It’s that time of year when the weather is changing and you stand a good chance to arrive at the water lacking something you really need. Remember last year, when late fall arrived and the snow was blowing around your face like a vortex and you peaked in that pack and said, “Gink? Yea, right.” And you cast it into the back seat of the quad-cab where it’s been resting for four months, amongst those nastyfied Pringles and that half of a Fillet o’ Fish that you dropped between the seats when you had to sleep in your truck because you’d had too much fun at the Blue Moon in Twin Bridges. It was cold back there, wasn’t it, with nothing greater than breathable waders and that Labrador puppy for protection against a 20-degree night.
So what I’m getting at here is that you’re probably lacking that Gink—or the Fly Agra if you really know what’s kind for those flies—and several other items. So, here’s your early season checklist to make sure you have exactly what you need when you hit the water.
License: Here in Montana licenses expire at the end of February. I almost went out on the water one day without mine, but Bob Wards was opening in 10 minutes and I took the time to be legal.
Gink: Gink is great but I’m really into Fly Agra right now. Dip the fly and, bam! She floats like a cork. Make sure you have some dry fly dressing because Baetis, skwalas, March browns and midges are about.
Tippet: 5X, 4X, 3X and 2X. Got to have the selection. Maybe you got away with 4X all winter but you’ll need 5 for dry flies and you might even pack the 6 with you for those picky tailwater browns.
Dry Fly Boxes: Yep, got to have those. Spring hatches are awesome. Last fall I took my terrestrial and large dry fly boxes out of the pack and barely remembered to put them back in my pack before floating down the Bitterroot earlier this month. Then, I was glad I had them—rose some cutts and ‘bows to dry flies.
Lake Flies: The ice is off on most waters so you better pack those chironomid patterns. March, April and May can be lights out midge fishing on lots of western stillwaters so be prepared.
Rain Jacket: You can almost get away without having it during winter in the Rockies because it snows in November, December, January and February. And it can snow in March and April, too, but you’re more likely to get rain. So bring that thing along so you don’t have to quit early.
Flask: Oh wait, that never came out of the pack except for those refills, right.
Ice: Didn’t need it during winter, but you do now. Do you know what a chicken salad sandwich can do to your bowels if it sits in the sun all day? I won’t tell you the details, but fishing access site toilets don’t come with a garbage can and you would need that and the toilet if you don’t keep sketchy food on ice.
Streamer Line: I like streamer lines and I wouldn’t go out on the water without one these days. And spring is a great time to throw meaty imitations. Galloup’s Streamer Express from Scientific Anglers is a solid throw, as is RIO’s Streamertip. Makes casting big flies a breeze.
Sunstick: Elemental Herbs makes a SPF30 Zinc sunstick that is working great for me. I forgot it on my first trip out this year and came home with some rosy cheeks. Not good. Don’t forget some sort of sun protection, especially if you have kids.
Ok, that’s the shortlist. But all of those things are important. Take a little time now to load up your pack right so you don’t say, “Damn” when you get to the river and don’t have what you need.