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

[BigAngus752]

I bought a modern military boonie hat from surplus to use on scorching days when I am instructing at the shooting range.  I have two very close friends that are both combat veterans.  Because I'm not a vet I went to both friends (separately) and asked them if they thought anyone would consider it "stolen valor" in any way, shape, or form if I wore that hat at the range.  Both of them said they had absolutely no problem with it.  I now also wear it fishing. Do people assume I am former military?  Perhaps, but I'm not responsible for other people's assumptions and I am not pretending to be anything.  

 

Have you talked to your team about wearing the jersey outside of tournaments?  You are representing all of them when you are wearing it in public.  They are the first people you should ask.  As far as all of us on the forum that you don't know from Adam...you can wear a pink tutu if it suits you.  We have no right to make a judgement.  And how embarrassed will we be when we get out-fished by a young guy in a pink tutu?

[TnRiver46]

1 hour ago, Tennessee Boy said:

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

Believe it or not I would say I spend $50 or less a year on clothing and most of it is for hats. So I guess that shows how much I care about what people think. I have a similar sized brother 3 years my senior and a nasty job so I get almost everything free and am expected to look like I just came out of a rat infested crawl space (because I just did!)

[jr231]

85 percent of my clothes come from Walmart. Wrangler , Dickey's, Hanes etc. Ive never had a problem finding a girlfriend so I could care less what other males think about what I'm wearing on the water. 

[Tennessee Boy]

23 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

Believe it or not I would say I spend $50 or less a year on clothing and most of it is for hats. So I guess that shows how much I care about what people think. I have a similar sized brother 3 years my senior and a nasty job so I get almost everything free and am expected to look like I just came out of a rat infested crawl space (because I just did!)

I hear ya.  As far as dressing up to go fishing,  I don’t want to look like a pro.   Too much pressure.   I’d rather look like I don’t know what I’m doing and surprise people than look like a pro and get skunked.   Also,  if someone sees you fishing in a $100,000 bass boat and wearing a jersey, they’ll  mark your spot.  If they see me they think I carp fishing.

[J Francho]

What ever you wear, make sure your purse matches your belt and shoes.

[Krux5506]

Go ahead and wear it, not only will you look extra official but perhaps even get the respect on the water you deserve. 

[BassNJake]

When my wife was getting chemo and lost her hair she wore a pink hat.

I did the same and still wear it proudly today.

 

I could care less what anyone else thought about my pink hat or whatever else I'm wearing, what my boat looks like, the vehicle I drive .....

 

Although I don't personally care for neck tattoo's or those big holes stretching the earlobes, I don't judge someone else for having them

 

 

[Spankey]

14 hours ago, Fishes in trees said:

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.

Only wear the jersey to Mingle prior to the tournament and at weigh in?????

 

The Jersey cost too much to get dye and fish blood on it?????

 

I’m willing to bet the majority of us on the site can spend 8 hours on the river or lake catch our limit, use dye, fish formula and every variety of baits on our boat and not get a stain on a long sleeved solid white tee shirt. 

 

You should be made to to wear your jersey as part of the rules. Your representing your sponsors much like “Brad” in Fast Times at Ridgemont High when he was working at “Captain Hook Fish’n Chips”, “part of our image and part of our appeal is that uniform”, “show a little pride”.

[Harold Scoggins]

23 hours ago, JFlynn97 said:

What are y'alls thoughts on this?

I've never owned a tournament jersey @JFlynn97, but if it feels good when you wear it then by all means wear it. If I was to see you wearing your tournament jersey on the lake, I'd only see an individual who was proud of his team and school. I always wear my "colors" out on the water and have never worried about being called "that guy."

[SeaCrow]

Wear what you like to and be comfortable. It's not what you wear that makes you one of "those guys" it's your attitude..just don't  act like one..

[Basseditor]

I keep a jersey or two in the boat and put it on when I need to take pictures if I get lucky and catch a big fish. I’m not a pro, but I do have some team deals so I try to represent when possible.

[Johnbt]

"Personally I haven't understood why people provide free advertising wearing labeled clothing."

 

Because I'm retired and mostly shop at tackle stores. Right now I'm wearing a t-shirt I bought the end of August at Tradewinds tackle shop in Ocracoke. I have a drawer full of tackle store shirts from Nags Head and Ocracoke. And quite a few free ones from Tacklewarehouse. 

[ChelseaFisher]

 “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 comfortable”

 

It pretty much comes down to this sentence here.  You’ll certainly look like that guy, but is it comfortable enough to offset that for you?

[Dens228]

1 hour ago, Johnbt said:

"Personally I haven't understood why people provide free advertising wearing labeled clothing."

 

Because I'm retired and mostly shop at tackle stores. Right now I'm wearing a t-shirt I bought the end of August at Tradewinds tackle shop in Ocracoke. I have a drawer full of tackle store shirts from Nags Head and Ocracoke. And quite a few free ones from Tacklewarehouse. 

I had two boys in travel baseball, two years apart in age so I did the travel thing for about 8 years, many of which were doubled up with both boys on a team, I coached one.  I bought a tournament t-shirt at every single tourney that had them for sale.  For many years they made up 90% of my t-shirts and I wore them proudly.  Sadly, tournament baseball ended 5 years ago and the last of my t-shirts from that era are on their last threads.  

 

When the few people that asked if the only shirts I had were tournament baseball shirts, I said, "Yes!"

[rtwvumtneer6]

My biggest concern when I'm on the water is comfort and sun protection.  To me, they are much more important than what other people think.  

 

That being said, be prepared to answer a few extra questions when wearing it, as the average angler might assume you have a KVD level of knowledge ?. It can really cut into your fishing time!

[jbrew73]

If it’s a college team jersey with actual sponsors that actually gave money or support to your team then I’d wear it. I think the team owes them some support in return as well.    If it’s just a bunch of names and logos just to look cool then I think it would be stupid to wear it.

[Shimano_1]

Only you can decide this. Honestly the last thing I'd be asking is someone else's opinion as I could care less what others think about what I'm wearing.  I'd say if ur thinking itll make u look like something u don't wanna come across  as then don't wear it. If u like it and its comfortable wear it. I know myself personally I just feel better when I really like what I'm wearing....outfit, shoes,  hat etc. I'm a sucker for shoes tho....really love having nice shoes on lol

[The Maestro]

Never been into looking like a walking billboard. Not just with fishing. I don't really like any clothes with big gaudy logos and brand names.

[shimmy]

My dad bought me a funny fishing jersey this year with pretty much every possible fishing sponsor on there. We had a great laugh and now I wear it all the time on the water. I laugh when I think about people looking at me in the small jon boat wearing this professional looking sponsored up the wazoo jersey, being a poser on the water or maybe taking things too seriously. I am not a tournament angler and have the utmost respect for them. I will not pretend to be good tournament angler or think I would do well until I actually try it out. So if you see a guy that looks like a poser in a non-professional boat, it could be me having a giggle to myself. 

[ike8120]

No worse then wearing a jersey of a sports team with a players name on it.

[tander]

I say, if you like wearing it, wear it. If it protects from the sun or it is just comfortable, wear it. Personally I would not but I don't even like the pros looking like a bill board or NASCAR diver but I do get it. In the end it don't really matter.

 

[r83srock]

6 hours ago, shimmy said:

My dad bought me a funny fishing jersey this year with pretty much every possible fishing sponsor on there. We had a great laugh and now I wear it all the time on the water. I laugh when I think about people looking at me in the small jon boat wearing this professional looking sponsored up the wazoo jersey, being a poser on the water or maybe taking things too seriously. I am not a tournament angler and have the utmost respect for them. I will not pretend to be good tournament angler or think I would do well until I actually try it out. So if you see a guy that looks like a poser in a non-professional boat, it could be me having a giggle to myself. 

That’s pretty funny! With fish like what’s in your avatar, you might be willing to give that tourney thing a shot.

[J Francho]

58 minutes ago, r83srock said:

With fish like what’s in your avatar

He didn't even weigh those.

[frogflogger]

If it doesn't have two pockets with flaps it isn't a fishing shirt for me.

[Sam]

Stay in your "bubble of a activity" or as is said now, "in your lane."

 

The jersey is for bass fishing and us guys and gals will know what it means and admire its design and sponsors shown.

 

But out of our "bass fishing family bubble of activity" you will look out of place and certainly feel uncomfortable while wearing the jersey in public.

 

Stay in your lane!!!