You can never have too much fishing gear, right? Well, there is a fine line between “well-equipped” and “hoarding,” but the deeper one’s involvement in the fascinating and rewarding world of sport fishing, the more important proper gear selection becomes.
There’s literally no end to the options, so we’ll narrow our focus to what might be best described as the support elements. To that end, we’ll save the advice on rods, reels, line and lures for another time.
Furthermore, if we opened up the discussion to include camping and outdoor cooking items, we’d understandably exceed most readers’ attention spans. All that to say, we offer these suggestions for items that can help you enjoy fishing-related day trips or extended outings.
What to Wear
Growing up, I did a lot of my fishing in cut-off jeans and cotton t-shirts, but time in the sun has taught the wisdom of leveraging modern sun-protection materials. Sunscreen and some type of eye-shading hat are must-haves, but comfortable, protective apparel makes a world of difference.
As with lure selection, choosing pants and shirts comes down to personal preference. However, a few points merit consideration.
For lightweight shirts, look for breathable, moisture-wicking fabrics treated with a high UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor). Button down shirts certainly have their place, but across the board, it’s hard to beat a hooded “sun shirt” for comfort and easy of motion.
AFTCO’s Adapt Phase Change Performance Shirt features a vented hood and a bio-based fabric that reacts to body temperature with dynamic cooling and warming. Also, with the AFTEC treatment, the shirt easily releases stains with normal washing. (https://www.aftco.com/)
Particularly in the warmer months, a lot of anglers gravitate to pants/shorts made of lighter materials not much thicker than their shirts. Again, personal preference, but I’ve always favored fishing pants with a little more body and a good assortment of open and covered pockets.
AFTCO’s recently released Deckhand Pants offer a good mix of sturdy construction, comfortable stretch fabric and waistband, with two side pockets, four covered pockets and a reinforced pliers pocket.
Complementing the right clothing, sun gloves like AFTCO’s SolPro protect your hands and fingers to the first knuckle. (Fingers partially exposed for rigging and dehooking ease.) Also, a light, breathable neck gaiter furthers the sun protection and allows you to isolate your face by pulling the fabric up to your nose, over the back of your head and onto your hat.
Outer wear: Unless you’re a guide or tournament angler, you’re probably not gonna spend a lot of time in rainy conditions. However, morning mist or those occasional showers make packing a light rain suit the prudent call. A packable rain jacket like White Water’s Minimalist jacket (https://www.whitewaterfish.com/) easily drops into a tackle bag without a lot of bulk.
On Your Feet: Wear what’s comfortable, but in a sport full of sharp hooks, fish spines and sometimes sharp teeth, enclosed shoes are always advisable. I recently found the sturdy support, non-slip tread, lightweight uppers and speed lace design that I favor in Under Armour’s Kilchis (https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/).
For colder, damper times, or if I know I’ll be traipsing through muddy habitat, I like the water resistance of a low-cut boot like Under Armour’s Charged Shoreman Deck Boot, which won the new footwear category at ICAST 2024.
Eyewear: Polarized sunglasses not only protect your eyes from harmful rays, they also improve your vision. Blocking surface glare, polarized lenses let you peak into the water and spot fish and habitat elements.
Lots of sunglasses end up at the bottom of the lake or ocean, but Hobie eliminates this concern with multiple models in its Floating Collection. For on/off convenience with any brand, add your favorite lanyard style keeper, so your glasses hang just below your neck when not in use. Graplrz offers several options for lightweight sunglass retainers. (https://www.graplrz.com/)
Carry It
Gear carts: Serious surf and pier anglers often invest in task-specific carts with top and bottom storage, cutting boards, rod holders, and balloon tires for traversing soft beach sand.
For lighter duty that does not require extensive sand crossing, I’ve come to appreciate a simple collapsible garden cart like the NEX Swagon (https://www.lowes.com/pd/NEX-0-3-cu-ft-Steel-Folding-Yard-Cart/5015558451). Available at most home supply stores, these carts include an expandable towing handle and body that quickly folds into a compact form for easy storage and transportation.
Rod Holders: When I’m carrying multiple rods more than a few steps from my vehicle, I typically bundle them high and low with Velcro strips or pipe cleaners. Another option is a portable rod holder like the Rod Runner (https://rod-runner.com/shop/rod-runner-pro-gray/), which offers five connected rod tubes, with a handle and two removable legs for standing the rods diagonally on the shoreline, pier, or wherever you’re fishing.
Tackle Bags: Traditional zipper top bags with a couple of tackle trays and space for pliers, a hand towel and water bottles work fine, but make sure the shoulder strap has a padded section to minimize fatigue.
AFTCO’s Urban Angler 2.0 Backpack (https://www.aftco.com/products/urban-angler-fishing-backpack-2) integrates a main storage compartment with binder pages for baits or hooks, a stash pocket, rod holders and lumbar support for extended trips.
If you’re into wade fishing, or you’re planning a lengthy hike and you don’t want to lug a full size bag or backpack, consider a chest pack (available at most fly fishing retailers) or a sling style pack like the Bass Pro Shops Stalker Sling Pack (https://www.cabelas.com/p/bass-pro-shops-advanced-anglers-sling-pack). Worn like a guitar strap, carry a sling pack on your back while walking and switch it to your front for easy access without removing the pack or sitting it down. (Helpful when you’re standing in the water.)
Extras
From functionality to creature comfort, a handful of items are worth consideration for your outdoor recreation.
Utility tools: A classic multi-tool with needle nose pliers, knife blade, saw, screwdriver heads, etc. offers peace of mind for dehooking fish and various tasks you may encounter far from your well-stocked garage or vehicle tool kit. Products like Leatherman’s Sidekick (https://www.leatherman.com/collections/multi-tools/products/sidekick) offer a versatile design in a compact form, with a budget-friendly price.
Also consider how you’ll eat your outdoor meals. Sandwiches and finger foods are easy, but if you need a fork or spoon, you can go with disposable items, but you’ll find a more environmentally-friendly option in reusables like Smith’s Multi-Tool Spoon (https://smithsproducts.com/multi-tool-spoon/) or the Outdoor Edge Chow-Lite Camp Utensil (https://www.outdooredge.com/products/chowlite?srsltid=AfmBOopWAr1nMsigT9WF4pdhlIBiVnG–dv5_lUxp0GhGCz-wmJR9Qpb).
Illumination: From early morning starts to overnight camping, you’ll need safe, reliable lighting. For every day carry, I like the battery-operated O-Light i3T 2 (https://www.olight.com/store) and the rechargeable NEBO Torchy 2K (https://nebo.acgbrands.com/en_US/), both of which sport a 2-way pocket clip that also attaches to a hat brim for head lamp duty. The Torchy 2K features a magnetic base that mounts to any metal surface for directional illumination, four light modes and a strobe mode for emergency signaling.
Campers might like NEBO’s Luna 400+, a compact, rechargeable 400-lumen lantern with a retractable multicolor light string. Hang the lantern inside a tent, or over your camp stove, or use the 26-foot light string to for ambient lighting.
Skeeter Beater: Relentless mosquitoes will wreck an outdoors experience faster than anything, but Thermacell’s MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller creates an invisible, odorless, DEET-free barrier by using a lithium ion battery and a butane fuel cartridge to activate the proprietary mosquito repellant. A clamp and a belt clip allow you to position the device for optimal effectiveness. (https://www.thermacell.com/products/mr300-portable-mosquito-repeller-mossy-oak-fish-pack-w-clamp)
Power and Air: Portable power banks like Belkin BoostCharge Plus (https://www.belkin.com/p/10k-usb-c-power-bank-with-integrated-cables/BPB006btBLK.html) keep your cell phone and tablet running, while Battery Tender’s Charge N Start 4120 keeps you riding and rolling with a 12V, 4 AMP chargerand a 1200 AMP jump starter that’s ideal for cars, trucks, boats, SUVs, and power sports vehicles (BatteryTender.com).
NEBO covers a multitude of trip-ending woes with the Assist Air Jump Starter, which includes a 1500 amp jump starter, air compressor, power bank, and floodlight.
Hand Warmer: For chilly days or cold nights in the tent, the THAW rechargeable hand warmer provides 7 hours of double sided heating with multiple heat levels and a power bank that charges USB-C devices. (https://thaw.acgbrands.com/en_US/)
Packable Towel: Pack-Towl’s packable microfiber towel makes a nice picnic spot, while allowing for a quick dry-off after swimming or excessive perspiration. (https://cascadedesigns.com/pages/packtowl).
First Aid Kit: Create your own kit with any water-tight container and your basics items: bandages of various size, gauze and tape, antiseptic wipes, and pain relievers; or opt for a pre-packed kit like the ones at Angler Aid (https://angleraid.com/).
With any gear selection, carefully evaluate your particular needs/plans and select the items that best fit your vision.
