Best Wader | Simms Flyweight Packable Wader

There are times when I’m torn between using waders or wet wading. Do I grab the neoprene socks, or the waders, or do I just throw it all into the vehicle and decide when I get to the river? Simms has now given me one more option with the Flyweight Packable waders, which fill in several gaps. They pack easily for any hike-in trip. They’re also good for the transition weeks when it’s difficult to decide to wade wet or dry. And they’re fantastic for travel when you’re not sure what type of weather your dream destination has in store.

Through the testing period, here’s what I appreciated. They’re noticeably lighter than conventional waders, and they’re also quite comfortable. I was also impressed by the stockings. Simms calls it “low volume” neoprene. The feet are ridged and not much thicker than a normal sock, and they’ve got some stretch. My foot slid in and out with ease. As a side note, I’ve tested three pairs of ultralight waders in the last two years, and I like the Simms foot the best. I also really liked the comfortable fit and ease of adjustability of the convertible top section. All that said, these are fantastic waders that accomplish exactly what they’re designed to do. Simmsfishing.com

Best Saltwater Fly Line | Scientific Anglers Magnitude Textured Balance Clear Tip

This is one of the most recognized brands in the fly-fishing space, and there is a reason for it. They are constantly innovating, and their products — from fly lines to tippet — are reliable and perform well. Their Magnitude lines have ushered in a new era in saltwater fly line technology, making clear line headaches a thing of the past. The new Magnitude Textured Balance Clear Tip line is loaded with new technologies, making it the most durable and slickest clear-floating fly line on the market. DuraCoat leverages an advanced dual-polymer design to optimize line stiffness, abrasion resistance and slickness. The core is enveloped by a supple material, promoting minimal memory and strong adhesion, while the outer layer boasts a robust composition that significantly enhances slickness and abrasion resistance. The line is enhanced with EST+ slickness additive for durability, smoother shooting and eco-friendly performance. Using naturally buoyant polymers, Scientific Anglers has indeed created the next generation of clear-floating lines. The Magnitude Textured Balance Clear Tip line features a taper designed to perform at short range and while still shooting accurately at distance. Compared to aggressive saltwater tapers, Balance is more refined but still capable of delivering typical saltwater flies. Scientificanglers.com

Best Reel | Hardy Averon

The Averon reel series is a reminder that the quality Hardy has been known for all along hasn’t gone anywhere. The Averon reel, lightweight and durable, has been crafted to blend performance, fishability, and long-term reliability into a beautiful, large arbor design. Size dependent, the reels benefit from both open and closed frame designs. An open frame is utilized on sizes where weight reduction and rapid spool changes are essential, and a closed frame is employed on both the 5000 EN and 9000 models, where thin running lines may be used. For over 150 years, Hardy has been at the forefront of reel design, and this newest addition is built to the same standards that have been present since the beginning. Our nod to Hardy this year is an acknowledgement of their consistency in quality over the last 150 years. Hardyfishing.com

Best Vise | Dyna-King Trekker

Founded in 1981 by Ron Abby, Dyna-King set out to build the most precise and durable fly-tying vises in the world. And they did. In the spring of 2022, Charlie Craven, famed tier and Dyna-King pro-staff, called Mayfly Outdoors to make them aware that this established brand, with decades of innovation behind it and now with a little dust on it, might need a new home. It’s a stark reminder that time passes even the best brands, and that innovation is an ongoing exercise. Dyna-King, now a Mayfly Outdoors brand, has been trusted by professional and commercial tiers for over 40 years. We’re giving a nod to the Trekker vise for its craftsmanship, but also to celebrate the rebirth of a great vise company. Now manufactured in Montrose, the Trekker Vise is precision craftsmanship made of hardened steel and holds hooks sized from 8/0 to 24. This is a full rotary vise with rotational lock and drag adjustment. Shorter and more lightweight than the Barracuda Deluxe, but with the same hook holding capabilities, the Trekker is lighter in your travel bag and easier on your wallet. Dyna-king.com

Best Wading Boot | Simms Flyweight Boot

New ownership means changes. But inside the Simms HQ is a core group of loyalists — people who understand the DNA of the brand — and they are still at it, producing premium gear designed to help make the most of every second on the water. The rationale for why Simms is receiving a nod? All the boots we received for testing fell under the category of lightweight, and theirs was the lightest. We’re also sending along a pat on the back to those hardcore Simms employees who continue to push the core DNA forward. The Vibram-soled Flyweight boot represents a fully considered update to what is, in our opinion, one of their most capable, comfortable wading boots. The boot is a blend of lightweight, travel-ready performance, grippy Vibram® traction, and the kind of no-quit durability that gets it done. The boots feature a molded rubber toe wrap and abrasion panels to protect against wear, a high-cushion dual-density EVA midsole for comfort, and a Vibram® Idrogrip with Traction Lug outsole, which optimizes stability. Simmsfishing.com

Best Beginner Kit | Airlite Aspire Beginner Kit

Fly fishing can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be. Airlite is new to anglers and fly shops in North America and growing quickly. Designed by industry veterans Jeff Wagner and Gareth Jones, who bring over 40 years of combined expertise in fly rod and line design, the rod line is a nice blend of aspirational and affordable. Tailored to the beginner angler, the Airlite Aspire kit gets a nod from us this year as the best beginner setup. The system provides a convenient and user-friendly package for new anglers just getting started. The all-in-one combo simplifies the setup process without having to worry about tying a nail knot or about the compatibility between the rod, reel and line. The Airlite rod and Aspire reel are accompanied by a Cast Airflo fly line, backing and a fitted tapered leader. The four-piece medium action rods, included in the system, are available in 4-, 5-, 6- and 8-weight configurations. Airliteflyrods.com

Best Fly Rod Carrier | Trxstle CRC System

For years, I’ve stowed all my essential fly gear, including rods, under the back seat of my truck. This year, my youngest son and I developed a bad habit — stowing rods under the seat, outside of their cases. We arrived at this bad decision honestly as it shortened the time between river arrival and fly on the water. The end of that story, of course, is always the same, and my favorite Orvis 3-weight was the broken consequence. The solution? A collapsible rod carrier system configured to fit in the box of my truck. Enter Trxstle.

Designed, engineered and made by professional fly-fishing guides in Montana, Trxstle’s original fly rod carrier system provides secure storage for fully rigged fly rods. According to Trxstle, the CRC System is the only telescopic fishing rod carrier on the market and securely mounts to cars, trucks and any vehicle with a roof rack. With adjustable mounting lengths, pre-installed complete reel padding, and patented suspension rod liners, the convertible rod carry system is the most versatile rod carrier on the market, offering the best fly-fishing gear protection. Trxstle.com

Best Pack | Patagonia Stealth Switch Pack

A creature of habit, I’ve been fishing with the same Patagonia sling pack for several years. Like its predecessor, the 9-liter Stealth Switch Pack is built for left- or right-shoulder wear and easily slides into an on-the-water fly-change station. The new one, however, also converts to a hip pack. Among the features are a net sleeve and embedded magnets on the pack front and shoulder strap that temporarily hold flies and nippers for quick fly changes. For pockets, the pack has one exterior-front zippered pocket, one zippered pocket on the shoulder strap, and four large stretch compartments in the pack interior. The Stealth Switch Pack also features a water bottle sleeve, corrosion-resistant zips, and numerous gear attachments and lash points. Patagonia.com

Best Freshwater Line | Airflo Superflo Max Ridge 2.0 Universal

Airflo has seen its fair share of fly line difficulties over the years. While this new line has been 30 years in the making, it isn’t the same. Not even close. As it happens, we had one of Airflo’s original Ridge lines in the office and had some fun comparing the old line with their latest offering. According to Airflo, every aspect of their lines has been reevaluated and reengineered. This is a complete redesign from the core out, and the new product is quite remarkable.

Superflo Max is an ultra-supple, low-memory, ultra-durable line technology. Thanks to Airflo’s new material formulation, every Superflo Max line moves through the extruder with less resistance. This allows for smooth diameter transitions and some of the thinnest and lightest running lines. What does that mean for the angler? It means you can pick up more line and cast it further. The universal taper is a great all-purpose freshwater line, serving the delivery needs of dry fly, nymph and streamer anglers. Airflousa.com

Best Innovation | Abel TR Blue Line Edition

Growing up, we spent most weekends in river valleys, exploring dirt roads in search of a trailhead or a trouty stretch of river. I remember Dad placing his topo map on the hood of the truck and teaching us what the lines meant. I still prefer topo maps over apps. Blue lining, a term that originates from the topo map, is about escaping crowds and exploring sections of unpressured rivers. Blue lining offers a unique and intimate connection with nature, allowing you to fish in serene and often overlooked locations. While apps don’t excite me, the option made possible by OnWater to place the blue lines from my favorite river system onto the face of a new Abel TR reel does.

The TR is a lightweight masterpiece. An integrated precision-balanced clicker on the spool eliminates the need for a counterweight, yielding a clean look and retaining an iconic click-pawl sound. The pronounced palming rim is deliberately shaped to manually control drag pressure. The TR also features a large-arbor spool engineered to reduce line memory and increase retrieval rate. Abelreels.com

Best Fly Rod | Orvis Superfine

Half a century ago, Orvis developed their first series of graphite fly rods, some of the first available to anglers. A subset of these innovative rods were less than 8 feet long and ranged from 1-weight to 5-weight. These classics were prized for their soft feel and small-stream fishability. The individual rod names are legendary: The One-Weight, The Ultrafine, The Tippet, The Seven/Eleven, The Far & Fine.

I’ve taken to small streams over the past couple of years and had the pleasure of fishing The Tippet (3-weight) for most of this past summer. A smooth-casting rod that allows you to feel everything. This newly redesigned series is based on their classic line and length models. Designed with Helios™ construction techniques, they recover well and track beautifully to improve performance and accuracy. Each four-piece rod has a matte gray blank with a shallow taper, a black anodized aluminum uplocking reel seat, hard chrome snake guides, chrome stripping guides, and a cigar-style cork grip. Includes cloth-covered rod tube and printed rod sock. The unfortunate part is that I broke it by improperly stowing it (see the Trxstle review), but the good news is that Orvis has one of the best rod repair programs around. Orvis.com

Best Sunglasses | Bajío Greenland Sunglasses

These are lightweight bio-based nylon frames paired with blue light-blocking polarized lenses that equate to a needed fly-fishing tool. Tested in the frigid conditions along Greenland’s Kangia River, the frame features a goggle-like face grip, locking you in for the most extreme conditions. This is the techiest frame Bajío has made, designed to give you a fish-spotting advantage. The large-fit Greenland frames feature ergo rubber vented nose pads, vented rubber side shields, a built-in sun ledge, keeper holes, ergo rubber temple tips and flex hinges. These shades block 90% of harsh yellow light, 95% of bad blue light and 100% of UV light. They come with Bajio’s popular recycled case, a microfiber cleaning cloth bag and a limited lifetime warranty. Bajiosunglasses.com

Best Fly-Tying Kit | Umpqua Dreamstream Master Tying Tool Kit

Umpqua has pooled twelve of its most popular tying tools into one kit. Among the tools included are hackle pliers, which provide a solid grip for both hand and hackle. The dubbing loop spinner is a great tool for creating long, large, complex and durable dubbed bodies. The bobbin included is perfect for beginners and works with a variety of threads, spools and wires. It is constructed of surgical-grade Japanese stainless steel, and the thread tension can be easily adjusted. The whip finisher offers smooth rotation and finish, along with an easy-to-grip handle. The 4.7-inch hair scissors are ideal for natural materials; long, heavy, micro-serrated blades grab and cut deer and elk hair easily and precisely. A great all-purpose workhorse for any tier that spends a lot of time tying big, bushy bugs. This master tying kit also features a dubbing loop spinner, a dubbing brush, a standard hair stacker, an XL hair stacker, a bobbin threader, a dubbing loop tweezer, and 3.5-inch arrow point scissors. For a rundown on these items, visit Umpqua’s website. Umpqua.com

Best Net | North Fork Nets

Thanks to Loon Outdoors for introducing us to North Fork Nets. Their Trek net spent the summer as a trusted tool, landing some of my favorite fish. From backcountry to front country to drift boat, we put pressure on this net looking for failure points. We didn’t find any, but we did fall in love with it. After a rough go in the bush, we’ve now retired it to luxury net life as a staple inside our ClackaCraft Eddy, where it will no doubt be put to good use next season. Crafted for the adventurous angler, the Trek net combines rugged utility with thoughtful design. The net is equipped with a rubber cane tip, doubling as a wading staff for stability on tough treks. Ideal for boats, float tubes, and paddleboards, it really is a reliable, go-anywhere fly-fishing tool. Northforknets.com