It鈥檚 a crisp summer morning on the Upper Provo with the first beams of mountain sunlight bending through the mist. A handful of dedicated anglers cast flies into the chilly water hoping to catch the attention of one of the resident cutthroat trout before life鈥檚 lesser duties call. Among them is Mike Schneider, a Salt Lake City local and the founder of , a fly fishing apparel line that鈥檚 appealing to the growing new generation of anglers.
鈥淲e wanted to create a laidback collection that really embodies the lifestyle of a trout fisherman,鈥 says Schneider, 鈥淭he search for new water is always on. Our goal was to create pieces that our customers could wear while 鈥榗ommuting to the river,鈥 on the water fishing, to school or work, and still be identified as an angler without having to wear a terrible fitting logo t-shirt that they bought on the sale rack at their local fly shop.鈥
Driven by the aesthetics of the skate and snow world, this new crop of anglers sees less of a division between their time on and off the water. As Schneider knows, this calls for the meeting of outdoor functionality with street-ready styling. To keep the aesthetics appealing, Causwell opts for timeless branding elements and contemporary fits.
For the line鈥檚 new t-shirts, hooded longsleeves, and neck gaiters, Schneider developed a partnership with materials innovator Drirelease to make the apparel river-ready and virtually dirtbag-proof. 鈥淣ot only is our fabric some of the softest, most comfortable on the planet, it also dries four times faster than regular cotton, removes perspiration quickly while the 鈥淔reshGuard鈥 technology prevents odor,鈥 Schneider says. Most importantly for the summer, the material features a a built-in sun protection rating of UPF 30-plus. 聽
Though the brand is designed to appeal to the next generation, staying true to the heritage of the sport and passing on the notion of ecological stewardship in fly fishing is a top priority. 鈥淲e want to make sure the young anglers learn that there鈥檚 an art to casting, a proper way to handle a fish when catch and release fishing, river etiquette and general respect when in and around the river,鈥 Schneider says.
While social media platforms like Instagram may be a factor in driving new anglers to the water, the common thread of exploration, adventure, and a desire to commune with nature remain the same. As Schneider says, it鈥檚 fine to share your day on the river, just don鈥檛 blow up any secret spots.
Keep an eye out for Causwell this summer on their 鈥淐ommuting Rivers鈥 tour across Idaho, Montana,聽and Alberta.