Simplifying Things

RCF

RCF

Legend
Forum Supporter
@iveofione 's great post got me thinking:

Tippet Lies

On July 28 I will note the occasion of catching my first fish on a fly in 1951, 73 years ago. Man, have I seen some changes in fly fishing in 7 decades! The one constant, other than ever rising cost, has been ever rising complexity due to the proliferation of equipment available. Many of us have...
pnwflyfishing.com pnwflyfishing.com

I know, I know ---> me thinking is not a good thing...

Simplifying things is a good thing. I started it when I retired. I decided what type of fishing made me happiest ---> trout.

Steelhead/salt water rods and reels were sold. Gave away most of my associated tying materials. Gave away all my flies too.
Then looked at my trout rod collection/quiver. I truly love my Loomis IM6 rods. Sold all my Winston and Sage rods.
I only have Lamson LP series reels now. Bought more spools.
Went through the lines. Got rid a lot of them due to being old, not liking them, or too large of weight. Looked and the lines I had left ---> all Cortland. They have treated me well, lasted a long time and were reasonable in price. Bought more...

Looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I have not missed out on anything.

I am now going through the remaining materials and hooks. If I do not need it or do not use it I will be posting it here:

Pay it Forward: Free stuff only

Post your FREE stuff! Find FREE stuff!
pnwflyfishing.com pnwflyfishing.com

Could I sell it - sure. But with today's prices and supply chain issues, inflation and the trouble people have making ends meet, I would rather help others.

RCF
 
Last edited:
I'm also in the process of trying to simplify, or at least transform things that I don't use anymore into things that I will use. Often easier said than done (in the past month or so I've picked up a bunch of fly gear for some upcoming trips) but I don't want to end up like my parents with a house full of stuff that's accumulated over decades that the kids now have to deal with.

Hopefully I've got some time before I check out (I'm only 15.5 months old!) but a medium-term goal includes getting started on Swedish Death Cleaning and a long-term goal includes Die With Zero.
 
I have been clearing stuff out for the last 6 weeks. Selling, donating, giving away tools, books, boats, audio equipment, guitars...tons of stuff with more to go.

Haven't even got to the rods, reels and tying materials yet.

Lightening the load and downsizing has been time consuming with doing listings and sales etc., but frankly I should have done it a while ago.
Holding on to stuff you don't use/need/want is not a good idea I have found. Now that it's gone, I don't miss it...and the sales went pretty good, so a few trips can be funded...feels damn good to have less stuff to deal with too.
:)
 
Mossback said:
I have been clearing stuff out for the last 6 weeks. Selling, donating, giving away tools, books, boats, audio equipment, guitars...tons of stuff with more to go.

Haven't even got to the rods, reels and tying materials yet.

Lightening the load and downsizing has been time consuming with doing listings and sales etc., but frankly I should have done it a while ago.
Holding on to stuff you don't use/need/want is not a good idea I have found. Now that it's gone, I don't miss it...and the sales went pretty good, so a few trips can be funded...feels damn good to have less stuff to deal with too.
:)
Click to expand...
What sort of guitars? Just curious... ;)
 
Lol
A Fender acoustic, and a 1997 PRS CE-24 Vintage Cherry, HFS pickups wide thin neck, ebony fretboard.
Both mint...

I listed the PRS here, but no interest.
Also sold mixers, equalizers, compressors/limiter/gates...
Still have a few things
Pod amp modeler, equalizer, drum machine, speaker/light stands, cables.
My Norwegian Death Cleaning is in full swing.
😁😄😁
 
Mossback said:
Lol
A Fender acoustic, and a 1997 PRS CE-24 Vintage Cherry, HFS pickups wide thin neck, ebony fretboard.
Both mint...

I listed the PRS here, but no interest.
Also sold mixers, equalizers, compressors/limiter/gates...
Still have a few things
Pod amp modeler, equalizer, drum machine, speaker/light stands, cables.
My Norwegian Death Cleaning is in full swing.
😁😄😁
Click to expand...
I definitely saw that PRS! I really have to get rid of a few guitars before I can consider getting any more.
 
I love simplifying things...

For saltwater leaders, I've been liking 4'-9' of straight 25-40lb depending on quarry & line. For muskies, I've come to prefer just 3'-6' of straight 40lb based on line used. pretty simple.
 
clarkman said:
I love simplifying things...

For saltwater leaders, I've been liking 4'-9' of straight 25-40lb depending on quarry & line.
Click to expand...
40 pound amigo!
 
Don’t to anything to early tho. Selling some things saying you’re done only to be invited a year or two later 😱. And what’s worse is if you love to do it but now you don’t have the gear and say no I can’t. I’m not sure what applies but maybe the 2-3 year rule. I know they use the one year on clothes. If not worn in last year dispose of it. Fishing gear a bit different. But maybe a 3-5 year rule. No idea. Life happens. It’s a tough problem.
 
I stopped collecting instruments about a decade ago, but now that I have a young son, I’m on the lookout for new gear for him. I think he’s the next Hendrix (without the whole dying at 27 part).

I took him out to the river last night, and with the child backpack carrier, I left the extra stuff back home. Fishing with him on my back, I don’t wade far or deep, and I stick to one box of flies. I make a cast out, and hand him the rod. Super simple - where fishing is secondary, and hearing him shout “Set!” is the goal. We hooked into two, and he tells his mom he caught a dink.

When I fish alone, I bring a loaded IKEA bag full of gear, and an IPA or two. When I’m with him, I bring a child carrier, and a PB sandwich.
 
Porter2 said:
Don’t to anything to early tho. Selling some things saying you’re done only to be invited a year or two later 😱. And what’s worse is if you love to do it but now you don’t have the gear and say no I can’t. I’m not sure what applies but maybe the 2-3 year rule. I know they use the one year on clothes. If not worn in last year dispose of it. Fishing gear a bit different. But maybe a 3-5 year rule. No idea. Life happens. It’s a tough problem.
Click to expand...

Good advice. Timeframe is a tough one. In my case it was a life style change/choice which made it easier.

With materials it came down to what I enjoy tying, fishing and knowing what works. After 50 years of fishing, easy choices. Also, no 18 or 20 hooks. Can't see to tie, put tippet through the eye, nor see them on the water.
 
I am going through the same thing, getting rid of "stuff". Daughter is not interested in fishing or skiing, snowboarding. When I moved out of my house, I kept a third, threw away a third and donated a third. Moved again after 14 years in one place to move away from druggies and a noisy neighbor to a bigger and cheaper place that is quiet and more peaceful. Well, 14 years of "stuff" came with me, I am purging and what a chore with a bad back. I keep telling my daughter if I drop dead, she will inherit the "stuff". Her eyes were as big as paper plates! I am sure I will have some things to sell, like a boat and a 1978 Firebird TransAm that has been sitting and not being used.
 
Mossback said:
My Norwegian Death Cleaning is in full swing.
Click to expand...
I went fishing behind a friends house the other day and we were visiting about my doing moms place and her experiences and she called it "Swedish Death Cleaning". Must be a Scandinavian thing? Granny was from Norway but I've never heard of it before. Since I started moms place I've been doing a box of some kind a week at home. I'll be working on liquidating a bunch of stuff when we move. I used to collect racing bikes like rods, among other things. I bet I got a dozen cassettes for 9spd alone, lots of wheelsets, shit like that. My kids don't need to do that.
As for fishing, I fish 2-3 fly rigs all the time. No simple rigging there. I like to fiddle with stuff. It's probably the only thing I make more complcated than it needs to be. The rest of my life I try to live by the KISS acronym.
 
Last edited:
Simplifying? Downsizing? What? I heard that he who dies with the most toys wins! Not that I live by that motto by a long shot, but really, what's wrong with leaving a storeroom, garage, and attic full of stuff for the kids to deal with? That'll make sure they remember me!
 
I learned from my folks...
They started getting rid of stuff 5 years before they retired, and made me get my stuff out of the garage too !!!
;)
Never to early to start, but it can be too late.
After some digging into things, I learned Spring is probably the best time to sell stuff, as you get better prices in general, with Summer/Winter being a not so good time pricing wise.
Donations are always good way to go, as every community has needs especially come Fall/Winter for warm clothes. Look for your local clothing bank and help someone stay warm. Young families starting out always need kitchen stuff and furniture, that sort of thing is very helpful for them, so listing for cheap/free and it's gone in a flash.

Don't ask how I know...
;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top