Backup Gear
Just when you think you'll never use it is when you'll need
it the most
Timothy Kusherets
Sometimes the only backup needed is a few extra leaders. They don’t weigh
much and are easy to store in the back of a vest or the bottom of a tackle box.
Vital backup gear should consist of leaders, scents, hooks, line, tools, and
baggies. There are on occasion some anglers who take “Nose-dives”
into the drink so taking along an extra set of clothes is not a terrible idea,
especially if you’re not completely comfortable with the area being fished.
It’s also a good idea to take along extra clothing for those systems being
fished that are running high and turbid. For the most part, when taking along
any gear meant for backup, it’s best to store them all out of the way
in the hopes that they'll never need to be used.
There has been a time or two where in my rush to hit the water I’ve forgotten
to take backup gear thinking that it was too much trouble only to find out later
that it was a huge mistake. Once, “and only once”, I headed to the
river confident that all my gear had been stowed away and that I had remembered
everything. When I got to the river I found out that my loving wife had taken
out my neoprene chest waders and taken them inside the house to keep them warm.
So, when I got to the water and found that the waders were gone there was nothing
left for me to do but go home. I LIVED FOUR HOURS AWAY FROM THE RIVER! She didn’t
do anything wrong and I love her to death, but had I taken along the backup
gear that I normally do, I would have been fishing the entire day. Don’t
let that kind of thing happen to you.
Every Angler should have backup tools that are taken to the water. Reels can
break down, Rods can break, Nets can develop holes and when any of them happen,
you’ll know that the tools you’ve taken along are worth their weight
in gold. Backup tools can be stored out of the way, and for the most part, can
be stored in the back of a fishing vest. The back pockets of most vests are
huge, mostly to accommodate caught fish, however, tools fit nicely in the bottom
of it. The lighter side of any disasters that could happen is that you’ll
probably have to stop and fix whatever the problem is along side of the bank
anyway, so getting the gear out is nothing. Even boaters normally will have
to beach just to fix most problems since the primary need of field repair is
stability. If the boat is waffling back and forth you can’t fix the problem,
especially if it involves a rod or reel. The most common backup tools to take
are Pliers, Screwdrivers (standard and Phillips), Matches, Baggies, Glue, and
flashlights. These extra tools will keep you fishing when other anglers are
forced to head home.
© Timothy Kusherets 2008
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