wooly Bugger
- Prince Nymph
- Hare’s Ear
- Bluegill Bully Spider
- Green Weenie
- Rubber-Legged Squirrel Fly
Bring a 3–4 wt rod and rediscover how fun panfish can be.
7. Sunscreen
Not negotiable. Cover anything exposed—including your hands, ears, and neck.
Recommended:
- Blue Lizard Mineral Sunscreen – Effective, reef-safe, and doesn’t damage gear
Aerosol sunscreen destroys fly lines, boat decks, sunglasses, and more.
8. Map Apps & Satellite Tools
Summer is the time to explore. Use digital maps to find water you’ve never fished.
Tools to Try:
Use summer as an excuse to fish a blue line, urban stream, runoff ditch, or random pond near your house. You might find your new favorite spot.
9. Warm Water Fly Line
Hot weather can turn your cold-water line into a sticky mess. Upgrade to something built for the heat.
Recommended Lines:
- Scientific Anglers Infinity Warm – Versatile, great on trout rods
- SA Bass Bug Taper – Designed for casting big bugs
- Cortland Bass Line – Solid performance at a solid price
- Scientific Anglers Grand Slam – Saltwater ready and heat resistant
10. An Open Mindset
This one’s free—and it’s everything. Summer conditions push you to adapt, explore, and play.
Don’t be afraid to try new water, chase new species, or wade a ditch behind the grocery store. Jump in the water. Swing on a rope. Hang with friends. Some of your best fishing memories won’t involve catching fish at all.
Bonus: A Good Headlamp
Early mornings and late evenings are prime summer windows. Don’t leave home without a solid headlamp or flashlight.
Final Thoughts
Summer fly fishing doesn’t have to be miserable. With the right gear, a flexible attitude, and a thirst for fun, it can be one of the most rewarding seasons on the water. Explore, adapt, and enjoy the ride.
Have a question or want help finding gear? Drop a comment—I’ll do my best to respond.
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