Flylords Spring Runoff Gear Guide

Spring is finally here, and the itch to hit the water is real! Time to dig out those fly rods, sort through your gear stash and maybe treat yourselves to some new stuff as the weather warms up. That’s why we’ve whipped up a gear guide just for you—whether you’re after some fresh gear, need to beef up your fishing kit, or just want to check out the latest and greatest stuff on the market.

No matter if you’re a newbie, a seasoned pro, or on the hunt for a sweet gift for a fishing buddy gearing up for spring, we’ve got your back with our annual spring runoff gear guide. We’ve rounded up our top picks to make your time on the water even better. 

Rods & Reels & Lines

Clothing & Apparel

Gear

New to 2025

Rods & Reels & Lines

The Ross Cimarron is a staple in the trout reel game. Originally released in 1980, the current Cimarron features an updated look and modern performance. Available in sizes 4/5-wt, 5/6-wt, and 7/8-wt, there’s a reel for any trout fishing scenario. This spring, Ross also announced a Cimarron collab with Coors Banquet, raising money for Trout Unlimited’s Embrace a Stream Program.

The Averon is the newest trout-specific reel from Hardy. It’s a premium-priced trout reel that brings with it a premium performance. Over the past year, it’s become a staple in our quiver for its lightweight feel and crisp drag. For light tippets and technical trout fishing, the Averon is as good as it gets. For the Euro nymphing enthusiast, the Euro Averon reel comes with an interchangeable weight system to balance out long rods. 

Airlite is the newest brainchild of Mayfly, the company behind Ross, Abel, and Airflo. They aim to make budget-friendly rods tailored to the dedicated angler and with an impressive warranty. The Versa Trout is our favorite amongst the trout lineup. It features a medium action and is a versatile stick for dry fly fishing and nymphing alike. 

The Classic R8 is Sage’s answer to the increasing popularity of medium-action fly rods that demand a good casting stroke and attention to detail. While it’s available in weights 3 through 6, don’t think of this as a “light-line” rod. It’s much more capable than that, as the 5-weight is equally at home throwing dry-dropper and nymph rigs from a drift boat as it is tossing blue-winged olives during an early-season hatch. This rod has been an excellent stick for the first of this year’s mayfly hatches and will double as an excellent hopper-dropper rod here in the Rockies. 

While spring means warm air temps, runoff means cold water temps. Most fly lines run, become stiff in these conditions, retain memory, and can be tricky to fish. Airflo’s Ultra Supple Winter series of lines is designed to counter the effects of cold water. For spring runoff, the universal taper is an all-around fly line that will stay memory-free. This also doubles as a great choice for anglers fishing throughout the winter.

Clothing & Apparel

Recently, every company has been releasing its version of a tech hoodie—a button-up fishing shirt with a hood. Of these, Marsh Wear has been one of our favorites. The lightweight design of the Lenwood Tech Hoodie makes it a comfortable addition for warming spring temps. If you like the feel of a button-up but want the protection of a sun hoody, consider adding the Lenwood to your spring wardrobe. 

Free Fly is known for its performance fishing gear, but the new Topogrid Pant may take the award for most fishing-oriented. These lightweight and quick-drying pants are made from nylon ripstop, maximizing durability. But our favorite feature is the pockets. Near Upright pockets ensure your gear stays in your pockets. Whether wet wading or rowing a boat, you can fish with confidence, knowing your valuables will stay put. 

As spring runoff turns to summer, bugs begin to hatch. While that makes for great fishing, it also makes for mosquitos. Duck Camp’s No Fly Zone jacket is a lightweight windbreaker-style garment with permethrin woven into the fabric. This means you can comfortably fish without the greasy feeling of bug spray.

What better way to kick off the 2025 trout season than with some Flylords merch? The Heritage Hat features classic styling and a comfortable fit for days on the water or around town. 

Gear

Last year, VSSL debuted its outdoor coffee system, the Nest Pour Over Kit. This all-in-one solution gives you the ability to enjoy a premium cup of coffee on any fishing trip. This spring, VSSL released two new color options, Everglades and Deep Moss, inspired by the outdoors and perfect for spring fishing. For the coffee aficionado, carrying this in your fishing kit is a must.

When runoff leaves rivers blown out and unfishable, it may be time to find new water. Alpine lakes can offer great fishing, often holding trout eager to eat anything you throw at them. If that’s the case, the NRS Riffle Packraft is a lightweight and packable option (just 12 pounds) to expand alpine fishing opportunities. With a packraft, you can get away from the bank, explore new fishing areas, and find success during runoff.

Every trout angler needs a net, and the Simms Daymaker Small Net is the perfect size for wade trips. Made out of carbon fiber construction, it is lightweight and durable. It also features a rubber bag to protect fish. The entire package weighs in at 12 ounces, so it’s easy to carry comfortably all day.

As spring fishing picks up, so does the urge to fish every day. With that comes wet boots that never have time to dry, encouraging mold and mildew. To solve this issue, a boot dryer like the Hedgehog Octopus is a must. With four tubular drying racks and two adjustable hoses, you can dry six pairs of shoes, gloves, and even waders. The setup also comes with odor-eliminating technology to help reduce smell and extend the life of your gear.

If spring travel is on your shortlist, keeping track of your gear is crucial. While an air tag does a great job, Knog has created a foolproof tracking system in the Scout Travel. This bag tag delivers real-time updates on the location of your bags, doubles as a bag tag with your contact information, and has an alarm to prevent tampering. With a unique key, you can add it to any bag, ensuring no one can remove it.

onWater Fish has been a favorite for many of us at Flylords. It’s a great tool for navigating new waterways with their public and private land boundaries. They also just updated the “My Waters” dashboard, which provides real-time USGS flow data, weather conditions, and more, all tailored to the rivers and lakes you love. You can take control with real-time insights so you can make informed decisions with ease every time you think about hitting the water.

I’m always worried that ultra-lite gear like the Chair Zero won’t live up to the billing. It’s hard to make a solid chair that weighs so little, but the Chair Zero manages to pull it off. Setup is an absolute breeze; it fits anywhere in my truck, and it’s stout enough to support my weight. The only knock against it is the price, but seeing as this chair clocks in at just over 1 pound and packs down tight enough to use for backpacking, I think it’s worth the ask. 

I know it’s not popular to like chemicals these days, but permethrin is an absolute game-changer. I was fishing during a great PMD and mosquito hatch last summer, wearing a permethrin-treated sun shirt. My buddy got a few dozen bug bites, and I came home with none. This stuff flat-out works and this bottle from Sawyer is easy to apply, lasts for six weeks or six washes, and is less than $20. That’s a great deal in my book. 

I love the idea of a round cooler that doubles as a place to sit. The KULA 5 Magnepod is designed to offer the same functionality as a five-gallon bucket, with the added bonus of keeping your drinks or food cold. It’s relatively light and features a built-in magnet on the lid that’s compatible with magnetic tumblers from Bote. This cooler has plenty of room for a day’s worth of drinks and snacks, and it’ll have a permanent home in my new drift boat this year. 

The only thing that’s not great about long treks into the wilderness during summer is carrying all the water. The Sawyer Mini Water Filtration System solves that problem, and it’s small enough to fit in your pocket. Clocking in at just two ounces, it’ll filter water down to 0.1 micron, which gets rid of bacteria, protozoa, and microplastics. Sawyer rates the filter for up to 100,000 gallons, which is impressive, and it easily attaches to most water bottles. For less than $30, this is a hard deal to beat. 

You don’t head out to the mountains just so you can work, but sometimes, you need a work surface. Whether you’re editing video or tying flies, it’s nice to have a flat, stable work area, and the Helinox Outdoor Field Office is just that. It packs down small enough that it doesn’t take up too much room in the truck, but it sets up quickly. As a bonus, there’s space for carrying cords, chargers, or other gear you might need if you take some tech with you to the river. 

New to 2025

YETI launched the Ranchero Backpack just in time for spring fishing and traveling. The Ranchero is built with outdoors and travel in mind. A large center pouch holds an ample amount of clothing and gear. In addition, side water pouches can hold water bottles and additional gear. It is worth noting that this is not a waterproof pack, and while not ideal for fishing, it is ideal for travel. If spring fishing trips are on the horizon, the Ranchero will make sure you have all the gear needed to travel light.

We’ve long been a fan of Costa sunglasses, and this year, the fly fishing community got its first pair tailored to them. The Fly Line is an affordable pair of fishing-focused shades packed with technology to spot more fish and protect your eyes. At a fraction of the cost of other Costas, it’s a no-brainer for those looking to invest in quality glasses. For an in-depth look, check out our First Look here.

A pocket knife is a great piece of gear to keep in a pack or vest when exploring this spring. It has a variety of uses and can come in handy in a pinch. One knife that is a staple in our gear is the Benchmade Bugout. This lightweight EDC knife is the perfect size and durable beyond belief. This year, the Bugout got its first major update since its launch with an aluminum and richlite handle, further adding to its durability. 

Turtlebox has built a stronghold on the outdoor music scene with its original waterproof speakers. This year, we saw a new addition to the lineup with the Ranger. A handheld speaker, the Ranger is built to withstand the same punishment as its larger predecessor in a compact size. It also comes with built-in magnets to stick it to a truck or a boat to keep the tunes going anywhere and everywhere.

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