No saltwater fly fishing trip is complete without a well stocked tackle bag. This is what’s in mine…
1) Pliers:
Pliers are the link between you and the fish, making the releasing of fish easier and less stressful, as an aid in pinching down hook barbs, cutting wire or heavy monofilament, and opening a bottled beverage to quench your thirst on a hot day.
2) Tippet:
Three sizes of tippet material will meet most needs of any blue water fly fishing situation. Depending on the species you are targeting, you should make it a point to carry enough monofilament to create an appropriate leader to meet your needs. Three small spools should suffice: a spool of twenty-test; one spool of thirty-test, and one spool of forty-test should, in most situations, do the trick.
3) Towel:
There are few things more of a turn off than tarpon or barracuda slime. Once on your hands this sticky gunk will foul everything within reach, your gear, your clothes and that ham and cheese sandwich you brought for lunch. Not to mention, the stench is almost unbearable. If you are smart you’ll bring with you a good absorbent towel, one that can get the gunk off your hands and can be rinsed after every use then used again. A word of warning: Don’t take one of your wife’s monogrammed bath towels!
4) Sun Block:
Besides ruining a fly fishing trip, sun burns, if not avoided, can ruin your life. Therefore, it’s very important that before embarking on a fishing trip to arm yourself with a field-tested, water-resistant sunscreen for your peace of mind. Today’s market is glutted with every sort of sun-protection ointment, some few truly affording excellent protection, while others provide all the protection of a jar of women’s cold cream. Some sunscreens have even been tested so as not to disrupt the properties of your fly line. Once you have applied the sun block (often more than once a day!) make sure you rinse you hands thoroughly. Many fish can sense the chemicals on your fly or line. Also, excellent protective sun clothing is available today. Be smart! Protect yourself with the same protection you provide your tackle.
5) Rain Gear:
The saltwater environment is fickle and can change in a matter of seconds from sunny and hot, to cloudy and cold, or windy and rainy Therefore, it’s the smart (and dry) angler whose tote bag carries a good suit of rain gear, and outfit that will not only protect the fly fisherman from the elements but will also insure him of a successful (and dry) trip. Even throwing a large garbage bag into your bag can make the difference between dry gear and soaking wet gear.
6) Super Glue:
Nothing is more annoying (and painful) than a cut or cracked finger while fishing. This is especially true when fishing saltwater. Cutting or nursing a cracked cuticle often results in a switch in attention from the fishing to spending time cursing your misfortune at having to spend time lamely attempting to close the cut or the crack. Whether situated on a Belizean flat or sixty miles of shore, super glue will close the cut the crack, stop bleeding, and keep you fishing until such time you are able to enlist medical help in dealing with the condition. Super glue also repairs broken rod tips.
7) Anti-Bacterial Gel:
Shout hosannas for this stuff; it can give you peace of mind. . When catching and releasing fish, there are times when your hands suffer small nicks and cuts from the filthy teeth of fish who have been scavenging lord knows where, and painful pokes from hypodermically-sharp spiny-fins, both producing micro-cuts that become home to infectious bacteria, resulting in painful infections, contagion that can lead to serious ailments. An easy way to avoid these nasty infections is by carrying a small pocket-sized container of anti-bacterial hand-wash, and generously applying it throughout the day.
8) Gloves:
Don’t try to release or handle any fish without good gloves on your hands. Many fish, especially those species found in tropical waters, have flesh-piercing teeth, spines, stingers, and gills that can be mildly toxic. .
9) Hand-Held Scale:
The Boga Grip (with built-in scale) or other type of portable hand-held scales will provide you an accurate weight on that saltwater fish of a lifetime. Very compact, it packs easily. There is a large price range in scales but I find you get what you pay for. The pricier ones are worth every penny.
10) Hand-Held GPS:
One of the worst fishing-nightmares is becoming lost or disoriented on the ocean, on the flats or in a marsh’s maze. A global positioning system or GPS can prevent this mind-boggling situation. Also if you find an outstanding area where the fishing is red-hot, you can enter it into your GPS and return to the exact spot whenever you choose. Most GPS units contain moon phase and tidal information which are keys to successful saltwater fly fishing.
11) Tackle Bag:
When purchasing a traveling tackle bag, choose one that will carry all the gear needed on your trip; also, to save you from a possible wrenched back, make sure it’s a rolling-duffel. Choose a bag with numerous pockets, interior and exterior, heavy-duty or even water resistant zippers and above all, a bag constructed of durable material.
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