Gear Prep Obsession

I know that there are a ton of fishy folk out there that love our pursuit.  I see you out there trying to carve out your own piece of solitude on a river, or scheming how to get more time on your favorite lake or pond.

What I often wonder though, is are you all as obsessed as I am with the process of gear prepping?  Perhaps it’s a bad case of OCD on my part, but if that’s the case I will own it with pride because I LOVE gear prepping.

I started to run down a list of the things I do prior to a day on the water and I suppose it’s pretty funny.

• Fly box selection and arrangement
• Check all flies for barb and rust (sharpen as needed)
• Primary rod rigging
• Secondary rod selection
• Replace tippet from last trip
• Check tippet spools for any that are running low
• Pack water, snacks, toilet paper, etc… in the sling bag

• Make sure I have stripping guards, sunscreen, bug repellent, hat, glasses, etc…..
• Wax rod ferrules
• Pack appropriate net (which often never leaves the car…. love-hate relationship with nets)
• Check headlamp batteries
• Make sure I have spare polarized glasses in the car for multiple light conditions

• Convenience store stop for teriyaki flavored beef jerky, cheddar cheese combos, and a Mt. Dew as this combo is the appropriate homage to the fish Gods in order to increase the chances of a good day.  If it is the second Saturday and just after a full moon a bag of powdered donuts is added to for potency.
• AM playlist cued up and ready on my iPhone to get in the right headspace for my drive.  Often consists of Zac Brown Band and other feel-good tunes……  If the day turns out to be frustrating the drive home tends to be more like Social Distortion.
• Lay out clothing based on the weather report and placed either in the bedroom or living room so after waking Beth up with my 4:30AM alarm clock she can hopefully fall back to sleep without me fumbling around the room like a newborn giraffe.
• Pack bag with backup clothing for either a change in weather or the likely chance that I fell in the water.
• Remember to wear my lucky underwear

• Check flow gauges
• Call Carp Whisperer and geek out for a bit because it makes me feel normal hearing   that he is as stoked as I am
• Double check bag for hand warmers

I could keep going but some of you might start to doubt my already doubtful sanity.  I’d love to know, what are some of the ways you all prep?

Enough prepping!  Let’s get out there and chase some fish!

Tight Lines and Loose Pants,

MBL