Thank you, Michael! Well my fly fishing book is due out in May (fingers crossed). And there are definitely some fishing-related projects that will be coming out at that time. I’m very excited about them. And a few other things in the meantime. You’ll hear about them here first!
I could not agree with you more, Michael. I should have gotten a second and third when I had the chance. The subtle details--pocket flaps and cuffs--are wonderful.
I too regret not purchasing more of them. I hope they make more of them in the future. The two I purchased (navy and olive green) have been in heavy rotation the entire summer.
Hello David - A while back I read an article about Whit Stillman and his single duffel bag worth of possessions he lives with. I don't know if he still lives that way, but that has always been a little fantasy of mine. Has this idea ever grabbed you?
I read that. And I asked him about it because I didn’t believe it. And, I think we can say that it’s out of date. But it’s still an interesting idea. I think it’s good to be able to pack a duffle bag with things you like and would be happy for a month with in any city. I think we can all agree we have too many possessions and live happily with much, much less.
Help me sell myself on fishing lodges. I am a huge fan of guided fishing (at least floats and flats) but struggle with lodges costing 2-3x what it costs to get a nice airbnb and hire guides. Maybe it’s a little dine-in vs take-out but help me break through my cheapskate mentality (note the cheapskate will buy an infinite number of $800 rods). What elevates the experience for you?
Wow. Well that’s a good question. For me it depends on the lodge’s access to fishing. If they have private water that’s good. And if they have incredible activities and food and things for non-fishing guests then that’s great. These would include: Glendorn in PA, Ranch at Rock Creek in MT, Brush Creek Lodge in WY). They are all tremendous places having nothing to do with fishing.
But you’re talking about more straight up lodges. I am heading to one in Maine (Libby Camps) where you basically have to be there to access the remote ponds by float plane. It’s incredible. And I think worth it. Or places in the Bahamas where you need a guide with a flats boat (though I’ve found a cheap one that’s very spartan).
When I’m in Montana though I’ll usually stay in Bozeman or near the park. And then fish a mixture of wading, spring creeks, guides. And I can do what I want at night. I think that makes sense for a lot of people.
Substack freaked out and posted twice and I guess I deleted the wrong one :) Thanks for cleaning it up.
Private water or access to remote water makes a ton of sense and that's probably a good way for me to get over my "this costs what?!" reaction. In the Bahamas I've had great luck hiring independent guides and renting condos for a fraction of the lodge cost, which I think cemented my bias. Same thing in the west.
I'm of a similar mindset with lodges; they have to really elevate the experience to pay a premium. That said, I've been to some where in addition to what David mentioned, they have a ton of character, great food, and I always end up meeting interesting people from around the country or even World. Hunting and fishing are two of the last interesting hobbies still practiced by guys (on an ever shrinking list), so often times you can meet great people.
I think it’s good when you can find a cool low key spot (Sportsman Motel in Melrose, MT is one) that you use as your base. But they’re harder to find. Sometimes people want the top shelf experience. Especially if they only have one week a year to fish. They don’t want to be worrying about whether they have enough ice.
My wife tells me she knew she was going to marry me when we were going on some outdoorsy trip, and she asked if we were going to camp. I told her "no", and that I didn't go on vacation to live any worse than I already did at home. Those were the days.
That can go either way of course. I’ve met good people at lodges. And definitely some to steer clear of. I always want to know if we’re going to be sharing meals.
Good morning David - do you have a specific motto or rule of thumb when it comes to keeping and rotating books? My wife and I have many books and only so much shelf space. We still love to purchase actual hard copies of books (as opposed to going all digital) but it gets crowded on our shelves. And we don’t want to just get rid of good ones that we may not read again for a little while. So would love your thoughts on keeping shelves full but fresh. Peace.
Oh you’ve come to a person with strong views on this. My people are book stackers! My rule is this: I only put books on shelves that I’ve read. Unread books are stacked on tables or (sometimes alas) on the floor. That keeps me from buying more than I can possibly read. I think it’s nice to divest certain books you’ve had that you might not return to (mysteries, genre, mass market paperbacks). Remember if you are having seller.’s remorse you can always get another nice edition.
David, I'm curious to hear about your favorite travel destinations to escape the heat of high summer. I live in Texas, which is about two degrees short of hell this time of year, and I'm always on the lookout for new places to escape to during August. Fly fishing availability is a definite plus.
You know I like this question! I am very into Stanley, Idaho. It’s about an hour north of Ketchum. There is great fishing two hours every direction (Salmon River, Big Wood, Silver Creek, if you’re getting technical). There are a lot of National Forests for hiking. That whole area is lovely. Ketchum is pretty fancy. But Stanley is much more low key. There’s also one of my favorite hotels up there Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. I’ve written about it before. Great place.
There are some good fishing guides up there who I STRONGLY recommend. Will probably write about that later. But if you head up before I do let me know and I’ll connect you.
how do you clean your linen suits/jackets/pants/shirts (i’m talking unlined here)? i’m torn between embracing a regular wash and the clean pressed look from going to a cleaner.
For suits and jackets, if there’s no Campari disaster, then I wear them for the whole summer and then deal with cleaning them during the winter (dry cleaned if it’s a suit, pressed if it’s a sport coat I didn’t wear much). If it’s a shirt that depends. Some I’ll just wash if it’s an agreeable wrinkle. If it’s a proper dress shirt (I have one or two linen ones) then I bite the bullet and get it dry cleaned. Which is why I only have one or two!
Hi David - last year I had a heavy (380g) linen suit made, but I opted for a darker blue colour. I've found that any part of the cloth that rubs against anything has faded a lot. Is this the "look"? I think it looks a bit scruffy!
Very much appreciated your “wardrobe on a budget“ post. Any thoughts on light jackets for more muggy rain than warmth? Is the technical crowd (Patagonia etc) our only option?
Yikes! Technical is always my last option. There are newer Mackintosh rain coats that are lovely and much lighter than ones in the past. Those are definitely not budget items. I am always on the lookout for a good packable rain coat, in a nice tan color, under $300. They pop up form time to time. It’s a worthwhile hunt.
Scott, you might check out a Ventile cloth raincoat from someone like Private White V.C. (https://www.privatewhitevc.com/products/ventile-mac?variant=25694756012096). At $750 retail, it's not inexpensive, but also not break-the-bank expensive compared to high-end technical jackets like Arctery'x and Patagonia. Also, Ventile cloth is about the only waterproof cloth I know that won't be absolutely murder in a muggy environment.
I think trousers with a fuller cut. None of this close-fitting business. A shirt that has what I call a "dry feel" like a Lacoste polo or a lightweight Oxford cloth. And certainly no socks!
I keep it pretty simple. I only carry things in coat pockets not in pant pockets. I almost always wear some sort of coat. It is not just about style it helps me stay organized. So: wallet and pen in one interior chest pocket. iPhone and Smythson panama diary in the other. Keys in right hand jacket pocket. That’s it. Sunglasses on face.
This is HIGHLY subjective. 1/ Miller Lite cans (for fishing). 2/ Leinenkugel’s bottles (when in Wisconsin and ONLY in Wisconsin). 3/ Whatever light beer is on draft.
How many sport coats does a guy really need in rotation? I have the opposite problem of needing to add that second sport coat. I discovered the delights of tailoring on eBay a few years ago and now have a closet full of 20-some sport coats. I started with Brooks Bros. and Ralph and have added a couple from smaller brands like Miller's Oath and my favorite, a navy Harris from Drake's. Should I settle on a few favorites per season and ditch the rest, or is it okay to wear 5 different brown coats with subtle differences? For context, I wear a coat an tie 3 to 4 days per week.
There is nothing better (for sartorial obsessives) than having the exact right thing for the right time. That’s a great pleasure of dressing. If you have the space then by all means embrace it. Personally, I find myself captivated by a jacket and wearing it a lot and pairing it with different things to (if I may say) understand it better. Then I fall back in love with a different old jacket and wear that for a week. It’s the best!
I think the only thing is when you don’t get pleasure out of seeing something hanging in your closet. When it becomes oppressive then it’s time to deaccession.
David, I am 20 years old revamping my style. I started in streetwear and found that I am just buying way too much and not really loving my clothes. In the past couple years, I have gone over to vintage and have been on the lookout for more staples. What do you recommend for some starting pieces because I tend to almost look too old in certain pieces. I've been digging the black loafer and I love my Levis. A nice intro to tailoring would be very helpful too.
Hi Joseph, welcome to the game. From a distance I would suggest don't worry about looking old, but that's easy for me to say. I think the first thing, which I tell any young man, is an unstructured blue sport coat. It can be new, used, anything. If you're feeling flush then I would talk to my friend Jake Mueser. There's a great herringbone blue Drake's jacket on their site now. It doesn't have to be blue, but that coat will be your friend. I would also look for a good chore jacket or simple safari coat. Something you can wear with an oxford shirt, those black loafers, jeans, and maybe experiment with a tie. These are classic combinations. Oxford shirts, Lacoste shirts, they'll play well with what you're wearing wherever you go. Good luck!
Oh I have thoughts alright. I generally think a classic watch (Cartier tank, Jaeger, almost any old Rolex) should be acquired with the intention of keeping it and leaving it to your son. I don’t go for all this watch dealing. It should be an heirloom, like it came from your father or grandfather and you’re keeping it safe and then pass it on. In my fishing life I wear military style watches. Either Timex. Or another cheap watch, MWC. Nothing fancy.
Hey David, I’ve never seen a leather jacket post by you. Barbour seems to be the outerwear of choice. Regardless, between a simply cut black or brown leather jacket, which would be your choice?
That’s right, I don’t wear leather jackets. I’m more of an overcoat man. I think black is good if you’re going for a more downtown/post-punk look. Brown is a little more genteel and a little more county and less city.
Loved your Rivay x Coggins Roscoe shirt. Any more collaborations planned in the near future?
Thank you, Michael! Well my fly fishing book is due out in May (fingers crossed). And there are definitely some fishing-related projects that will be coming out at that time. I’m very excited about them. And a few other things in the meantime. You’ll hear about them here first!
I could not agree with you more, Michael. I should have gotten a second and third when I had the chance. The subtle details--pocket flaps and cuffs--are wonderful.
I too regret not purchasing more of them. I hope they make more of them in the future. The two I purchased (navy and olive green) have been in heavy rotation the entire summer.
Hello David - A while back I read an article about Whit Stillman and his single duffel bag worth of possessions he lives with. I don't know if he still lives that way, but that has always been a little fantasy of mine. Has this idea ever grabbed you?
I read that. And I asked him about it because I didn’t believe it. And, I think we can say that it’s out of date. But it’s still an interesting idea. I think it’s good to be able to pack a duffle bag with things you like and would be happy for a month with in any city. I think we can all agree we have too many possessions and live happily with much, much less.
Help me sell myself on fishing lodges. I am a huge fan of guided fishing (at least floats and flats) but struggle with lodges costing 2-3x what it costs to get a nice airbnb and hire guides. Maybe it’s a little dine-in vs take-out but help me break through my cheapskate mentality (note the cheapskate will buy an infinite number of $800 rods). What elevates the experience for you?
David Coggins3 min
Wow. Well that’s a good question. For me it depends on the lodge’s access to fishing. If they have private water that’s good. And if they have incredible activities and food and things for non-fishing guests then that’s great. These would include: Glendorn in PA, Ranch at Rock Creek in MT, Brush Creek Lodge in WY). They are all tremendous places having nothing to do with fishing.
But you’re talking about more straight up lodges. I am heading to one in Maine (Libby Camps) where you basically have to be there to access the remote ponds by float plane. It’s incredible. And I think worth it. Or places in the Bahamas where you need a guide with a flats boat (though I’ve found a cheap one that’s very spartan).
When I’m in Montana though I’ll usually stay in Bozeman or near the park. And then fish a mixture of wading, spring creeks, guides. And I can do what I want at night. I think that makes sense for a lot of people.
Substack freaked out and posted twice and I guess I deleted the wrong one :) Thanks for cleaning it up.
Private water or access to remote water makes a ton of sense and that's probably a good way for me to get over my "this costs what?!" reaction. In the Bahamas I've had great luck hiring independent guides and renting condos for a fraction of the lodge cost, which I think cemented my bias. Same thing in the west.
I'm of a similar mindset with lodges; they have to really elevate the experience to pay a premium. That said, I've been to some where in addition to what David mentioned, they have a ton of character, great food, and I always end up meeting interesting people from around the country or even World. Hunting and fishing are two of the last interesting hobbies still practiced by guys (on an ever shrinking list), so often times you can meet great people.
I think it’s good when you can find a cool low key spot (Sportsman Motel in Melrose, MT is one) that you use as your base. But they’re harder to find. Sometimes people want the top shelf experience. Especially if they only have one week a year to fish. They don’t want to be worrying about whether they have enough ice.
My wife tells me she knew she was going to marry me when we were going on some outdoorsy trip, and she asked if we were going to camp. I told her "no", and that I didn't go on vacation to live any worse than I already did at home. Those were the days.
I think that you've nailed the other part that would appeal to me -- hanging out with like minded anglers.
That can go either way of course. I’ve met good people at lodges. And definitely some to steer clear of. I always want to know if we’re going to be sharing meals.
Good morning David - do you have a specific motto or rule of thumb when it comes to keeping and rotating books? My wife and I have many books and only so much shelf space. We still love to purchase actual hard copies of books (as opposed to going all digital) but it gets crowded on our shelves. And we don’t want to just get rid of good ones that we may not read again for a little while. So would love your thoughts on keeping shelves full but fresh. Peace.
Oh you’ve come to a person with strong views on this. My people are book stackers! My rule is this: I only put books on shelves that I’ve read. Unread books are stacked on tables or (sometimes alas) on the floor. That keeps me from buying more than I can possibly read. I think it’s nice to divest certain books you’ve had that you might not return to (mysteries, genre, mass market paperbacks). Remember if you are having seller.’s remorse you can always get another nice edition.
David, I'm curious to hear about your favorite travel destinations to escape the heat of high summer. I live in Texas, which is about two degrees short of hell this time of year, and I'm always on the lookout for new places to escape to during August. Fly fishing availability is a definite plus.
You know I like this question! I am very into Stanley, Idaho. It’s about an hour north of Ketchum. There is great fishing two hours every direction (Salmon River, Big Wood, Silver Creek, if you’re getting technical). There are a lot of National Forests for hiking. That whole area is lovely. Ketchum is pretty fancy. But Stanley is much more low key. There’s also one of my favorite hotels up there Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch. I’ve written about it before. Great place.
There are some good fishing guides up there who I STRONGLY recommend. Will probably write about that later. But if you head up before I do let me know and I’ll connect you.
Will do. Thanks!
how do you clean your linen suits/jackets/pants/shirts (i’m talking unlined here)? i’m torn between embracing a regular wash and the clean pressed look from going to a cleaner.
For suits and jackets, if there’s no Campari disaster, then I wear them for the whole summer and then deal with cleaning them during the winter (dry cleaned if it’s a suit, pressed if it’s a sport coat I didn’t wear much). If it’s a shirt that depends. Some I’ll just wash if it’s an agreeable wrinkle. If it’s a proper dress shirt (I have one or two linen ones) then I bite the bullet and get it dry cleaned. Which is why I only have one or two!
Hi David - last year I had a heavy (380g) linen suit made, but I opted for a darker blue colour. I've found that any part of the cloth that rubs against anything has faded a lot. Is this the "look"? I think it looks a bit scruffy!
It’s a drag to discover that. But once it happens then don’t apologize, act natural and embrace is. I’m sure it looks great!
Very much appreciated your “wardrobe on a budget“ post. Any thoughts on light jackets for more muggy rain than warmth? Is the technical crowd (Patagonia etc) our only option?
Yikes! Technical is always my last option. There are newer Mackintosh rain coats that are lovely and much lighter than ones in the past. Those are definitely not budget items. I am always on the lookout for a good packable rain coat, in a nice tan color, under $300. They pop up form time to time. It’s a worthwhile hunt.
Scott, you might check out a Ventile cloth raincoat from someone like Private White V.C. (https://www.privatewhitevc.com/products/ventile-mac?variant=25694756012096). At $750 retail, it's not inexpensive, but also not break-the-bank expensive compared to high-end technical jackets like Arctery'x and Patagonia. Also, Ventile cloth is about the only waterproof cloth I know that won't be absolutely murder in a muggy environment.
Thank you Ryan! Looks great. Love Private White.
Hi David - what are your tips for staying cool in the summer (apart from the much-vaunted "wear linen" mantra)?
I think trousers with a fuller cut. None of this close-fitting business. A shirt that has what I call a "dry feel" like a Lacoste polo or a lightweight Oxford cloth. And certainly no socks!
What does your every day carry (or EDC, as the cool kids say) consist of?
I keep it pretty simple. I only carry things in coat pockets not in pant pockets. I almost always wear some sort of coat. It is not just about style it helps me stay organized. So: wallet and pen in one interior chest pocket. iPhone and Smythson panama diary in the other. Keys in right hand jacket pocket. That’s it. Sunglasses on face.
What are the top 3 cheap/bad beers you enjoy?
This is HIGHLY subjective. 1/ Miller Lite cans (for fishing). 2/ Leinenkugel’s bottles (when in Wisconsin and ONLY in Wisconsin). 3/ Whatever light beer is on draft.
I completely agree with 1 & 3. There’s a very strong argument for just ordering a cold draft beer and enjoying it free of judgement in certain bars.
Totally. My #2 is my sentimental local beer. Which I think many people have. You can’t argue against what you grew up with!
How many sport coats does a guy really need in rotation? I have the opposite problem of needing to add that second sport coat. I discovered the delights of tailoring on eBay a few years ago and now have a closet full of 20-some sport coats. I started with Brooks Bros. and Ralph and have added a couple from smaller brands like Miller's Oath and my favorite, a navy Harris from Drake's. Should I settle on a few favorites per season and ditch the rest, or is it okay to wear 5 different brown coats with subtle differences? For context, I wear a coat an tie 3 to 4 days per week.
There is nothing better (for sartorial obsessives) than having the exact right thing for the right time. That’s a great pleasure of dressing. If you have the space then by all means embrace it. Personally, I find myself captivated by a jacket and wearing it a lot and pairing it with different things to (if I may say) understand it better. Then I fall back in love with a different old jacket and wear that for a week. It’s the best!
I think the only thing is when you don’t get pleasure out of seeing something hanging in your closet. When it becomes oppressive then it’s time to deaccession.
David, I am 20 years old revamping my style. I started in streetwear and found that I am just buying way too much and not really loving my clothes. In the past couple years, I have gone over to vintage and have been on the lookout for more staples. What do you recommend for some starting pieces because I tend to almost look too old in certain pieces. I've been digging the black loafer and I love my Levis. A nice intro to tailoring would be very helpful too.
Hi Joseph, welcome to the game. From a distance I would suggest don't worry about looking old, but that's easy for me to say. I think the first thing, which I tell any young man, is an unstructured blue sport coat. It can be new, used, anything. If you're feeling flush then I would talk to my friend Jake Mueser. There's a great herringbone blue Drake's jacket on their site now. It doesn't have to be blue, but that coat will be your friend. I would also look for a good chore jacket or simple safari coat. Something you can wear with an oxford shirt, those black loafers, jeans, and maybe experiment with a tie. These are classic combinations. Oxford shirts, Lacoste shirts, they'll play well with what you're wearing wherever you go. Good luck!
Thanks for the recommendations! So I am guessing you are not a T-shirt guy? haha
Ha! Collars get me where I want to go.
Apologies if you answered this before, but any thoughts on watches?
Oh I have thoughts alright. I generally think a classic watch (Cartier tank, Jaeger, almost any old Rolex) should be acquired with the intention of keeping it and leaving it to your son. I don’t go for all this watch dealing. It should be an heirloom, like it came from your father or grandfather and you’re keeping it safe and then pass it on. In my fishing life I wear military style watches. Either Timex. Or another cheap watch, MWC. Nothing fancy.
If you want hardcore watch expertise you know who to ask! Mr Hranek.
Hey David, I’ve never seen a leather jacket post by you. Barbour seems to be the outerwear of choice. Regardless, between a simply cut black or brown leather jacket, which would be your choice?
That’s right, I don’t wear leather jackets. I’m more of an overcoat man. I think black is good if you’re going for a more downtown/post-punk look. Brown is a little more genteel and a little more county and less city.
I've never heard of post-punk, but a quick google shows some attitude mixed with the ability to rock a tie. I like it, thank you.
How does one dress to fly(not fish)? Shoes, pants, jacket, shirt, belt? Too many hoodies and sneakers.
Sport coat, shirt, tie, loafers (or slip on shoe). And then a cardigan if it’s oversees to put on, like Mr Rogers.