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Fishing Tips - Backpack To Better Fishing
It's imperative that the pack have comfortable shoulder straps at least two inches wide. The strap material should also be thick, to minimize curling and cutting into your shoulders. The amount of weight that can be carried comfortably varies with the hiker. If you're inexperienced it's wise to start with 30 pounds. For a man in good physical condition who intends to take a long hike, 40 pounds is about the maximum. Backpacking Gear Of course you must haul no unnecessary gear. Plan your food needs carefully, and throw in some emergency rations. Also carry your mess kit, knife, extra clothing, matches, a light sleeping bag, several pairs of socks, first aid kit, rain jacket and some sort of lightweight tent. The matches should be kept in waterproof containers and stored in several different places. That way, if you lose some of your matches, you'll still have others. The extra socks are very important; changing them every day will help avoid blistered feet. You'll also want camera and film, canteen, compass, a way to purify water, insect repellents, topographic maps, soap, foot powder, sunglasses, binoculars and perhaps field guides. If you're going to high country where wood is scarce you can carry along a small gas stove. Backpack Fishing Tackle Go as light as possible on fishing tackle, but don't skimp on lures or extra spools of line. Rods should be placed in a sturdy aluminum or plastic tube which can double as a walking staff. Short pack rods of four or more sections can be tied to the pack-sack. If you're going on an extended back-country trip, it may be wise to take two rods. Soft leather, lightweight boots from 8 inches to 10 inches high and which fit the foot snugly are the ideal foot gear. These should give good arch support and have lugged rubber or composition soles to grip a variety of surfaces. But most of all the boots should be well broken in long before attempting any long trip. In addition, changes of clean dry socks are necessary for pleasant traveling afoot. With packaged dried foods, an angler can easily carry a week's rations. A number of companies prepare and package food, even entire meals especially for trail use. These reduce both weight and bulk of foods to as little as a fourth or a fifth. They also reduce to a minimum the amount of aluminum cookware which is necessary to prepare a meal. There are aluminum military type mess kits which can be used both for cooking and for eating. The wise backpacker prepares a menu for the entire trip in advance and thereby can save additional space and weight. The main thing when planning a trip is to select foods which pack as much nutrition as possible into the smallest and lightest packages. Do not carry canned juices and soups, for example, but rather take dried soup mixes and powders. Besides the concentrated foods already mentioned, some high energy foods popular with skilled backpackers are chocolate, raisins, jerky, peanut butter and honey thickened to eliminate bulk. But no matter how carefully a hiker has selected his equipment and planned his trip, the venture can end in unhappy failure unless the hiker gets into proper shape physically before starting out. The less active life a person leads, and the older he is, the more important this becomes. Getting in shape isn't difficult and can actually be very pleasant if done correctly. In most cases correctly means slowly - gradually - over a long period of time. Jogging is an excellent tune-up. So is swimming every day. It isn't wise to try a long or hard trip right off the bat, at least not without having experienced backpackers in the party. Instead try short weekend expeditions to test both your equipment and yourself. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com D.M. Gardner has been an avid fisherman for 35 years. He has fished extensively throughout the U.S. including Alaska and Canada. Find a ton of fishing tips at his website TheFishingLodge.com. |
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