I don’t like my fishing to be overly complicated. Our preference is to break things down into modular components to be incorporated into a bigger System. Furthermore, we prefer to travel light and be efficient with the goals we have set.
Our Fishing System:
–Footwear: wading boots or shoes, neoprene socks, gravel guards etc.
–Water Filtration: Hiker Pro, Sawyers or Squeeze bottle
–Navigation: map, compass, GPS or none
–Packs: sling, shoulder, waist or backpack or just pockets
–Rods and Reels: proper choices for intended species
–Clothing: seasonal conditions apply, rainwear,hats, polarized glasses etc
–Tackle: seasonal and species specific; spoons, jerkbaits, spinners or sometimes just jigheads and plastics stuck in the pockets of our shorts
–Camera Gear: GoPro, phone or DSLR
–Food: lunch, coffee, tea, snacks etc
–Sundries Bag: licenses, knife, cordage, lighter etc
–First Aid Kit: small and light…not performing surgery!
When wading streams and walking over rocks and boulders all day, every extra pound carried can equal pain. We try hard to carry no more than 10 pounds and preferably less. There is always a balancing act in our gear between weight and durability. As an example, I tend to carry the Yeti Panga 28 backpack more often. With two straps the weight distribution is better than a sling pack. Yes it is heavier but is by far the most durable pack I own. In the future I will showcase a few other pack options that I have and use.
By traveling light we can move faster and go farther. Not that we are “speed fishing” or anything, but rather, we are not overburdened when hopping across boulders or trying to maintain our balance when crossing current.
Your comfort has to be factored into the System as well. Tennis shoes are a lot lighter than wading boots, however, how will your feet feel at the end of the day? I know from experience that my feet feel trashed after wearing sneakers all day while stream fishing. The beefier yet heavier wading boot has a lot more support and protection. But when factoring comfort into the equation, I’ll deal with the extra weight penalty. Besides, I’m not getting any younger!
And by implementing a modular approach into the system, it is easy to switch between packs to further reduce weight or increase convenience. With thought and planning you can custom tailor your gear to each outing or you can settle on one system and stick with it.
I am not creating anything new here, rather, I am just sharing what we use and the thought process behind our system.
Velox Seeker 