An old cowboy's thoughts about horses, canoes, fishing, art, movies, family, and the American West
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Cowboy Wisdom -- Fly Fishing Checklist
When I first started fly fishing -- back in the 1960s -- my outfit was pretty simple. It included a Wright McGill fly rod, a Montgomery Wards fly reel and an old band-aid box full of flies and leader.
The older I get the worse my memory has become. I no longer just throw some gear in the back of the pickup and head out for a fishing trip. These days I tend to make copious lists, double check them, and revise them often in the weeks leading up to a fishing trip.
I haven't been fly fishing in a few years and had to buy a lot of new tackle because I made the mistake of giving all my fly fishing gear to my daughter a couple years back.
In preparation for my coming spring attack on the Upper Owens River -- a place where I've had enormous success in the past -- I've purchased almost an entirely new outfit.
Here's my fly fishing vest checklist to make sure I have all I need when I'm on the river…
Fly Fishing Vest:
Orange dry sack – wallet and cell phone
Current fishing license
Polarized sunglasses
Dry fly Floatant
Dry fly box and flies
Streamer boxes & streamers
Extra leader and Tippets
Retractable zinger & nippers
Knot tying tool
Hook hone
Hook threader
Hook snare & holder
Leader straightener
Line cleaner
Hemostat/forceps - hook remover
Wet fly box
Split shot
Strike indicators
Tape measure
Lip balm and sunscreen
Flashlight or Headlamp
Lighter or Waterproof Matches
Water (and usually a sandwich so I can fish all day without returning to the truck)
Whistle
Bug repellent
Compass
First aid kit
Fuji camera/batteries
Swiss army fisherman's knife
Medications
Net with magnetic release
Fly Fishing Clothing:
Gore-Tex paddle jacket (optional if rainy -- I usually carry this all day in the Sierras)
nylon rain pants (optional if rainy)
polyester undershirt
wool or nylon shirt
wool whipcord pants & web belt (or quick drying nylon pants)
nylon underwear
Lightweight wool socks
Water shoes or gore-tex hiking boots
Fleece jacket (optional if cold)
Fingerless gloves (optional if cold)
Warm cap (optional if cold)
Cowboy hat with a full brim
Bandana for sun protection
Bear spray on belt (bear country)
Gerber belt knife
Mosquito net
Fly Rod and Reel (sink tip line for streamers)
I also carry an extra reel (with floating line) in the back of my vest and keep a spare fly rod in the truck.
I hope you find something useful here. Happy Fishing.
No comments:
Post a Comment