Your Favorite Gear Of All Time
- Thread starter jaredoconnor
- Start date
That’s a handsome looking pram Greg.
Top of my list would be my Ross Cimmaron and Gunnison reels. I’ve had them for decades and they never fail to deliver.
A 9’ 5wt Reddington CT has become my go to rod for most of my fishing.
My only complaint about my Watermaster is that it’s slow rowing, but it holds better in the wind than a pontoon.
On another subject, my Dad’s Kimber 45...and my CSMC RBL 20 bore SXS.
A 9’ 5wt Reddington CT has become my go to rod for most of my fishing.
My only complaint about my Watermaster is that it’s slow rowing, but it holds better in the wind than a pontoon.
On another subject, my Dad’s Kimber 45...and my CSMC RBL 20 bore SXS.
1- ( Steelhead gear )Clackacraft 16ft, low side fly fisher model circa 1981, I caught thousands of steelhead in that boat.
2. ( Salmon fishing gear )1979 9.9 evinrude, most reliable motor I have ever owned.
3. ( Trout fishing gear ) Lowrance hook 7 chartplotter/fishfinder, my most valuable trout fishing gear by a long shot.
2. ( Salmon fishing gear )1979 9.9 evinrude, most reliable motor I have ever owned.
3. ( Trout fishing gear ) Lowrance hook 7 chartplotter/fishfinder, my most valuable trout fishing gear by a long shot.
I guess "Favorite" for me means versatility so trip prep can be "grab it and go" and I don't have to carry so much specialty stuff with me. Looking at what I've been using over the last several years one item that works well for me for any type of stream and even salt beaches is my Hazard 4 PlanB-17 tactical ambidextrous sling pack.
Vests are great at keeping nearly everything needed to land fish and re-rig at my fingertips. A vest with a backpack will comfortably carry everything I need over a long day with several miles of hiking-wading (potable water, food, jacket + some essential emergency gear) but backpacks can be uncomfortable in hot weather and I have to take the pack off to get something out of it.
Unlike a vest alone this sling pack comfortably carries everything I need on a long day for several miles of hiking & wading. Yet with the padded semi-rigid horizontal dividers when stuff I don't need for a short day is removed the pack itself is not so voluminous or heavy that it makes me want to use something smaller for shorter days-trips. I do have everything I need to land a fish at my fingertips on the shoulder strap but it doesn't interfere with vision of my feet like my chest pack can.
The tactical MOLLE webbing, exterior flat side pockets and compression straps on both sides, and a big velcro loop patch on the back of the pack creates all kinds of versatility for secure permanent and temporary placement of foofaraw on retractors anywhere on the pack's exterior. I can just rotate the pack to the front without having to exit the stream to reach anything I need to re-rig.
I cast right/reel left so the ambidextrous feature of the pack means I can have it over my left shoulder which doesn't interfere with casting arm motion. And the net on a magnetic release hangs down on my left side where I can easily grab it with my left (non-rod) hand. Plus this is the only ambidextrous pack I could find that allows me to secure a water bottle, extra (T-)rod(s), net, and other accessories anywhere on the exterior of the pack that they are the easiest to reach when the pack is rotated to the front.
Vests are great at keeping nearly everything needed to land fish and re-rig at my fingertips. A vest with a backpack will comfortably carry everything I need over a long day with several miles of hiking-wading (potable water, food, jacket + some essential emergency gear) but backpacks can be uncomfortable in hot weather and I have to take the pack off to get something out of it.
Unlike a vest alone this sling pack comfortably carries everything I need on a long day for several miles of hiking & wading. Yet with the padded semi-rigid horizontal dividers when stuff I don't need for a short day is removed the pack itself is not so voluminous or heavy that it makes me want to use something smaller for shorter days-trips. I do have everything I need to land a fish at my fingertips on the shoulder strap but it doesn't interfere with vision of my feet like my chest pack can.
The tactical MOLLE webbing, exterior flat side pockets and compression straps on both sides, and a big velcro loop patch on the back of the pack creates all kinds of versatility for secure permanent and temporary placement of foofaraw on retractors anywhere on the pack's exterior. I can just rotate the pack to the front without having to exit the stream to reach anything I need to re-rig.
I cast right/reel left so the ambidextrous feature of the pack means I can have it over my left shoulder which doesn't interfere with casting arm motion. And the net on a magnetic release hangs down on my left side where I can easily grab it with my left (non-rod) hand. Plus this is the only ambidextrous pack I could find that allows me to secure a water bottle, extra (T-)rod(s), net, and other accessories anywhere on the exterior of the pack that they are the easiest to reach when the pack is rotated to the front.
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bchapman
Active Member
Hummindbird Fishin’ Buddy 140c for its portability and sidescan.
Humminbird Helix 7 GPS SI, for the bathymetric mapping and the 50 functions I have no idea how to operate.
Fishfindermounts.com 10 Ah mount and X power magnetic transducer mount, because they make my Helix portable (made even more portable (i.e. lighter) by replacing the lead acid battery with a Li Ion battery from Aliexpress).
Lamson Velocity reels, for their very smooth operation and great drag.
Cabela‘s Tarpaulin boat bag to carry all my extra gear.
Makflies buzzers, because they are deadly.
Humminbird Helix 7 GPS SI, for the bathymetric mapping and the 50 functions I have no idea how to operate.
Fishfindermounts.com 10 Ah mount and X power magnetic transducer mount, because they make my Helix portable (made even more portable (i.e. lighter) by replacing the lead acid battery with a Li Ion battery from Aliexpress).
Lamson Velocity reels, for their very smooth operation and great drag.
Cabela‘s Tarpaulin boat bag to carry all my extra gear.
Makflies buzzers, because they are deadly.
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flytyercurt
Active Member
Olive bugger
Active Member
I too have that rod. It is one of the finest rods made, in my opinion. I have it loaded with a 9 wt shooting head. Great rod for steelhead.
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skyriver
Active Member
Nice to see another Valco out there.
I have two rods that get 95% of the use of all my dozen and a half rods. The first is my old Sage LL, 7'10 4 weight, 2-piece, my favorite dry fly rod. The second is my Hardy Zenith, 8'10" 4 weight, 1-piece. Also an excellent dry fly rod, but it seems it has enough oomph to toss Wooly Buggers. That last one is a pain to transport, but I keep it at my brother's place in Wisconsin's Driftless Area, and can be on the water in 10 minutes from his home.
Those and my fingernail clipper some Italian brand whose cutting edges are still sharp and aligned with each other 20 years later. I paid $20 for it then, an exorbitant price, but I can't argue with its performance and longevity. I use them as my nippers, even though I have TWO more attached to my vest!
Those and my fingernail clipper some Italian brand whose cutting edges are still sharp and aligned with each other 20 years later. I paid $20 for it then, an exorbitant price, but I can't argue with its performance and longevity. I use them as my nippers, even though I have TWO more attached to my vest!
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