What to Wear Tournament Bass Fishing
No matter the season or conditions, serious tournament bass anglers are on the water day in and day out in search of the winning fish. The fishing clothing an angler chooses to wear can significantly impact the quality of their time on the water and is an essential element of setting yourself up for tournament success.
From February to mid-August, these professional bass anglers travel throughout the U.S. and encounter various weather conditions and climates. From late winter cold fronts to humid summer days, the elements can test anglers and divert their focus. Planning to dress properly for your next tournament has never been easier than now with our bass fishing clothing guide.
Cold Weather Fishing Gear
2022 Bassmaster Classic Champion Jason Christie has earned over $2 million in his career, braving the elements out on the water. While Christie is a threat in bass fishing tournaments year-round, he’s been particularly successful during the late winter/early spring season. This time of year is known for unpredictable weather, bringing cold temperatures, wind, rain, and light to heavy snow. To combat these harsh conditions, Christie focuses on layering to keep the elements out and stay comfortable during competition. Successful layering starts with outerwear; with spring showers, anglers need top-of-the-line fishing rain suits. Check out the rainsuit comparison guide to find the best rain gear for fishing designed to meet your needs on and off the water.
"First and foremost, this time of year, I absolutely do not leave my house without an AFTCO Reaper on. The Reaper is the best fishing sweatshirt I have ever worn, hands down. That said, I like to dress as light as possible while still staying warm and dry. My go-to’s this time of year are the F1 Midweight Baselayer 1/4 Zip and F1 Midweight Baselayer Pants, my Jason Christie Hooded Performance Shirt, and the Honcho Utility Pants. Combine these with the Hydronaut jacket and bib, an AFTCO beanie, and the Helm gloves, and I am good to go," says Christie.
Blasting off during colder mornings and weighing in as the afternoon temperatures have heated up makes adaptability paramount for the clothing you wear during a tournament. The ideal tournament fishing clothing lineup for these conditions consists of some of AFTCO's staple items. Starting the day with the Barricade jacket and bib as an outer layer is a popular option amongst the AFTCO pro team. Some great additions to this setup include the Samurai Performance Shirt or our range of Air-O Mesh sun shirts paired with the Honcho Utility Pants or the Tactical Fishing Shorts. Remember to protect your hands and face from UV rays with our Solago Gloves and a sun mask as well!
Warm Weather Fishing Gear
As old man winter starts to wave goodbye and temperatures begin to warm, being able to shed clothing items quickly throughout the day is important for tournament anglers. Sun protection clothing, such as performance fishing shirts and fishing sun gloves, is essential at all times of the year, but as days get longer during the spring, anglers need to pay particular attention to UV rays. Utilizing light layering to adapt to the changing conditions on the water is what tournament anglers at the highest-level plan for.
Tournament anglers tend to have a love/hate relationship with summer. Hot and humid conditions, mixed with prolonged exposure to the sun, make it one of the most challenging times of the year to compete in bass tournaments. University of Alabama collegiate bass angler and Florida native Hilary Martin grew up competing under these grueling conditions. As a female tournament angler, she's developed her top AFTCO gear lineup to stay focused on the water despite the humid conditions. Having breathable and moisture-wicking fishing apparel that provides sun protection is important to Hilary during summertime events.
"Growing up in Florida, we deal with the heat and humidity the majority of the year, honestly. Staying cool and comfortable while out on the water is super important to me, especially when fishing tournaments during the summer. Some of my personal favorite fishing shirts to wear are the Women's Samurai Performance Shirt and the Air-O Mesh Hoodie. Pair those with the women's Microbyte Fishing Shorts and I'm good to go for a day on the water. I always make sure I have my Transformer Packable jacket and pants onboard just in case one of those summer showers pops up as well," Martin says.
What to wear for tournament bass fishing will vary depending on the conditions, and each day on the water gives bass anglers a new challenge to conquer and overcome. Check out Bassmaster’s tournament schedule to stay updated with professional bass fishing. Ultimately, from cold weather fishing gear to bass fishing shirts, AFTCO has you covered.
