Its so nice to be on the water with an organized vest or pack that has everything in its proper place. Fishing without any fumbling around, looking for strike indicators or split shot, while the fish are rising all around you.
Something I try to do every time I get back from fishing is plain old up keep on my gear, fly boxes, fishing vests, boots and waders.
About once a month I will empty my gear bag and hip pack and get rid of all the little pieces of tippet, cigar wrappers and trash. This just helps me maintain my sanity on the water. Same goes for my fly boxes. I have a nymph box, a dry fly box and a streamer box and I can tell you it gets crazy in there and it can sometimes be frustrating because I might need a certain fly but I can’t find it because my box is so unorganized.
Take a minute and put all your flies in the right box – that way you will have an idea of what you need to replace the next time you are at the shop. If you’re feeling really froggy then you can get your reel out and clean the line too. You just need a small bowl of water and a little soap. Get your rag wet in the water and strip out the line in between your finger with the rag in it and you will see the dirt on the rag. I do it about 2-3 times and then I dry it off with a soft cloth. Your line will perform better and last a lot longer.
Last thing is cleaning my boots and waders. This is not fun but it is a MUST here in Colorado. Mix 1 cup of bleach into 1 gallon of water and dunk your boots in there then wipe down your waders and hang them up to dry. Just that little bit of work makes a huge difference on the local streams that you like to fish and it doesn’t take to long to do either.
Rob “trout sniper” Griggs
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