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ADVENTURE ANGLING PREPARATION

By Daniel Kiazyk

I sit at my desk, after having finished my regular homework (my superintendent reads these articles eh!), and think about my next angling adventure. Far, yes, lots of driving aha, super angling, I hope, a chance to recharge reconnect and have some time to reflect, or course. So what do I need; what have I learned from previous trips and what new ideas do I have for this trip?

Habitually, I start with myself and my clothing and personal needs: toiletries are personal; they should be kept to minimum. Remember the ear plugs if your buddy saws wood by the cord. Clothing and footwear has to be season specific. A rain suit is a necessity and can save a trip. When up north, a low pressure system can move in and stay for a few days. Lastly and very important are sunglasses, sun block and any medications. Depending on the length of my adventure, I can add to or cut down on the personal items ….. about 40 lbs max is what I’ll usually shoot for. You can usually wear much of your clothing needs … including a hat and boots.

Shelter and food are next on the list to be prepared. A good tent with a vestibule can make life a bit simpler (keeps muddy boots etc. out of the tent but under cover). An insulated pad or air mattress will keep you off the ground and don’t forget a sleeping bag suitable to the season. A pillow isn’t really necessary as inflatable models or an empty pillowcase can be filled with clothing to fill a need. Food is a personal touch, but it’s a good idea to eat balanced meals – cereals, dried milk (or carnation) canned vegetables or freeze dried packages which combine meats and vegetables are very practical. Juices usually include crystals or a cardboard container of juice for a treat. Fish can be prepared in any number of ways. Onions and potatoes are staples of the shore lunch. In some instances, we’ll prepare potatoes in advance ( 6 potatoes in the microwave for 10 minutes renders enough for two people/two days). Fresh fruits and soups are excellent fillers and treats. Finally, a water treatment system/purifier is always handy.

Camp items usually follow upon a consideration of the food being prepared. A naphtha stove is useful but extra fuel storage can be a problem. Propane can be another option because of the stability of the fuel storage system. A couple of propane stoves can be useful and not incredibly expensive. Utensils will include a movable potholder and a good pair of leather gloves to work around heat. Plenty of matches and other ignition sources are a necessity. I’ve started to include barbecue lighters in my camp bag to help light fires and stoves. I find deeper dishes and stainless cups to be the handiest and most useful. They can be used to hold any variety of foods. Both should be capable of being placed directly on heat. Finally a tarp with adequate rope will often be a life saver when the heavens open and drench a camp relentlessly.

What about other items? There are a number of items which are necessary for any angling adventure. PFD’s, paddles, anchor, rope, heaving lines, batteries, flashlight, whistle are all now required. Seats, an extra anchor, duct tape, extra oil, funnel are all useful. A GPS (if you carry a battery and depth finder it will be easy to hook up). A compass and a sun reflecting object are very useful.

Other useful items: a large hunting knife, a larger flashlight, extra batteries, camera with extra film, water bottle, waterproof containers, waterproof packing/storage.

It doesn’t take much to make a trip a memorable adventure not having a few items can render a trip a little more difficult. Not learning from your errors can create recurrent frustration not conducive to a good trip.

Find attached a copy of supplies/material that I’ll consider for an angling adventure. I found the majority of these items under the Ontario parks guide:

ADVENTURE ANGLING CHECKLIST

(Just some suggestions and not to be taken as a definitive list!)

Tent with fly, poles and pegs

Flashlight with spare bulb & batteries Sleeping bags

Insulated Sleeping pad/Air Mattress Matches and / or lighter

Camp axe / portable saw / portable shovel First Aid Kit / Sun screen / Tylenol or ASA

Folding chairs Lantern / gas or battery powered

Tarp Nylon / Pillow case / fleece sleeping bag liner (cold weather)

Knife / filleting knife Insect repellent

Cord or rope for stringing tarp or as a clothesline 6’ x 8’ poly sheet

Bug netting / matches waterproofed (in container)

General Camp / Cooking Accessories

Portable stove / portable heater (depending upon conditions). Fuel in leak proof container

Funnel, Cooler, Pots: fry pan / kettle / camp toaster Cutlery / flipper / portable pot handle, Mugs, Plates,

Water container, Dishpan / cloth. Biodegradable soap

Can Opener aluminum foil, spices

Rain gear Bathing suit

Fleece/ sweat shirt / leather gloves / sunglasses

sweat pants jacket / sweater/ hat / gloves / mitts

Beach towel / portable grill /

large spoon (metal)/ bowl

Packing up your gear and backpacking

Backpack Hiking boots

Good quality socks (and spares)

Running shoes for around camp

Rubber boots

Backcountry / Adventure angling gear

Compass / GPS / reflection device

Maps, map case or clear plastic freezer- type bags, trail guides

canoe route descriptions for area being traveled

Extra food For 1- 2 days

Day pack for short hikes from your campsite/

whistle, water bottles, Water filter or purification tablets / or

purifying unit, multi-use tool or pocketknife

Spare parts or repair items for equipment (e.g. stove, tent pole

etc.) Don’t forget duct tape!

Toilet paper sealed in plastic bag Garbage bags

Leak- proof food containers

Rope for hanging your food pack in bear country

Canoeing

Canoe Paddles for each person,

Plus spare PFD/ Lifejacket for each person

(TIP: attach a whistle to each PFD to signal in an emergency)

Bailer floating rope (50 feet)

Pack “Dry bags” to keep equipment dry

Miscellaneous Items

Field or nature guides Binoculars

Camera, Film, spare batteries

Notebook or journal and pens/pencils


Channel Catfish
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Walleye
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Adventures
Wilderness fishing Canadian style

Other Species
Notes for the multi-species angler

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