Hats as a random conversation starter?

Paul_ · Dec 31, 2022

What’s everyone’s thoughts on striking up a conversation with a stranger because you see they are wearing a fly fishing related hat? I’ll add, a pretty specific type of hat. Echo, Spawn Flyfish, Rio, Sage, PNW Flyfishing, a fly shop…

If I’m in line somewhere and the person next to me has such a hat on I usually start a conversation (if they don’t look overly grumpy). Sometimes it’s awkward and it appears they are annoyed by my pestering them about their hat (usually Spey Bros

). But most of the time it turns out positive.

What do you guys do in similar situations?

_WW_ · Dec 31, 2022

I keep mum and pray they don't follow me to the river...

Mossback · Dec 31, 2022

I try to look overly grumpy, so marked safe from conversations...

mcswny · Dec 31, 2022

Paul_ said:
Echo, Spawn Flyfish, Rio, Sage

For me it would need to be much more niche than this list. If they were wearing a pnwff hat I would, or say a fly shop from my hometown.

Scott Salzer · Dec 31, 2022

I tend to wear Tilley. I really like them. No fishing related stitching but I do get a lot on positive comments.

Nick Clayton · Dec 31, 2022

I never leave the house without a hat. 99% of the time it's either my old Simms hat, or that same Spawn hat in the pic in the OP.

I can't remember a single time where someone randomly struck up a conversation with me in public because if my hat. Maybe that means I look grumpy.

I have been known to make comments to random folks I see wearing cool band shirts.

Zak · Dec 31, 2022

Scott Salzer said:
I tend to wear Tilley. I really like them. No fishing related stitching but I do get a lot on positive comments.

Me, too. Tilley replaced my worn out T3 for free, and they make size 8 hats to fit my freakishly large noggin. Best fishing hat ever (except when wearing a hooded jacket with the hood up for rain).

Mossback · Dec 31, 2022

Nick Clayton said:
Maybe that means I look grumpy.

See...
It works.

Northern · Dec 31, 2022

Once, years ago, I was following a trail down to a river, and passed a very Simms-to-the-teeth dressed fly guy. It was dusk, and in the dim light he squinted at my bright orange, fish-imaged cap and started to ask something before getting close enough to recognize it not as a prestigious fly brand, but as Nemo at Mount Wannahockaloogie. The look of horror and immediate snapping shut of his mouth had me chuckling to myself for quite some time!

Coach Potter · Dec 31, 2022

I have the most obscure hat collection known to man. I have a buddy who collects patches from anywhere that has them available for sale. He then puts them on hats and every year he brings me a new one when he comes to deer camp. The only commonality in my hats is that they are all from somewhere in MT, WY or CO.

Currently, my “go to” is a hat from King Ropes in Sheridan WY. I had a guy stop me in a store last week and ask me about it. That doesn’t happen to me a lot. He was big O’l burly dude and we had a great conversation. I’m not a grumpy person, at least I don’t think so, however my wife and kids tell me I’m not very approachable. I should probably smile more. I learned something about my hat that day

.

Kfish · Dec 31, 2022

I struck up a short conversation with this guy while at SeaTac security check since he was wearing a Moonshine flyrods hat. The other time my kids swim instructor asked me if I fish with a winston seeing mine.
Both positive experiences. I will strike up small talk if they look friendly enough

Anyone has lucky hats? I lost both of mine in lake Chelan and lake Washington. I still catch plenty of fish though, go figure haha

Roper · Dec 31, 2022

This one gets lots of comments, more often from women…

Zak · Dec 31, 2022

Roper said:
This one gets lots of comments, more often from women…View attachment 47801

Nice lid!

Nick Clayton · Dec 31, 2022

I get a lot of comments about my favorite hat from women too.

Well, by that I mean comments from my wife about how much it disgusts her.

Derek Young · Dec 31, 2022

@Itchy Dog knows a thing or two about hats.

Northern · Dec 31, 2022

Kfish said:
Anyone has lucky hats? I lost both of mine in lake Chelan and lake Washington. I still catch plenty of fish though, go figure haha

A couple! My favorites are seriously well-worn. The aforementioned Nemo hat (no longer orange, exactly)

And this one - acquired decades ago. A friend of my BIL's that we fished with up in Ontario was a Pepperidge Farm sales rep. Gene introduced us, and I said something along the lines of "Nice to meet you! I'm gonna need that hat."
It's caught fish with me all over the place - I still wear it!

Nick Clayton · Dec 31, 2022

Northern said:
A couple! My favorites are seriously well-worn. The aforementioned Nemo hat (no longer orange, exactly)

And this one - acquired decades ago. A friend of my BIL's that we fished with up in Ontario was a Pepperidge Farm sales rep. Gene introduced us, and I said something along the lines of "Nice to meet you! I'm gonna need that hat."
It's caught fish with me all over the place - I still wear it!

What, no Elmder Fudd hat??? That's my favorite!