When going out on the water fishing, it is important to be prepared for anything that could happen. Everyone always thinks of the basics, life jackets, an ore, and their fishing gear. But some things you should have on hand are not always found in a fishing store. Below I will explain a few of the different items I have in my boat that you don’t usually find at a fishing store and why they are important
1. First Aid Kit
A first aid kit is key to have with you on any adventure whether that be on land or water. A basic first aid kit with band-aids of varying sizes, antiseptic, liquid band-aide. medical tape, gauze, scissors, and tweezers is a must when on the water. You never know when you may get a hook in your hand or a slice in your finger from a fish’s fin or teeth. On top of these basic supplies, I also recommend having some pain medication such as Advil or Tylenol, as well as sea sickness medication as even the most experienced fisherman or woman can experience sea sickness when the wind comes up and the waves get big. Having a first aid kit is a must to have in my boat, even though I hope I will never need to use it.
2. Basic Tool Kit
Having a Basic Tool Kit is a must in my boat as you never know when you may need to make a small repair on the water. Having a basic tool kit on hand can make a repair quick and easy rather than derailing your entire fishing trip by having to go back to shore. The items I have in my tool kit are, a socket set, wrenches, screw drivers, a hammer, pilers and an Allan key set. Having a socket or wrench on hand that is capable of removing your trolling motor blade is key. If you were to get a fishing line tangled around the propellor you will want to be able to get it off as it will wreck the seal on the motor if you continue to use it with the fishing line stuck on it. This can also save from someone having to go into the lake to untangle to fishing line from the trolling motor. You never know what could break or become loose so having a small basic tool kit on hand is a must when out on a boat.
3. Spare batteries
Having spare batteries on board is a must. There are a number of different electronics I use when out fishing and the last thing I want is for one of them to die and then not be able to use them for the rest of the day. It is key to recharge electronics prior to going out on the water but for whatever reason they were to die having spare batteries for your trolling motor remote, fishing scale and any other electronics that you use when on the water. Having spare batteries for your boat or trolling motor would be a bit excessive and take up a lot of space, instead of spare batteries for these items, I carry a booster pack capable of boosting the boat starting battery should it die. It is important to keep spare batteries and a booster pack in a water proof compartment or container to ensure they stay dry and are ready to be used if needed.
4. Weather app
When out on the lake I always have my phone with me, so I can utilize the weather app. It is important to keep your eyes on the sky when on the water as a storm can quickly come when on the lake. However, to further help keep yourself safe the weather app can be a great resource on any changes in the weather. I like to use the radar to keep an eye on if there are any storms in the area and if I should think about heading to shore earlier than planned. I also like to use the weather app to see what they predict the wind is going to be like for the remainder of the day, and if there are going to be any changes in direction of the wind which may making loading the boat at the end of the day more difficult. If it starts to get too windy or a storm is approaching it is important to get off the water to protect yourself and your boat. The weather app can also be a great resource when planning when to go out on the water and for how long, so you can plan accordingly.
5. Bottled water and snacks
Bottled water and snacks are must when I go fishing. No one likes a hungry or thirsty fishing partner. I like to pack up water in my Yeti Hopper Flip 12 Cooler to keep the water cold all day, helping me to stay hydrated and avoid heat stroke. I like to pack a variety of snacks including granola bars, jerky, fresh fruit, and popcorn. By taking snacks in the boat, I am able to stay out all day fishing without being hungry. When taking food and drinks into your boat, it is important to keep any wrappers or empty water bottles in your boat and dispose of them properly on shore to keep our lakes clean.
6. Camera
A picture captures a million words, thus for me a camera is a must when out in the boat. Now a days everyone carries a camera with them right on their phone, being able to capture almost any moment in time. Another option if you do not have a lot of storage on your phone is to use a real camera. By being able to take photos you will be able to relive the memories of your past fishing trips and will be able to show others proof of your impressive tails.
7. Toilet Paper and Kleenex
These next two items go hand-in-hand. Toilet Paper and Kleenex are a must in my boat, proving to have multiple uses. The obvious use for toilet Paper is for if someone needs to go to the washroom, and the obvious use for Kleenex is if someone needs to blow their nose. Other uses for these items can include, being a fire starter for a shore lunch or emergency fire if something were to go askew. Further both of these items could be used to wrap a cut or scrape if you ran out of band-aids or gauze in your first aid kit. To ensure both of these items stay dry, I keep them in either a Ziploc bag or waterproof container to ensure I am able to use them when I need to, even if its raining.
8. Towels
When on a boat having towels is key. In my boat, I have different size towels each having their own use. I have small hand towels that I use as fish towels. I use these towels to wipe my hands after touching bait or a fish. I also have larger beach towels; these towels serve multiple purposes. Some of the uses I have for a beach towel are, using them to cover the seat to protect the seat from sunscreen and to keep the seat cool on my skin. I use them to wipe the windshield if it is raining or the waves are splashing up when driving to be able to see out of the windshield properly. I also use the beach towels to dry off if I go for a swim on a mid day break or if I need to go in an untangle my line from the boat motor if a fish pulled the line into it, causing it to tangle. Having towels in the boat are a must, as they provide a number of uses and make a day of fishing much more enjoyable.
9. Spray bottle/hand-held fan
A spray bottle or a hand help fan are must when fishing in the summer heat. Having a small spray bottle or a hand-held fan helps keep me cool when in the boat fishing when it is hot. Both of these items can be found at the Dollar store or Walmart, not only are they relatively inexpensive but are easy to find. When fishing with kids both of these items will not only keep them cool, but will also provide them with some entertainment if the bite is slow.
10. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are a must when out in the boat. Sunglasses help protect our eyes from ultraviolet light from the sun, by wearing sunglasses when in the outdoors, and specifically in the water will protect your eyes keeping them in the best condition you can. Sunglasses also will protect your eyes if your line was to break causing a hook to come flying at your face. Sunglasses with polarized lenses will allow you to see deeper into the water which can help when netting a fish, or looking for rocks to avoid in shallow areas. Sunglasses will also limit the glare off the water allowing you to have better vision when driving your boat. Not only do sunglasses provide safety they can also be a fashion statement allowing you to add an additional accessory to your fishing fit.
11. Hat and Sun-Shirt
A must when out on the water is a good hat and sun-shirt. Both of these items will help you stay cool and protect you from the ultraviolet light from the sun. There are a number of different styles of hats you can choose from including a standard baseball cap, a bucket hat, a visor, a beach hat or my favorite a baseball cap with a ponytail hole, to be able to wear my hair up and off my neck to stay cool while still wearing a hat. A good sun-shirt will keep you cool while protecting your skin, my favorite sun-shirts are the Real Tree fishing shirts with built in SPF protection which you can find at Walmart or online. Wearing a hat and sun-shirt will keep you cool and comfortable while on the water which is a must on a hot sunny summer day.
12. Sunscreen and Bug Spray
When out in the boat a must is sunscreen and bug spray. No one likes bad tan lines, sunburns or being covered in bug bites. By wearing sunscreen and reapplying when needed your skin will be protected from the ultraviolet light from the sun and will help you to not end up with a nasty burn. Bug spray is important to protect from bug bites, and lower your chances of getting insect-borne illnesses. Be sure to wash your hands as best you can after putting sunscreen or bug spray on and if you can avoid touching your bait for 10-15 minutes after application this will keep your bait from being tainted with sunscreen or bug spray ensuring the fish will still be enticed to bite.
Having the necessities when out on the water is key, however they are not always found in one place. Itis important to be prepared and take time to plan out what you may need when out fishing. Most of these items are kept in my boat year-round, however, I take time throughout the season to ensure they are in their best condition if I need to use them, and will also replenish and recharge them as needed. By having these items in my boat, I am setting myself up for a successful fishing trip, the only other thing I need is for the fish to bite.
