My current file happens to be a craftsman, with the essential homemade PVC file saver(3/4")
CN-10 Billfisher crimpers, because they crimp perfectly straight, have the narrow jaws and are corrosion resisant. Again in the essential holdzit.
My current knife/chicken scissor (Yep, double duty) sharpener was a Smiths. It has been a trooper but I think I have worn it out, so I got a blue one from Home Depot the other day. Haven't used the new one yet.
roddy, I use the reef raider costa's. they dont have the the fancy blue mirrored lenses that everyone loves, but they were less expensive than the blue lenses. They come with three sets of removeable lense frames: dark gray, amber, and vermillion. the dark gray works great for me to see fish in the spread when offshore and while driving, the amber is great for low light conditions and/or back country shallow water fishing, and the vermillion is a good shooting lense for shooting skeet or other low-light conditions. they frames fit my head just right, the wide lense shape blocks side glare, and they came with a nice hard case with micro-fiber cleaning cloth included.
Rodders - excellent topic. Over the years I have tried to reduce my travel kit as much as possible.
Sunglasses - I use Fitovers (acceptable) but would like prescription glasses with better quality lenses. Should really carry two in case a catastrophe happens. I've had to fish without on a couple of occasions - not recommended.
Sunblock - I use factor 50. Moisturiser. Essential.
Drag scale to 50 lbs - Normally not needed but
Medium hook file. The number of times I find the file on the boat I'm on is rusted over and useless! Normally a cheap one as I often leave them behind. Also an el cheapo diamond file (280 grit wet and dry glued to a flat stick) for finishing hook points.
Superglue
Waxed bait rigging floss
Twisted wire loop for splicing dacron
Electrical tape
Mono cutters (cheap orange handled version from Melton given to me by Russ Housby many years back) - Helpful for various rigging jobs and safety.
Wiring gloves - Most boats have gloves suitable for light duty but if I get called upon to wire I prefer to use what I'm familiar with for the big stuff
Small digital camera - Absolutely essential and stays on my belt all the time when fishing.
Waterproof jacket if I know or suspect it's going to be rough (eg Cape Verde)
Depending on the vessel/situation I'll be fishing with I may also bring a selection of fishing gear (selection of which almost merits a separate thread), but the above stuff is more or less essential.
Spent some time in Belize this winter, and found to be most useful:
- TP for your inland adventures (you never know where you'll be "going")
- Something to suck the bug venom out
- Hard candies for the local kids (white girls are quite the anomaly in the jungle, american treats even more rare)
- A flexible attitude and lots of love because you never know when the house you're visiting will whip up something with entrails for a special meal
- Some extra cash to buy local arts & crafts, put back a bit in the local economy
The 8th beatitude is my favorite: Blessed are the flexible, for they will not be bent out of shape. Always take your sense of adventure.
You guys go to more exotic places than I do. I was just talking about going out on my buddy's boat down the road...
But for boats I don't know (or boaters that I don't think will be well supplied), I like the ideas about needlenose pliers, leader gloves, water, wipes for my sunglasses, sunscreen, duct tape, small crimp set, good filet knife, 1 gallon zip lock bags for fillets (Leave these in the car for when you return).
If going out into unknown parts of the world, then you guys/gals need to tell me. I haven't fish "exotic" yet...
Regarding the ziplocks, it still baffles me why people come to fish with me and don't bring a 150qt cooler with them to have in the car at the end of the day.
Some of the boys don't like to eat fish that much and I understand that, because they don't plan on taking much if any. With others, i just have to shake my head.
you never know when the house you're visiting will whip up something with entrails for a special meal
Classic, Kelly ! Love that one, been there done that. TP is an important thing for guys too, we just don't mention it !
Interested to in your Something to suck the bug venom out - care to elaborate ?
I forgot something I always have in my backpack, really saved my bacon over the years in more than one occasion - a compact ratchet screwdriver like this :
18 lb.Brown on fly: 6x tippet, 106 lb.Atl.Sail: Ft.Laud, 888 lb. Mako Cozumel, 950+ Blues St.T
Rodski...i don't have camera here but you could google Swiss Army Night Vision and see dem....
I looked in my on the go bag too and found the number 5 wire splicing gizmos.....reel seat strap wrench (MFG=RIDGID)....waxed line....colored electrical tape...the two types of Zap a Gap...waxed paper finger tip covers...lighter...pliobond...10 lb mono for rigger pins or tag lines...tried the gum stuff once & can't remember what my verdict was...pre-made dacron sliders in three generations or lengths...extra wind-ons with last two inches of 530 moimoi double covered by the daron (4th generation or evolvment)...condoms...uhh, i meant rod butt covers...x-wide magic markers...reg.magic markers...shower caps...diamond hook sharpener (never rusts)...extra pairs of 5 1/2" Sargent pliers...(rod & deep...did u get that pm a few weeks ago?)...x-small cans of easy opening cat food (opened and thrown overboard during a bite so i know where to turn and work to if she aint on)....braid flouro dye...same reason...de-boners....(next to condoms, i mean rod butt covers), live bait needles and stichin' needles....mineral oil.
This does make for in interesting reading. One could really put together a fine kit of useful accoutrements. For me, I always have a pocket sized physical memory recorder. The Leica M8 is my current fav.
white hankerchef- head cover in a pinch, tourniquet in the bad instances
water proof pad of paper- accountability in the life rafts
lighter and matches
space pen (similar to yours)
change for $.25 - no real reason
thats what we had to carry as freshman at school. in addition to a folding knife and a flashlight
Now, my grab and go bag consists of a waterproof backpack with the following
Waterproof Pelican Light- LED
Folding Knife- Keep one on me at all times and one in reserve
Waterproof Tablet, Pen, All Weather Lighter
GPS Handheld
Hand Held VHF
LED Head Lamp
Philips and Flathead Screw Driver
Channel Locks- Self Locking on nuts and pipes
Those all-purpose pliers, cant think of the brand
*A Shemaugh- Yes you look like a terrorist if you wear it on your head, but its 44inx44in, will cover your head and neck, and can be used for first aid.
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Originally Posted by Roddy Hays
