Recently I’ve been thinking through backup and/or redundant fly fishing gear. What should I own? What should I bring with me? What should be on my person when I’m on the water?
Ultimately, these are not the most important questions. I get that. Casting skill, the ability to read water, and presentation trump gadgets and gear any day. But even the most adept anglers have stuff they bring on the water with them. And as an angler in an echelon below the best and brightest, I don’t turn my nose up at having a few equipment advantages.
So on the heels of an article discussing buying and carrying extra line and leader and a podcast where I share my philosophy of backup fishing gear, I’m adding a few thoughts on the items I have “duplicates” of when fly fishing. Here are four more examples:
Sunglasses
I sound like a broken record (maybe that saying should be updated to “a Spotify song set on repeat”?) but there is no reason why you shouldn’t have sunglasses for different light conditions. Glasses offer eye protection, safety when seeing your footing, and maybe even a chance to spot fish. But those dark polarized lenses aren’t going to be on your face first thing in the morning. Some yellow polarized lenses would be better for early, overcast moments, and late. Drop a case in your vest and switch up as necessary.
Spool & Line
If I find myself committed to fishing streamers by late morning, there is no reason to not put on an intermediate line. Why fight against a floating fly line if I know the presentation is going to be best with something else I own and have on hand? While a spool does take up a lot of space in a pack, it can live at the bottom. If you’re close to the car, it can go there, too. But along with another significant presentation option, another line will give you an option if something goes horribly wrong with your line.
Nymph Rigs
This might be a bit lame. I mean, you can always construct a sighter, a tippet ring, a few lengths of tippet, flies, and split shot on the water. Or you can do so in the comfort of your home at the kitchen table. In case a single fly at the end of a traditional leader isn’t cutting it, having a pre-rigged nymphing setup ready to roll can save so much time. In one sense, it is a complete changeout of your leader. I use a few products for this, but you can always wrap the rig around an index card-sized piece of cardboard and store it next to your fly box.
Strike Indicators
I usually have at least three kind of indicators on me at any time… and there might be multiple sizes of each. Not too dissimilar to fly selection, certain water feels like a particular kind of indicator will work best. I want something that will be suited to still pools and something that will ride high through choppy riffles. As of yet I haven’t found one that will do both. So I carry more than one.
Have an item or items you carry a few of on the water? Let me know in the comment box below!