-Matt Needs (@mg_needs), staff at the Reno Fly Shop
So far it’s been a cold, but mostly wet winter here in Northern Nevada—just the way we like it and the season has just begun. Most days we’re looking at lows well beneath freezing and a high somewhere in the 40’s.
If you want to stay on the water at the lake it’s key to stay warm and more importantly dry. Simms provides the goods to do just that. Here’s a few shop favorites.
Rogue Fleece Hoody
My favorite item from Simms year to year. Shoulder seasons through the heart of winter I cannot go fishing or around town without mine. 100% Polyester woven face with 100% Polyester fleece backside, this beefed up hoody keeps out wind—making it the best all-around jacket I know of. It’s a tad oversized/long in length so you can layer properly underneath the jacket with a fleece or base layer as well.
ALL of the staff and guides at RFS own one and we consider it essential from September through May in Northern Nevada’s unpredictable weather, and we always make sure it’s in our duffle for any trips we take from Pyramid Lake to the North Coast. Priced frugally at $99.95 I see no reason why this jacket isn’t worth every cent paid.
Skeena Glove
It seems to me that the one piece of gear that every serious Pyramid angler has trouble finding is a good glove and in my opinion Simms nailed it with this one as the Skeena glove is quickly becoming a favorite for winter fishing at Pyramid. Designed for fishing salmon and steelhead close to the coast this glove keeps water away. Plain and simple.
Everyone knows the ice cold alkali water is the biggest killer at the lake, which is why the moisture wicking grid fleece interior laminate material is so crucial. Not to mention, the “Gasket Cuffs” deliver a first-rate seal around the wrist and prevents water from getting in and moving up sleeves when landing and releasing fish in big swells. Matched with a Gore-tex wading jacket you’d be hard-pressed to find a better combination.
Gore-tex Exstream Hat
This one size fits all, waterproof Simms standard has been around for a while now and has consistently performed for so long that many consider it a staple in their gear bag. This is quite possibly the warmest and driest hat that we’ve ever discovered here at the shop; plus it just looks classic. Wear it from the time Pyramid opens all the way through the times when your guides are freezing in the wind and waves are crashing over your ladder. Like most quality equipment it finds multiple uses away from fishing—Along the Sierra Nevada you might also find it valuable chukar hunting, shoveling your driveway in a snowstorm, or maybe out ice skating in downtown Reno. As with most Simms gear, this will probably outlast most other outerwear in your arsenal.
Reno Fly Shop is Reno’s only locally owned and operated trout shop and offers everything you need to get on the water and stay comfortable at Pyramid Lake. We have a full selection of Simms wading equipment, outerwear, and packs ready to hit the water.
Stop on by for a fishing report or give us a ring at (775) 323-3474. Doors open Monday-Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM.
