I fish mostly in stocked Missouri streams. Bennett Spring, Roaring River, Tanneycomo, etc. I might get a chance to fish in Colorado or the White River in Arkansas maybe once every other year.

I have breathable chest waders, a vest, net, and decent 3&5wt setups.

What’s that one piece of fly fishing gear that improved your experience or helped you catch more fish or just made you enjoy fishing more?

Here’s a picture of my first brown trout from Friday:
Attached File

For me, its been a lot of little things.

Probably the biggest was real deal felt soled wading boots. Don't get cheap. By the time you wear out/destroy 2-3 pairs you could have had one quality pair last.

One other thing that helped my fishing was going to furled leaders. Much cheaper in the long run and wind knots I was getting with standard tapered leaders are a thing of the past.

Missouri doesn’t allow felt soled boots anymore. I actually just had to have mine resoled to rubber. Upgrading my waders has crossed my mind, although I’ve stayed dry thus far...

I’ll look into the leaders. Thanks for the suggestion.

I did upgrade my waders just this year. Orvis had a pretty good sale on them and I couldn't pass it up. I do wet wade most of the year here in TN, NC and VA where I fish. I can usually start wet wading in March and through October maybe even in to November.

I have a pair of the Korkers with the interchangeable soles. In states like yours that don't allow felt, they are a pretty good deal.

The furled leaders are not expensive but boy they sure took care of my wind knot issues and in the long run are far cheaper than the standard tapered leaders.