Dress for comfort when hunting or fishing

When the weather becomes cold, we often talk about how to stay warm. However, during the summer months, most outdoorsmen don't concern themselves with clothing, but instead wear a simple pair of shorts, a T-shirt and some tennis shoes.

But during the past few years, new technology has meant that you can have better clothing to wear fishing and stay comfortable. Like many sportsmen, I've discovered a fairly new, lightweight material called Supplex that dries quickly. Two main companies, Cabela's, the catalogue people, and Mossy Oak Apparel have taken advantage of making outdoor clothing with Supplex's soft, cottony feel.

Treklite, Supplex hunting clothes made by Mossy Oak Apparel, became one of the hottest-selling sets of garments last year. Hunters learned they could wear the Treklite beginning when the weather's still warm and go all the way through December with the clothes before the weather really got cold. Many hunters also found the new Treklite ideal for turkey hunting and fishing.

I've also worn the Cabela's Guidewear Supplex, which features long sleeves that you can roll up and button on a tab to make the sleeves short. Although the Guidewear has long pants, these pants have zippers above the knees, which enables you to quickly and easily convert them into shorts. I enjoy wearing the long sleeves and long pants because I can keep from getting sunburned and stay cool at the same time. You can quickly adjust from a long-sleeved, long-pants outfit to a short-pants, short-sleeved outfit easily.

Too, the Supplex clothing from Cabela's and Mossy Oak Apparel takes up little room when you pack for a trip, and the wrinkles fall out quickly after you hang up the clothes. Also, you can wash this clothing out in the sink at night, roll briefly in a towel, hang it up in the shower in your motel room and have clean and dry clothes to wear the next day.

On two-week trips to Russia and Scotland this past year, I carried two pairs of Supplex pants and three Supplex shirts. I changed clothes every day and stayed clean and dry, but only had to carry a backpack on each trip.

If you haven't discovered the joys of Supplex clothing for the spring, summer and fall, you've missed the best clothing available in high-tech outdoor garments for fishing and hunting. To learn more about Supplex, go to the Mossy Oak Apparel site at www.mossyoak.com, or call Mossy Oak Apparel at (888) MOSSY-OAK; or, visit the Cabela's Website at www.cabelas.com, or call Cabela's at (800) 237-4444.

Fishing footwear also has changed dramatically. Most fishermen tend to wear a pair of cheap tennis shoes or flip-flops. However, tired legs and sore backs have caused anglers to rethink the types of shoes they wear when they stand on the deck of a boat and cast for six to 12 hours. Quality footwear needs more arch support and more comfort so you can fish at your maximum level over an extended time.

The Georgia Boot Company in Franklin, Tenn., has come out with Woo Shoes, named for Woo Daves of Spring Grove, Va., who won the BASS Masters Classic in 2000. Daves has helped to design this footwear for fishermen. Although this line of shoes has several styles, I like the Woo Shoe, a lace-up leather-and-mesh shoe that offers more comfort and support than a tennis shoe and also looks dressy.

I also enjoy wearing the Woo Sandals, which come in an open-toe and a closed-toe variety. When you wear sandals to fish, not having any gaps between your feet and the sandals keeps your foot from breathing and makes your feet hot and sweaty. However, the Woo Sandals feature channels that allow air to move between the sole of the foot and the sandal, keeping your feet cooler and drier.

I also particularly like the adjustable straps on the sandals. Even when they get wet, you can adjust them quickly and easily.

For more information about the Woo Shoes, call (615) 790-4229, or visit the Web site at www.georgiaboot.com.

Many sporting-goods stores now handle these outdoor clothing-related items.