Columbia Bahama II Shirt : Gone Fishin'

I like to think of myself as a fly fisherman. In a good summer I get out half a dozen times. Okay, so that doesn't make me an avid fisherman. But I think it's like being a lawyer: even when you're retired, you're still one.

The Bahama II Shirt is part of Columbia's fishing apparel line. It's loaded with useful features, and having worn it for fishing, hiking, and traveling, I think it's a versatile and indispensable piece of outdoor gear.

Let's start with the quick-dry material. Nice. This shirt was designed for hot weather -- the material provides SPF 30 protection and venting in the back and under the arms make it highly breathable.

I like that the chest pockets are big...and stacked. Each pocket has another pocket attached to its front, with another small pocket on top of the second pocket! I use all them at different times. The pockets also have a series of small gusset holes - so when I step on that snot-slick rock in the river and go down, the gussets empty the water out in a second.

There's a Velcro-backed strip above the left pocket about the length of a finger. A nifty design feature that comes into play when I have to tie a fly. I put the butt of the rod on the ground (or river bed) and lean the rod tip against my chest, then Velcro the flap across it. It's like a third hand to hold my gear while I'm tying on my secret pattern Royal Wolf fly.

The construction of the shirt is simply top notch. I've had similarly styled Columbia shirt for a couple of years that just won't wear out. I admit that I don't fish in it much, but it's traveled with me to Ushuaia and back and on another trip through Mexico and Central America. On all my trips, I end up wearing my Bahama II Shirt at least half the time, from sea level to 9,000 feet. It's still in my travel clothing lineup, looking like it did when I bought it.

The sleeves roll up and button into the short sleeve position, they pack down to almost nothing, and they're a terrific layer for when the sun drops and takes the temperature with it. And through it all, I look like I know my way around a fly rod - even when I'm just ordering a Negra Modelo.--C.H. (May 08)

Price : $55 rei

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Manufacturer's Site:  www.columbia.com

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