Dressed for the Late Shift Building a late-season clothing system that keeps you warm, dry and fishing

Dressed for the Late Shift

Building a late-season clothing system that keeps you warm, dry and fishing

By Glenn Walker

MUSKEGON, Mich. (October 8, 2026) – The calendar flips, and most of the outdoors crowd scatters. Deer hunters climb into stands, and duck hunters wade into the marsh. Meanwhile a smaller, stubborn group of us keep hitching up the boat. Honestly, we’re getting the better end of the deal, because fall can serve up some of the best fishing of the year on lakes and rivers alike.

There’s a catch, though. Air temperatures dip, winds stiffen, and the water cools by the week. What you wear stops being an afterthought. It decides whether you’re locked in on fishing or counting the minutes until you’re back at the ramp, and it’s a safety issue, too. Cold and wet on open water is no joke.

Start With Layers

Layering is the foundation of everything else. Shed a layer when the afternoon warms up, add it back when the sun drops, and you’ll avoid the sweat-then-chill cycle that makes a fall day miserable. For a deeper dive, check out our Layering 101 blog.

When It’s Cold and Wet

Rain days (and let’s hope it’s rain and not snow just yet) call for serious rain gear. The strategy is simple: dress warm from the start. Peeling off a rain jacket mid-downpour to add a layer underneath is a good way to soak everything you’ve got on. Start the day warm and dry, and you’ll finish it that way.

That’s where the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib earn their keep. Whether the water is coming from above or breaking over the bow on a run across choppy water, the 30K/13K lamination, fully taped seams and DWR finish keep it on the outside where it belongs.

Protection usually means bulk. Not here. Advanced stretch fabric and articulated construction let you cast, net fish and move around the boat freely.

The jacket’s thermal-mapped PrimaLoft^® Silver insulation puts warmth where your body needs it most, with 133g in the body and 170g across the back. It eases off where heavy fill just gets in the way, dropping to 100g in the sleeves and 80g in the hood.

The bib follows the same thinking. You get 100g below the waist to keep your legs warm, with lighter 60g in the upper front and 80g in the upper back. Since the jacket already covers your core, that lighter fill up top keeps you from overheating or feeling weighed down.

When the Sun Comes Out

Then there are the days that make fall fishing worth it. Sunshine, a light breeze, no rain in the forecast. You still want your core warm, however, you also want full range of motion for casting and working the boat.

My go-to on those days is the Beacon Technical Hoodie and simple fleece vest. The Beacon has a warm fleece interior for insulation and a 288g smooth polyester face that slides easily under other layers, and it handles cool fall air and a light breeze just fine on its own.

When it’s time to make a run, cinch the invisible shock-cord hood tight to keep the wind out. The built-in neck gaiter and face mask take care of wind and sun on your face.

Pick Your Vest

If it’s chilly and your core is asking for more, the new Torque 7.4V Heated Vest is the move. Three heat settings reach up to 131 degrees, and Sorona^® Aura fill keeps the warmth coming the rest of the way.

On days you don’t need the heat, the Thermoclyne Vest does the job. It’s lightweight but delivers targeted core warmth right where a fall fishing day calls for it.

Keep Rain Gear Aboard

Fall weather turns fast, so rain gear rides along no matter what the forecast says. The nice thing about the Beacon-and-vest combo is how easily the Great Lakes Pro Insulated Jacket and Bib go right over top when the sky opens up. On milder days, the uninsulated Great Lakes Pro does the same job of keeping rain, snow or spray off you.

Make the Most of It

Fall is the season a lot of us wait for all year. Fewer boats on the water, and fish putting on the feedbag ahead of winter. Dress for it, and that perfect fall day is yours.

ABOUT WHITEWATER

Whitewater performance fishing apparel gives anglers distinct advantages whenever Mother Nature’s unpredictability conspires to ruin angling adventures. Whether faced with wind, rain, snow, sun, or extreme temperatures, Whitewater apparel equips anglers with the ability and confidence to overcome the elements, so they apply their focus and energies on fighting fish, not the conditions. Whitewater is a brand by Nexus Outdoors, headquartered in Muskegon, Michigan, USA. Learn more and order at whitewaterfish.com.