Heading North, Packing Light: Pack for a Fishing Trip
Originally Published on May 23, 2011 “From the Docks” NBC Sports
I am leaving soon on a fly-in fishing trip to northern Quebec and have assembled what I’m bringing for four days of walleye and pike fishing. In the days before one bag limits when traveling by air, bringing enough gear was much easier (I’d just bring it all). But now I must pack for a fishing trip more carefully–here’s what I brought (note–I outfit my guests with tackle when taping):
* 3 spinning reels/rods
* 2 baitcasting reels/rods
* Assortment of Northland Tackle leadhead jigs 1/16 to 3/4 ounce
* 4 bottom-bouncers and 4 bell sinkers
* 1 spool of SpiderWire Fluorobraid (30 pound)
* 1 spool Berkley Trilene XT mono (12 pound)
* 6 packs of Gulp! Minnows (3 and 4 inch)
* 6 packs Berkley 4-inch ring worms
* 6 packs Berkley Ripple Shad (2 to 5 inches)
* 6 Northland Tackle Live Forage spoons
* 3 Johnson Silver Minnows
* 6 Berkley Leaders (new Fluorocarbon models)
* variety of crankbaits (Sebile and Frenzy)
* 4 bass jigs (blue/black)
* lip balm
* sunscreen
* polarized sunglasses
* high expectations
My plan is to target big pike first. The ice went out on the lake we’ll be fishing less than a week ago and I suspect we’ll find fish from 10 to 25 pounds still in the first-to-warm back bays with mud bottoms. If sight fishing is an option, we’ll target big girls with the bass jigs tipped with Jiggercraws. If not, covering water will be the order of the day–we’ll cast soft plastic swimbaits and spoons.
For walleye, I’ll have jigs/Gulp! and other Powerbait, spinner rigs and Gulp! or cranks all available—one of the three will work, if not all three.
Other than a sleeping bag and good rain gear, I’m set.
Steve
