Forget me not

This essay isn’t about flowers. It’s about frustration.

I fished last weekend. Packed my stuff in a semi-rush and took along the correct rods, but wrong reels & lines. Yes - I fished - but felt like a dope the entire day. Talk about an unbalanced kit.

Another time, I arrived at my fishing destination, far from any supply shop, and discovered that I didn’t have a single tippet spool or additional leaders with me. In full panic mode, I rushed to see if I had left a leader on either of the two the reels that I brought and… YES! – there was a bright, shining leader on one of reels: 7’3” of what was originally a nine-footer. I fished that day, knowing full well that I wouldn’t be changing my fly anywhere near as often as I might need to (3 or 4 changes, total). By day’s end I was fishing a pitiful six-footer that could barely fit any but the largest hook eyes. I did manage to fool a couple fish (that probably needed glasses), but it was a very frustrating day.

Lesson learned: even small items like leaders and tippet spools, can totally mess up your day – if you don’t have them on hand.

Some people just take everything along all of the time and never have anything missing, that “kitchen sink” approach is something that I’m not entirely opposed to, but I fit in the middle-of-the-road category of anglers: I’m not a minimalist, but I try hard to lighten the load of my vest or pack – my personal limit is 50 ounces (1,400 grams). I took a few minutes to type out an essentials checklist that I now take one minute to review every time I leave the house. Sixty seconds well invested.

binoculars

car keys + extra set for your friend to carry

cell phone

cooler + icepacks

CORRESPONDING flies / fly boxes

CORRESPONDING reel(s)

drinking water

dry footwear

extra socks, underwear, pants, t-shirt (in case you go for an unintentional swim)

first aid kit

fishing license

fishing vest/chest pack

flashlight

flotant

fly rod(s)

food & drink

forceps/needle nose pliers

hat

insect repellent

knife

leaders (several)

landing net

rain wear

spare fly rod

split-shot / indicator

sunglasses

sunscreen

sweater/heavy shirt

thermos

tippet spools

towels

waders

wading boots

wallet (ID, cash)

WC paper

wet/wading shoes

windbreaker

… and don’t forget to check your vest/pack supplies regularly: Is that flotant container near empty? Pulling that last 8.25 inches from a tippet spool can be heartbreaking when a finnicky trout is nearby… wondering if you’re going deliver the goods in an acceptable manner.