Apparel for anglers has come a long ways. In the past, anglers would bundle up with bulky clothing to stay warm. If it rained, an angler would have to try and fit their rain suit over their clothes to stay dry, but since none of the clothing was breathable they would be sweating inside getting clammy and cold. Today, anglers dress in layers with high tech clothing to stay warm and dry. It all started with Frabill, a well-known fishing manufacture, decided to become a force in fishing apparel. Not only did they become a force, Frabill set the standard in high quality and technological advanced apparel. In fact, Frabill won the “Best New Apparel” at ICAST the last two years in a row. The Frabill FXE Windproof Fleece Jacket is part of their angler control system of layering with the Frabill Suit where anglers can wear more or less clothes depending on the outside temperatures and activity level.

Staying warm and dry begins with the core of what an angler wears. The Frabill FXE Windproof Fleece Jacket(www.frabill.com) was engineered for ice fishing, but can be worn by itself or under a coat.

Features of the Frabill FXE Windproof Fleece Jacket:

 • Laminated windproof fleece with tasian waterproof nylon protective overlay in collar, shoulders,     elbows, sleeve, cuffs, and hem areas.
 • DuPont™ Teflon® fabric protector.
 • Extended height wind-blocking collar.
 • FXE water-resistant sleeve cuffs with ergonomic shaped elbows.
 • Multiple zipper pockets plus internal lycra stretch pocket.
 • Dual cord lock adjustable hem.
 • Underarm zippered vents.

The ergonomic fit and technological engineering put into the coat not only makes it warm, but fits to the shape of an angler. I personally tested the Frabill FXE Windproof Fleece Jacket in real fishing conditions. The results were astonishing beginning with how warm it keeps you out in cold weather. It’s confusing; the jacket is so lightweight you cannot believe that it can keep you warm, but it does even in cold weather. That leads to why the jacket has underarm zippered vents; you can get to warm in this jacket without letting some heat out. Next was the wind test. This was easy; I just drove down the lake in my boat at 60 mph when the temperature was 50 degrees with a t-shirt under the jacket to see if wind would come through the seams or zipper area. The results again were amazing with no cold wind getting through and I stayed warm. There are also a couple features that make this jacket award winning in any angler’s boat or on the ice. The extended high wind-blocking collar keeps cold wind from blowing down your back or snow slipping down on your neck. The adjustable hem was nice to keep the wind from blowing up underneath the jacket; in addition to changing it to fit whatever I was wearing under the jacket. The water-resistant cuffs on the end of the sleeves are nice especially when digging your hands into the live well for minnows or lipping a bass. I found the internal lycra stretch pocket a great place to put my phone and billfold. Nevertheless, my favorite feature was zipped pockets. As an angler, the zippered pocket kept my clippers, weights, snaps, split rings, pliers, even lures and hooks from falling out. I almost overlooked one more important attribute of the Frabill FXE Windproof Fleece Jacket. The fashionable look is dressy and casual; you will be ready for any occasion.   

How you dress can make a difference in your angling performance. Once you get cold your ability to move or even think is affected. That’s why it’s so important to dress appropriately and stay warm and dry.