Thoughts on wearing a jersey even if you're not in a competition?

[JFlynn97]

What are y'alls thoughts on this? I got a jersey for my university team that has my name and all our supporters on it, but we only fish a few tournaments a year and I myself only fish a couple those. I think I'd feel kinda weird wearing it while not competing and don't want to come across as one of "those guys," but I love wearing it because it's comfy and offers good protection from the sun. 

 

Those who have them, will you wear your jersey while out fishing on any normal day? Or do you generally save them for competition days?

 

Also I apologize if this belongs in the tournament talk forum, I wasn't sure if it was necessarily tournament related or more clothing related. 

[Bluebasser86]

I don't have a tournament jersey and never have, but I'll say I think it looks silly when I see guys fishing on a weekday morning at one of the small, local lakes in full tournament gear. I guess maybe they have the "Practice like you play", mentality or something. I saw a guy on the little 100 acre lake I was fishing on Wednesday morning in his tournament jersey. I'm sure your sponsors appreciate it though.

[r83srock]

My club has gone in on Jerseys, I have yet to purchase one though since we switched from FLW to BASS. I guess it’s just not a priority to me. It’s neat and uniform when fishing club evens or doing any function as a club, but it doesn’t make sense otherwise. I like to look tidy on the water, but I’m not out to make a fashion statement. My good Huk hat and a nice performance shirt is enough for me. Hanes makes some comfortable performance shirts that won’t break the bank and you won’t have to wear your club jersey all the time.

[Koz]

If it's comfortable and makes you feel good then go ahead and wear it. I wear a Yankee cap or jersey now and then and I don't play for the Yankees.

[NorcalBassin]

If you want to wear it and it's as comfortable as you say go for it. Like Blue said it can look a little silly, but being a young college fisherman wearing the team jersey will likely be better received and lead to some positive conversations on the water or at the ramp as opposed to if someone was 40+ wearing a jersey and fishing out of their Ranger Z521 Comanche. 

[Hammer 4]

I would just say this...In the over 50 years I've been fishing, I've never seen anyone wearing a team jersey, and I've been on the same lake when Pro's were fishing. IMHO, if you wore it, I would hazard a guess that most people would label you as "that guy". For that reason I wouldn't wear it, but that's just me..Your free to do what you like.  

[Fishes in trees]

I know several local pros & semi-pros who keep a clean jersey, colorful, with all their sponsors on it, and don't bust it out until it is time to go to weigh in - as one buddy told me, "These things cost too much to fish in them and get dirt & dye & fish guts & blood on them.  They are pretty obvious about getting tied up after they check in post- tournament and if they have fish, put on their jersey prior to going to stand in the bag line.  The vast majority of the tournaments I've fished in Missouri, you don't bring your own bag and if you do bring fish in your own bag, you've got to wait in the bag line and get a tournament bag prior to weighing your fish.

This is when you want folks to see your in your jersey - unless you've got a camera man in your boat or something like that.  The pre-tournament meeting is also a good time to bust out your jersey.

College fishing - I don't know.  I can see the advantage of looking like part of a team out on the water, but I also know that is where you're going to get it dirty, and a dirty jersey, at the weigh in or at the next tournament ( because you couldn't get the dye stains or the fish blood out) doesn't impress anyone.  Classic case of pick-em.

[Deleted account]

I wouldn't do it, but if its something you want to do, wear it loud, wear it proud!

[billmac]

If you are going to represent what the jersey stands for well, then wear it and don't worry about it.

[Oregon Native]

Hmmmmmm....be yourself....if you enjoy representing your club and the sponsors who help you all...."Go for it"

If you want to be in stealth mode on the lake.....same

Personally I'm so glad we were created equal....just not all the same!!

[fishballer06]

Me personally, I'd never wear a jersey during a non-tournament. But this is America and you are free to do whatever you want. 

[FryDog62]

I wouldn’t wear the jersey outside of an event myself... but I get it they are comfortable and offer good sun protection.  For that reason, I have some generic Carharrt and Columbia spf shirts, long sleeve, hooded, etc.  I still think I look plenty “cool.”  Lol

[Dens228]

I don't have a jersey, but every time on on my kayak, which is 4-6 days a week, I'm wearing my blaze orange baseball hat!  I've done it for years and it's how people identify me now.  If one day I wasn't wearing it someone would probably think someone stole my body. 

[the reel ess]

In my opinion, it's a violation of man law to wear a jersey of the other sports if you are only a spectator. But at least the fishing jersey is functional.

[Black Hawk Basser]

I'd rather you wear your fishing jersey with your name on it than some sports jersey with another grown man's name on it.

[jbsoonerfan]

I won't be "that guy" and judge you no matter what you wear. I guess I'm not 13 anymore and could care less what anyone else is wearing. I'm usually wearing Crocs and would tell anyone who cared where they could stick my Croc.

[Glenn]

If I see a guy on the water wearing a tournament jersey, I presume he's in a tournament.  How would I know otherwise?  How would anyone know but you that you're not? 

 

So.... no big deal if you want to wear it when you're just fishing. I don't think anyone would mind, and nobody would know for the better.

 

Go for it!

[Jigfishn10]

I don't really care if you wear a jersey like that or not, especially if it's from the same school you attend. Wear it loud and proud, just remember that you're there for the education.

 

Now I'm that guy sounding like your father.

[TnRiver46]

Don't know about fishing jerseys but from what I have observed you may not, under any circumstance, ride a bicycle without a jersey full of sponsors. I see over 60-70 every Saturday morning and there's no way every single one of them is a pro with multiple sponsors.......

 

Edit: 5 minutes after I typed this I'm eating my sandwich in my work truck in a parking lot. A guy cycles right behind me in a full sponsored jersey, all by himself. If hes in a competition he is either winning or losing by several miles....

[WRB]

Back in the 70's and 80's it was common for bass anglers to wear vest covered with tackle and B.A.S.S. membership patches. The vest gave way to jackets with club affiliation and or embroidered tackle mfr's names. 

I don't see how a jersey is any different then the vest era. Personally I haven't understood why people provide free advertising wearing labeled clothing.

Tom

 

 

[Columbia Craw]

It's about affiliation and someone wanting to identify with brands and or sponsors or clubs or SCHOOLS.  It's a garment made to wear during fishing weather and outdoor situations. Wear it and if someone wants to judge you, let them. The bass don't care.

[jr231]

I'm shocked at some of the responses. You're telling me you're worried about what total strangers think of you? 

 

Everyone's got something to say but 95 percent of them keep it to their selves anyway. 

 

Anyone who would judge me on the shirt I was wearing I don't want anything to do with anyway. 

[Dangerfield]

If it has UPF 50+, ya I would wear it. But I'm not on a team or fish tournaments, let alone own one but my skin matters to me. I always have a UPF 50+ long sleeve shirt on, I have a few Cabela's Guidewear, and UnderArmor options.

[Tennessee Boy]

If people ever stop caring what other people think about what they’re wearing,  clothing sales will drop by 99%.

[Deleted account]

35 minutes ago, Yeajray231 said:

Anyone who would judge me on the shirt I was wearing I don't want anything to do with anyway. 

Back in the day it was Brooks Brothers and Hugo Boss, I don't know what the corporate cool kids are wearing these days, but yeah. When you asked someone the time it was to see the watch, Rolex=poser, Omega=going places, Patek=The man.