I have to agree with you - synthetic is better than wool for cold weather fishing when you can get soaked. Wet wool might still insulate but it does absorb water, gets heavy when wet, is much slower to dry, and can smell like a wet sheep. Some of the new synthetics can be rung out pretty well and do dry fast. Not exactly fashionable but I like Cabela's Thermal Pro Level 3 ECWCS Pullover. That said I do have Merino and boiled wool layering jackets that work very well.

Thanks John, I loved my Pendleton's but I just can't afford the damn things anymore.

One advantage of wool over poly, very flame resistant. I have had several poly shirts singed by cigar ash, the wool shirts hold up fine. You can't beat the light weight of the polys though! I also like the new pocket arrangements and the Velcro rather than buttons. Also the little nylon loops are great.

I don't know if it is still true, but many polyester materials used to shine like a tin roof when the sun was shining down on them. A few years ago, I put two or three of synthetic and the same amount of cotton and wool out in direct sun and you could tell the difference instantly, the natural fibers did not reflect the sun like the the synthetic cloth. Has this changed? Appreciate your thoughts.