The Mad Hatter

Posted By on December 17, 2008

or “What to get the angler that has everything!”

We all know that fly-fishing gives anglers chronic cases of the “I-wants.” There’s that new rod that you just HAVE to get for your quiver of rods – and OF COURSE, it would need a new reel. What about a new vest, you know, the one just out for 2009 with the magnetnic closures instead of zippers? How could we have even functioned on the water without that?!?!? The list could go on for sometime (and mine does), but here’s something that any angler could actually say they NEED with a straight face . . .

Anglers have a thing for hats; we all have our favorites and it’s just not going to be a great day on the water without your GOOD HAT. Like most anglers, I love having a billed cap when I fish to keep glare to minimum. The problem comes when it gets cold, and you have to go for a warmer hat. Think of how many times the day has started off below freezing only to hit 60 by lunch. OR, it’s bright and warm – “shirt-sleeve” weather and then you get slammed by a cold front. Going to a warmer hat usually meant losing your bill (and the magnifiers or light that might be clipped to it). Even when it’s cloudy and cold, a bill helps you to spot more fish and reduces the eye strain of hours on the water.

Enter the Cimarrona Anglers Cap! This ingenius hat is designed to fit over your favorite billed cap or visor and still cover your ears and neck (without “bunching up” like the usual watch cap will do). It’s designed and made by Leslie Kregel of Denton and can be found in shops around the area, including Tailwaters flyshop in Dallas.

Another cool thing about the cap is that it is made of 100% recycled materials; sweaters, blankets, vests – Leslie collects materials from garage sales and vintage clothing stores. My cap has a fleece liner and a wool outer layer. A perfect combination for fishing (or duck hunting given the colors) in cold and even wet weather. I always prefer to have a billed cap on under a hood (the bill helps to move the hood when I turn my head for better vision) – with the new Cimarrona cap, I can keep the bill AND have a toasty noggin. LIFE IS GOOD!

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North Texas Fly Fishing Adventures with Joel Hays

Imagine wading through ten inches of clear water,trying to be as quiet as possible. Fifty feet ahead is a pod of large fish "tailing" on the flat. You strip out fly line, make the cast, and pull your fly in front of the lead fish. After agonizing seconds the fish spots the fly, rushes forward for a quick grab, and feels the hook. The silence is broken as the fish accelerates across the flat, quickly exposing backing on your screaming reel. Sounds like a great day on the coast, or even an exotic bonefish flat, right? Actually it's a great description of the usual day my clients have fishing for Carp on the flats of Lake Ray Roberts where many clients are blown away by the water clarity and the actual ability to sight cast along miles of flats. Big spooky fish in shallow water. They fight and tail like Redfish and can sometimes rival Bonefish in nervousness. This is an EXCELLENT WAY to hone your flats fishing skills and test your "eyes" where it's more about stalking the fish than simply stumbling upon them. You will be a better flats angler!