The fish don’t really care what we wear when we show up to the stream, right? Most times of the year that is probably true, however, when the water is clear, clothing color choice can be just as important as showing up with the right flies.

Selecting the right type of clothing is an important part of being well prepared for a day on the water. As a general rule of thumb, our trout streams are mostly likely to have clear water during the months of June, July, August, September and October.

Light, bright colors should be avoided when the water is clear because these shades of color make anglers easily visible to the fish. In addition, light or bright colored clothing allow the fish to see movements, such as casting, much more vividly.

When fishing clear streams for trout, it is important to select colors that help anglers blend into their surroundings, such as brown, olive, or even camouflage.

In my opinion, it’s always an advantage to be dressed in dark colors that blend in, because it will help anglers spook or disturb less fish. The less an angler spooks or disturbs the fish, the easier it will be to fool them into eating a fly.

The next time your getting prepared for a day on the water, consider the color of the clothing that you will be wearing. If it’s time to add some natural colored clothing to your fishing wardrobe, talk to Joel in the fly shop.

Due to the clear water that has become the norm on our streams over the last several months, anglers that have shown up in natural toned colors have had an easier time approaching fish. As the weather continues to take a turn towards fall, it’s a beautiful time of the year to spend on the water.