Casey Shedd’s Must-Have AFTCO Items
AFTCO’s Casey Shedd had not just one but two tough acts to follow. His grandfather Milt and his father Bill are long-term titans of the fishing sphere, with a commitment to making not just better products but also a better world. Rather than living in their shadows or rejecting their legacies altogether, he chose to take their success as a foundation and to build on it.
Indeed, under his recent leadership, he’s continued to emphasize their priorities – including protecting the marine world and making gear that hard core anglers want to wear – while extending the company’s reach. I’ve seen it firsthand as a long time resident of the bass side of things, which they entered a few years ago with a bang and continue to make better.
Obviously, Casey can utilize any AFTCO products that he wants, but I asked him to choose a few that he cannot live without, and to explain why. Here are his choices:
“AFTCO’s most versatile top, our Adapt shirt comes with me on every trip. The built-in gaiter is perfect in high heat, and the Adapt technology makes it an excellent base layer on cooler mornings.”
“Our best selling short since 1989, this product was perfected around the time I was born. It’s built like a workhorse, the elastic waist, multiple pockets, and looser fit keeps me reaching for these shorts on most trips. My favorite khaki pair is going strong after 13 years. “
“We make our popular Reaper in a variety of fabrics, but I still prefer the mobility offered by the original fleece version. It’s too warm for many of our summer days in coastal California, but If I expect the temperature to drop below 60 degrees, I won’t get on a boat without it. The reaper mask has saved me on several long boat runs.”
“Phone, rain shell, extra tackle trays – it all gets stuffed in this compact boat bag. It’s just the right size to also double as a gym or overnight bag.”
“I always keep a Transformer set in my bag. This is my Plan B suit, for when I forget my AFTCO rain gear or times when the weatherman gets it totally wrong. It handles most all but very heavy downpours which is a trade worth making for how compact it is.”
“A perfect mid layer to wear under my barricade jacket on a typical morning. It’s insanely soft with a clean quarter zip style. It’s the one item on this list that I like even better when I’m off the water.”
“The modern version of the M01 is my other pair of go to shorts. Launched just this year, they have a little longer inseam, with an equally durable nylon that we added stretch to. My favorite feature on the Deckhand is the hidden internal stretch waistband.”
Remember to support the companies who support our sport in multiple ways. AFTCO continues to be a leader in terms of conservation, supporting the tournament world, the anglers, and of course in making premium apparel.
