I always keep a small armory of angling equipment in the back of my compact SUV. Fishing happens on a whim nearly as much as it comes about through careful planning. There are a handful of rods, fly boxes, and miscellaneous tools that I like to have at the ready. A lot of it is normal fly fishing stuff.
But some of it isn’t. Some of it is what I’ve learned to lean on over the years of fishing, hiking, camping, and living.
Here are five things I always have in my car. They all have plenty of uses, but I’ve come to use them quite a bit as I take day- and weekend-trips to fish. Sometimes it is disaster management. Sometimes it is just about making life easier. Consequently, it always has a place squirreled away in my car among my fly fishing gear.
***
Duct Tape
I would lose all credibility if this survival essential didn’t make the list. Duct tape can’t do everything, but it can do most things. It works well when thrown at a task, but it truly meets the most difficult challenges when you measure, cut, and apply it thoughtfully.
I’ve used duct tape to hold a reel on a reel seat after the rod butt fell off (thin, tightly wound strips). I’ve used duct tape to patch waders in a pinch (use way more than you think is necessary).
Boot Laces
Paracord is all the rage. A lot of that fame is well-deserved. But in a pinch, a pair of 6’ nylon cords will take care of a lot of business. Plus, they have aglets. Aglets are the thin, plastic-coated ends of laces that allow you to thread them through the smallest of holes.
Obviously, boot laces are helpful if one of your wading boots has a catastrophic failure. A length can always be used to lash something to a pack or bag, or to bind something like a rain jacket tight and compact.
Socks
Most falls I’ve experienced on the river are quick affairs. I’m down and up and cold and wet in what feels like a quarter-second. A surprising amount of water can penetrate even a tight wading belt, and it all heads south. Walking back to the car, nylon pants will dry in breathable waders. Wet socks will stay wet in neoprene booties.
A dry pair of socks can make a big difference on a cold day after a spill in the water. But there are other uses, too. A sock can be an impromptu reel case in the back of the car. A sock can hold and amplify a hand-warmer in a wading jacket pocket. Just be sure to pick an ugly pair that you won’t miss.
Small Phillips-head Screwdriver
A Leatherman-esque multitool is right up there with duct tape when it comes to emergency equipment. The only shortcoming I’ve encountered with these tools is the size of the Phillips-head driver. It works for almost everything. Except reels, sunglasses, and small electronics. A $3 hardware store purchase, kept in the trunk, lets you take care of business without stripping screw heads.
After submersion in a particularly silty or salty situation, I’ll pop open certain reels for a quick rinse and dry. Sunglass arms require tightening at inopportune times, and keyless entry fob batteries crap out when you’re on week-long fishing trips.
Head Lamp
Having a light doesn’t mean you’re obligated to fish all night. All it does is make those dawn and dusk moments a little more convenient. And, of course, it makes getting back to the car much simpler and safer when you do feel obligated to fish well into the evening.
While I carry a head lamp in my sling pack almost all year, I like to have one in the back of my car as well. This way I can use it if I’m fishing in daylight, but if I’m rigging up/breaking down in lowlight conditions. I can see what I’m doing but I can also do a quick hands-free survey to make sure I didn’t leave anything behind.
***
Are there any non-fly fishing fly fishing things you like to have in your car, just in case? If so, let us know! Also, I recently talked about this topic (and gave a few more trunk essentials) on an episode of the Casting Across Fly Fishing Podcast.
Written by: Matthew Lourdeau of “Casting Across”