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What's The Best Rain Gear For Fishing? 5 Smart Choices For Foul Weather

Updated on January 23, 2018

Bad Weather Fishing? Good Rain Gear for Trolling in a Drizzle

From a very young age, I learned to appreciate the simple pleasures of fishing. Baiting the hook, spending time in the sun with my dad, and the pride of hauling in the biggest catch of the day. I also learned one other thing: fishing in wet weather can be miserable!

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For most, angling is a fair weather sport. For the truly passionate, a little rain isn't going to stop you from getting out there. And for professionals, rain is just part of the job.

There's no reason to suffer in soggy clothing. Part of becoming an accomplished fisherman is finding the best rain gear for fishing expeditions, including foul weather apparel.

Fortunately for you, there are a lot of fantastic clothing options on the market these days; there's something for just about everyone.

I'm writing this article to give you a run-down on a few of the best sets of fishing rain gear. Each one is suited to a different need, but I've tried to select clothing that has a broad appeal, so you'll get plenty of use out of it. I'll list the pros and cons of each set, and hopefully I'll help direct you to something perfect for you. I'll even cover some commercial ready rain fishing gear too.

Ready to check out some of the top rain gear for fishing? Keep on reading!

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Angling in Tough Conditions? Make Your Checklist

We'll get to the gear itself in a moment. First, I want to encourage you to make a checklist of your needs before you lock something down. Even just a quick mental checklist can be a big help.

How often do you fish?

If you're a frequent angler, you're well served to invest in something durable, extra waterproof and long lasting. If you only get out on the boat or the river a couple times a year, wet weather fishing gear durability isn't as big of a concern.

DO YOU FISH YEAR ROUND?

If yes, you probably want to choose rain gear for fishing with top rated insulation. Beyond just staying dry, you'll need to keep warm too (especially in my neck of the woods.)

COMMERCIAL OR CASUAL?

This almost goes without saying, but commercial fishing rain gear is on a different level. It's not nearly as light or packable, but it lasts forever and keeps you dryer than anything else. If you're thinking about a commercial fishing job, get the right gear.

1. Coleman PVC: Budget friendly, effective angling rain gear

For the occasional angler who is concerned about rain, you don't have to spend a ton of money. My recommendation would be to opt for an inexpensive set of fishing rain gear that is packable and convenient.

Case in point? The Coleman PVC Suit.

It's made from (you guessed it) PVC, and it's more of a shell than a full on insulated jacket. That means it can be easily thrown on over top of an existing coat and pants in a pinch.

It's .20mm nylon, which is pretty durable at this price range. That's a good thing! It comes with everything you'll need to stay pretty dry in a deluge, including an integrated hood, a storm flap to cover the zipper area, and velcro adjustable cuffs at the arms.

It's extremely waterproof, and despite that it breathes reasonably well. It's not ideal for super hot weather, but not terrible either.

You'll notice the leg openings are very wide. They're meant to accommodate someone wearing shoes (no one wants to remove their footwear while scrambling into their fishing rain gear!)

The Coleman comes with a compressible carrying back, so you can have it stowed in your pack (or stowed in your boat) for convenience.

It's not strictly made for fishing, but it's among the best rain gear for fishing in foul weather due to its mix of affordability, convenience and utility.

2. Impertech II: A polyethylene coated rain jacket set, perfect for fishing

You're probably familiar with Helly Hansen. They're renowned for their all-weather apparel, and here we have a jacket and pant set that, taken together, are one of the best fishing rain gear sets around.

Did you know that Helly Hansen got started making clothing for fishermen and seafarers? It's true.

Both the jacket and the pants are exceptionally waterproof. They're well suited to a day on the lake when wet weather is probable.

They're made from stretch polyester with an outer coating of polyurethane to help shed water like nobody's business. The seams are all micro-welded, and the whole thing will keep you nice and dry in a downpour.

So what's with the 'stretch' in the description? This is a very flexible set of foul weather fishing gear. It has stretch to it, which allows it to be form fitting and not too bulky, while still letting you move.

Another nice feature that I like: the material is 'soft' feeling, and it doesn't make a lot of noise when you move (I hate that annoying 'swish swish'.)

In fact, Helly Hansen has put a lot of thought into the fit. The hood, for example, stays nicely in place on your head, even in a breeze: a good thing when you've got both hands on a fishing rod!

That hood tucks nicely away into the collar when not in use.

The pants are actually bib style overalls, which cover your high lower back. They feature an inner pocket in the front of the bib, a perfect place to stash your keys, phone or a cigar! They do feature zipped ankles, letting you put them on over top of high boots if necessary.

The Impertech II system is a fantastic set of fishing rain gear for foul weather, and the bib and jacket are comfortable and attractive. They're a little more expensive, but definitely worthwhile for the serious angler.

3. Commercial marine rain gear, by Grundens

OK, now we're getting into the commercial level stuff. If you're potentially working all day on a boat in the rain, you owe it to yourself to get the right equipment. This set, by Grundens, is one of the best sets of commercial fishing gear for the rain.

So what is the difference between hobby level gear and this stuff? It mostly comes down to durability. If you're working in it all day, you can't afford to be patching holes constantly. This set of jacket and bib overalls is built to withstand daily use and wear and tear.

Grundens Brigg Jacket and Pant

The happy commercial fishermen!
The happy commercial fishermen! | Source

The outer layer is a thick coating of their proprietary PVC, coated over top of a cotton twill type material. Unlike some nylons, which can get waterlogged from excessive soaking, this set will keep you dry in even the fiercest foul weather conditions.

The coat is heavy, and has a full integrated hood with a drawcord. The front zip has a storm flap, and while the cuffs don't tighten, they are reinforced. There is a chin strap to protect your face and keep water from running down your chest.

The jacket is built to move and work in, so the fit isn't super tight. It's constructed with a cape style upper, so your arm movement isn't restricted.

The bib overalls are gusseted, allowing you to adjust their width depending on what you're wearing underneath. The hems are reinforced (like the cuffs on the jacket). The wide hems let you put on boots with no issues.

The construction of this jacket and pants is so durable, you can use it for other purposes too, including construction and rebar. They will take a beating and keep on going. Expect to own them for years.

For commercial purposes (and recreational, if you want), these are among the better fishing gear for the rain you can find.

Keep in mind that they come several sizes larger than you'd expect. That's intentional: they're meant to be worn over your clothing, since they're not exactly insulated on their own.

4. Tough marine gear for commercial purposes, by Helly Hansen

As mentioned earlier, Helly Hansen has its roots in the fishing and seafaring industries. Because of that, they're well suited to produce high quality commercial style rain gear for fishermen. Their Nusfjord line is durable, effective and thoughtfully built.

This jacket and pants are impressively constructed. They both make use of a heavy weight cotton / poly fabric, coated with a sturdy layer of PVC over top. You simply won't get wet wearing this set.

They're both oil and chemical resistant, perfect for the working fisherman.

The Nusfjord Jacket

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The jacket has a storm flap over the zipper to keep water out. The integrated hood connects to a face guard, and the whole thing can be tightened if necessary.

Here's a nice feature: the hood is made to accommodate a helmet or hardhat, so if that's a requirement for your work, you'll know it will fit.

The neoprene cuffs are reinforced, and the whole jacket will stand up to a good deal of wear and tear.

The overalls are almost identically made, with a side gusset to allow for different sizes and reinforced lower hem.

The Nusfjord line is a sturdy and impressive set of wet weather commercial fishing gear, and I'd definitely recommend it to the working seafarer.

Again, be aware that the sizing is intended for someone wearing clothing underneath, and they'll run large for that reason.

Bonus Review: Great protection for the serious angler

What's this? After writing up the review, I felt that the article lacked options for a certain niche: the avid, non-commercial fisherman who wants to fish in fairly extreme weather.

Made by Frabill, this waterproof suit is intended for the angler who might face some cold, wet conditions. It boasts some impressive utility features that an experienced fisherman will really appreciate.

The jacket and bib set is made from a durable, heavy nylon that's both water and windproof. It simply sheds water, but the material breathes pretty nicely and vents humidity.

The hood has impressive coverage, with a built-in visor to keep its shape and keep rain off your face. The front has a storm flap to protect the zipper, and all the seams are sealed to prevent any vulnerability there.

The Frabill jacket bib set fits large, to let you layer based on conditions. The joints are all reinforced and designed to allow movement.

As for the pants, my favorite part: the padded knees. Whether you're kneeling on the boat or the rocks the knee pads are such a nice feature. Further, the shell around the knees is ergonomic, articulated and reinforced with rugged 500 denier nylon.

Warm and effective in all but the harshest weather, this is a serious set of rain gear for fishing in the wet and the cold.

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"I Need Something Different"

The sets of foul weather fishing gear that I've assembled above is intended more as an overview of the possibilities. Chances are there's something on that list for just about everybody. Of course, everyone is unique, and your particular needs may not have been met.

Ice fishing, for example, requires a different set of gear. And many anglers just want a simple rain shell for the odd sprinkle. I may write on those topics at a later date, I'm not sure!

Hopefully you've found the information and the tips above helpful. What are you waiting for? Get out there and make some memories!

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