Stalker Jacket
Chris Tyler survives a rainstorm on the Mitta Mitta.
The last time I tried to buy a quality, lightweight, breathable jacket for fishing I thought I was going to have to mortgage the house. You can take the risk and bring one in from the USA, but there is a better option right here at your doorstep.
Sometimes it really does pay to get off the internet and go look in the local store! The news is that the Pro-Angler team has redesigned their already popular wading jacket. The end result is the proverbial ‘you beaut’, packable, breathable, lightweight rain jacket to keep you dry. Let’s stay there for a second—with ‘keeps you dry.’ How many rain jackets claim to do just that but don’t? I have a few, do you? Last week I was fishing the Mitta Mitta River when the sky rumbled and went dark and then the heavens opened. We all ran for cover keeping the rods low, except for me of course. I dumped the rod and ran around like a madman in my new Pro-Angler jacket: what a perfect opportunity to review it! End result was that I stayed warm and dry—and you will too, or the guarantee is for 110% of your money back. This helped me return to my fishing when the storm had passed, because I was a happy puppy. I caught fish and my wet and bedraggled mates didn’t. That made me even happier.
This jacket is not meant for mountain climbing or snow boarding. It is purpose built for wet season fly fishing. The good new ideas it has include a vented mesh lining to circulate air, a draw cord waist tie, rod holder, and even waterproof zips. All the good old features remain though, like large chest pockets, retractable zingers, and velcro adjustments and neoprene cuffs on the sleeves so you can keep your arms dry while releasing that ten pounder.
Another thing I found—the neoprene band stops rainwater running down the inside of your arm while you have it elevated during casting. When this happens, even your undies will be wet, and very, very cold. You would be unhappy like I was last time I discovered this on the Tongariro; but not so with this jacket.
The sizing is generous and there are a couple of nice surprises too: a backpack cavity for your lunch or whatever else you want to keep there, and a hood that rolls up into a nice little collar when not needed so it won’t flap around in the breeze. There’s more, but you really should go to a Pro-Angler store and have a look for yourself.
If I had designed it, this is exactly what it would be. I don’t know if you get steak knives as well but I can say that the boys at Pro-Angler have done this one right—it has the lot. The colour is in the new ‘smoke’ with black sleeves and looks quite good, not that you care about that too much but you won’t frighten the fish with it. Nor will the price frighten you—$149.95 from all Pro-Angler stores. Phone 03 9532 1583. www.proangler.com.au