How low can you go?

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (robgcp) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:55:07 GMT

I, of course, would be careful, I drank some filtered water last weekend from a cold feeder stream that entered the Cumberland...We ran low on water because I was on some antibiotics to fight a infection I had. and it gave me dry mouth..that and 95 degree temps and constant paddling probably help make me thirsty..hmmm maybe the water was ok...or maybe the antibiotic in my system fought off any pollutants that were in the water...who knows...The fellow who had the system only used it when he...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (jdub) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:20:05 GMT

I can't remember a single lake or river I've been on in Texas where I would be comfortable drinking the water--even filtered. The Frio and Nueces are both nice and clear but I would still rather carry water. I'd drink most river water, boiled, in an emergency but there are just way to many critters in slow moving warm water for me to risk it ;-) Besides, even our treated tap water tastes like a swamp :-)

I spent part of my childhood on a ranch on the back side of Pikes...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (robgcp) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:52:20 GMT

Great...Now I have another thing on my wish list....that sure would have come in hand this past weekend while canoeing..I gotta get one of those...thanks Sasha....Rob

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (Sasha) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:47:10 GMT

robgcp wrote:
I must have water...I carry a old swiss army first aid pouch and have so for years...place for hemos..tippet...box of flies ..small first aid kit...whistle...small bottle of deet..and 2 frozen water bottles...could add camera and cell, but all the other stuff is fairly waterproof and I really try to keep it as light as possible...usually take a sandwich or snack crackers..I can fish and wade for hours if I want and...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (robgcp) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 15:09:57 GMT

I must have water...I carry a old swiss army first aid pouch and have so for years...place for hemos..tippet...box of flies ..small first aid kit...whistle...small bottle of deet..and 2 frozen water bottles...could add camera and cell, but all the other stuff is fairly waterproof and I really try to keep it as light as possible...usually take a sandwich or snack crackers..I can fish and wade for hours if I want and not feel burdened with too much weight...if pond fishing, hemo/nipper...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (jdub) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:14:34 GMT

swalker9513 wrote:
But it's mostly for the water. I'd hate to shrivel up like a raisin and die standing next to a lake.

Great point! I usually park close enough that I can leave my water in the car, but if you're walking along fishing creek or something it's good to keep it with you.

And you know you're in Texas when the news guys says a cold front is moving through so expect temperatures...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (swalker9513) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 17:35:42 GMT

I go at lunch often. It's usually a box of bream flies and hemostats. Clippers if I remember them. If I'm out for much longer than that I must have water. It is 347 degrees in the Texas summer. So i carry a small shoulder pack. So I carry an assortment of flies, tippet, etc. But it's mostly for the water. I'd hate to shrivel up like a raisin and die standing next to a lake.

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (Sasha) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 15:41:27 GMT

It's not just because of cold water species for me. A lot of the places I choose to fish are off the beaten path. So I end up having to pack in extra crap because I don't want to end my fishing day early due to needing something I left at home. Or having to hike back to the car because I left something in it.

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (CBarclay) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:52:02 GMT

Simplicity is exactly why I got interested in fly fishing. I carry one or two small fly boxes, something to cut line with and a spool of tippet but I'm always trying to figure out a better way to pare down. I find that cargo pants/shorts are helpful too.

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (armyflyfisher) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:28:48 GMT

Actually J.....I just like simplicity......

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (jdub) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:06:20 GMT

armyflyfisher wrote:
True J.......but when I stalked wild rainbows when I was stationed in MO I did much the same.

That's a very positive reflection on your skill and confidence (no sarcasm intended). Last time I fished with my brother in Colorado I had the full setup including several leaders, 3 or 4 spools of tippet, floatant, 3 boxes of flies, nippers, hemostats, etc. I went through a lot of it before...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (armyflyfisher) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:10:16 GMT

True J.......but when I stalked wild rainbows when I was stationed in MO I did much the same.

David

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (jdub) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:21:21 GMT

David, I think it's a lot easier for us warmwater guys to pull off the minimalism than the cold-water folks. I know I don't have to wonder what hatches I'll run into or if I'll be fishing size 10 streamers & hoppers on 4X or size 22 dries on 7X, or both. I pretty much know what to expect before I go and lot of warm water anglers are probably the same. Even then I sometimes find myself fishing size 18 wets on 3X tippet when 5X would be more ideal, etc. Fortunately, bass and...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (armyflyfisher) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:03:19 GMT

I guess I'm just a minimalist. Even if I'm in my kayak, I don't pack a lot of stuff....maybe a small box of flies (I usually end up only using 3 or 4 at the very most) and my hemostats and a nipper.

I don't own a vest or a big "man purse" and have no desire to lug all that stuff around.

At one time I used to carry extra tippet material, extra knotless leaders, an extra reel or spool, lots and lots of extra flies but I found that I NEVER used any...

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (mjcoussens) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:04:59 GMT

Where's the vest in that photo?

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (Sasha) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:02:55 GMT

This is my normal day fishing "outfit". You have to love all the pockets in the Super TAC-L-Pak vest

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (jdub) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:44:05 GMT

mjcoussens wrote:
In all fairness, if I'm heading out for a day of fishing I will take more gear and load up the vest with water and lunch, more flies, etc.

I think a lot of us are like that--I know I am. If I'm going all day or driving very far I'll carry a vest and have a duffle full of junk in the car. It's just the local ponds where I go really light.

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (Sasha) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:42:11 GMT

mjcoussens wrote:
In all fairness, if I'm heading out for a day of fishing I will take more gear and load up the vest with water and lunch, more flies, etc. However, if I'm just heading out to catch some bluegills for a couple of hours and I know the waters pretty well I will take a limited amount of gear with me.

Matt

This

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (mjcoussens) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:22:04 GMT

In all fairness, if I'm heading out for a day of fishing I will take more gear and load up the vest with water and lunch, more flies, etc. However, if I'm just heading out to catch some bluegills for a couple of hours and I know the waters pretty well I will take a limited amount of gear with me.

Matt

Re: How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (gzacckey) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 15:10:37 GMT

I've been scaling down over the past few years but I can't see me getting as low as some of you.

The most minimal I get is in the summer when wet wading. That's when I carry one fly box and a lanyard. Oh yea, I guess I have to count the magnifiers that I keep attached to my hat.

For most of the year I use waders, small chest/waist pack that holds two medium fly boxes plus some small items, wading staff, fishing hat w/magnifier, lanyard with the usual items, and...

How low can you go?

feeds@yuku.com (jdub) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:43:46 GMT

Or maybe, to be more accurate; how little can you carry?

I sometimes give Don a hard time about all the gear he carries around on his lanyard while fishing the local ponds. Until a week or so ago I always carried a small flybox, hemostats, nippers, and a roll of tippet.

For Father's Day my wife bought me some cool little Orvis stuff including a small scissor/hemostat/pliers thing which means I no longer have to carry the...