Hats - Fashion or Fishin'?

I seem to repeat myself so often on this page, but only because the same message needs to be put across again and again. Days are getting colder and we lose a significant proportion of body heat through the top of our heads - read the other reasons you need a hat here:

I ALWAYS wear a hat when I'm out fishing - ANY type of fishing. Not because I'm going bald, although I am, or because it looks good, although it does, but because it makes sense.

There are at least three good reasons for wearing a hat when fishing, regardless of whether you are fishing with bait or fly:

1. Protection - it doesn't matter how good you think your casting is, we are all subject to chance, a miss-timed cast, a gust of wind.. Do you really want to wear a Pheasant Tail Nymph as an ear ornament? or get thumped on the head with a half-filled bubble-float for that matter....?
2. Vision - a good wide brimmed hat can go a long way to reducing glare from the sun, making it a lot easier to see fish movements in the water.
3. Sunshine - as the season progresses we may even see some sunny days. It is very easy to lose track of time when out fishing, and sunburn on the top of the head is not something to be taken lightly. Come to think of it, we can lose something like 40% of body heat through the top of the head, so wearing a hat can also make a big difference in keeping warm.

So if you do nothing else this season - get a hat!