Getting ready for the fishing season
By Tom Keer
May 06, 2015
While some of us are getting ready for the fishing season, others have been in full swing for a few months. The one common thread? This year, plan an exotic trip.
While some of us are getting ready for the fishing season, others have been in full swing for a few months. The one common thread? This year, plan an exotic trip. That doesn’t mean that you have to take out a second mortgage to go fishing. There are a lot of different ways to add some spice to your fishing trips. Here are 5 things you can add into your fishing experience!
Add a mountain bike. If you’re going to hike in to a remote area there is only so much ground you can cover while wearing a pair of waders, unless you get up well before dawn you’ll probably hit the same water other anglers do. But if you’re going on a trail then a mountain bike covers the ground much faster than your feet. With rods being multi-piece and backpacks being well designed, a mountain bike will take you to new parts of the river or lake.
Add a kayak. Hard-chine, open-cockpit kayaks require no new skills to maneuver. Since they’re open you don’t need to learn the Eskimo Roll and instead just need to load ’em up and paddle away. If you’re unsure about buying one then check out rental programs in the kayak shops near your fishing destination. Many kayaks come with rod holders, dry storage and mounts for electronics.
Add a tent. Camping on its own is fun and affordable and if you combine it with fishing it’s a great family vacation. Plan a weekend or long-weekend trip and you can spend more time fishing than traveling to your destination. Once you get there you set up your camp and can spend more time on the water than you would if you returned home each night.
Add a boat. Boat ownership is rewarding, but if you’re testing the water then you might start by renting a boat. You’ll see the same body of water that you’ve fished from shore from a different angle.
Mix and match. Car-camping areas are perfect spots to set up a base camp for a weekend. On one day you can bike to a remote area and on the next day you can paddle to a different spot.
This year, add some variety to your fishing season. And be sure to bring your camera and share the photos of your adventures on Take_Me_fishing social media channels!
Add a mountain bike. If you’re going to hike in to a remote area there is only so much ground you can cover while wearing a pair of waders, unless you get up well before dawn you’ll probably hit the same water other anglers do. But if you’re going on a trail then a mountain bike covers the ground much faster than your feet. With rods being multi-piece and backpacks being well designed, a mountain bike will take you to new parts of the river or lake.
Add a kayak. Hard-chine, open-cockpit kayaks require no new skills to maneuver. Since they’re open you don’t need to learn the Eskimo Roll and instead just need to load ’em up and paddle away. If you’re unsure about buying one then check out rental programs in the kayak shops near your fishing destination. Many kayaks come with rod holders, dry storage and mounts for electronics.
Add a tent. Camping on its own is fun and affordable and if you combine it with fishing it’s a great family vacation. Plan a weekend or long-weekend trip and you can spend more time fishing than traveling to your destination. Once you get there you set up your camp and can spend more time on the water than you would if you returned home each night.
Add a boat. Boat ownership is rewarding, but if you’re testing the water then you might start by renting a boat. You’ll see the same body of water that you’ve fished from shore from a different angle.
Mix and match. Car-camping areas are perfect spots to set up a base camp for a weekend. On one day you can bike to a remote area and on the next day you can paddle to a different spot.
This year, add some variety to your fishing season. And be sure to bring your camera and share the photos of your adventures on Take_Me_fishing social media channels!
Tom Keer is an award-winning writer who lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He is a columnist for the Upland Almanac, a Contributing Writer for Covey Rise magazine, a Contributing Editor for both Fly Rod and Reel and Fly Fish America, and a blogger for the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation’s Take Me Fishing program. Keer writes regularly for over a dozen outdoor magazines on topics related to fishing, hunting, boating, and other outdoor pursuits. When they are not fishing, Keer and his family hunt upland birds over their three English setters. His first book, a Fly Fishers Guide to the New England Coast was released in January 2011. Visit him at www.tomkeer.com or at www.thekeergroup.com.
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