I'm retiring at the end of June and will have time finally to fish where/when I want. The challenge is most friends and people I know don't fish so I'm probably going solo for a lot of the time. How many here fish solo and what's your experience? Things I think I'll need include a sat phone for when I have no cell coverage, and maybe personal protection, like a 9mm. But what else should I plan for and what would you do differently knowing what you know now? I plan of fly fishing for trout in the western half of the US.
Solo fishing
- Thread starter gwb72tii
- Start date
I fished solo for most of my walk and wade fishing for well over 30 years now., never had any issues, never carried and usually left my phone in the truck.
The current fixation on having to carry and have a sat phone as necessities to go fishing puzzles me, but to each his own.
The current fixation on having to carry and have a sat phone as necessities to go fishing puzzles me, but to each his own.
I fish solo often. I do carry my cell phone but I try to lighten my carry load and a 9 mm adds a pound or two so mostly that stays home, locked up. I have a series of cards with the names of the lakes I hike into, each card has the GPS coordinates of where I'm going. I leave the appropriate card out so my wife will know where to send the recovery people if I don't make it home.
Good luck with your retirement and exploring. Carry fluids. A spare change of clothes in the car/truck is wise (I learned the hard way). Have Fun/Pat
Good luck with your retirement and exploring. Carry fluids. A spare change of clothes in the car/truck is wise (I learned the hard way). Have Fun/Pat
Pink Nighty
Legend
I think the best bit of extra kit to carry solo would be a wading staff and a pfd . Prevent the fall and be prepared for it just in case. Pay extra attention to your gut because nobody is there to bail you out.
Zoran
Life of the Party
I fish solo most of the time. Previously when alone (and lately 100% of time) I do not wade deeper than below the knees.
I personally don't have gun but I always have a whistle, occasionally horn or bear spray. Bear spray is always with me when I go to grizzly country. For the rest is just a simple whistle. Black bears are scared of us and most of the animals.
If you worry of getting hurt or getting stuck, Garmin inREACH is mandatory. I had it before but cut it off because I am poor.
I cut that expense off and got new Sage rod.
Not very smart.
I personally don't have gun but I always have a whistle, occasionally horn or bear spray. Bear spray is always with me when I go to grizzly country. For the rest is just a simple whistle. Black bears are scared of us and most of the animals.
If you worry of getting hurt or getting stuck, Garmin inREACH is mandatory. I had it before but cut it off because I am poor.
I cut that expense off and got new Sage rod. Not very smart.
I carry this just in case I break a leg (or I find someone in bad shape, has happened once)...and a LifeStraw
I bring a good coffee, a tasty lunch, a rain jacket, and a full tank of fuel.
If you are doing true wilderness hike-in fishing, then bring along a friend or two and a map. +1 on the Lifestraw so clean water won't be a worry.
fish solo 99% of the time. Wife always knows where I'm going and when I should return.
On the rivers a sturdy wading staff, besides the vest a small pack with fluids, snacks and micro first aid kit, and at 76 no longer wade past mid thigh unless it is in stillwater.
At the high altitude lakes where I spend spring through fall my boat contains a comprehensive first aid kit, flares, whistle, and a handgun in my kit bag as lakes with adjoining campgrounds tend to draw a different crowd than at the river.
Verizon works well here in the mtns, rare I don't have a signal.
On the rivers a sturdy wading staff, besides the vest a small pack with fluids, snacks and micro first aid kit, and at 76 no longer wade past mid thigh unless it is in stillwater.
At the high altitude lakes where I spend spring through fall my boat contains a comprehensive first aid kit, flares, whistle, and a handgun in my kit bag as lakes with adjoining campgrounds tend to draw a different crowd than at the river.
Verizon works well here in the mtns, rare I don't have a signal.
Congrats on the retirement!
I have fished streams solo for much of my life at times into some pretty remote country. For much of that time phones were not an option. I started carrying and using a folding wading staff in my late 40s and that would be one of my must haves. I would also carry a day pack with a basic first aid kit, some fire starter, compass, water and a couple snack bars. Depending on the situation I would also carry some flagging and pruning shears. Letting someone know where you expect to be is critical; I tell my wife where I'm going but back that information on a whiteboard in the kitchen. In the last few years (am 79), I'm much more careful in my wading, I stay much closer to the truck and typically void some of the more difficult terrain. However, within those parameters I still fish though it has become less about the fish and more about visiting an "old friend".
have fun!
Curt
I have fished streams solo for much of my life at times into some pretty remote country. For much of that time phones were not an option. I started carrying and using a folding wading staff in my late 40s and that would be one of my must haves. I would also carry a day pack with a basic first aid kit, some fire starter, compass, water and a couple snack bars. Depending on the situation I would also carry some flagging and pruning shears. Letting someone know where you expect to be is critical; I tell my wife where I'm going but back that information on a whiteboard in the kitchen. In the last few years (am 79), I'm much more careful in my wading, I stay much closer to the truck and typically void some of the more difficult terrain. However, within those parameters I still fish though it has become less about the fish and more about visiting an "old friend".
have fun!
Curt
DKL
Steelhead
I also fish solo most of the time. I carry my phone and if really out there an inreach. I do carry a very small 357 in certain but rare situations (seriously about 1% of the time). I really think if you want to carry protection, carry bear spray. Before I ever owned a firearm, I always carried bear spray. It works on all kinds of critters (including people).
Oh, and I retired 2 years ago. Just warning you, don't expect the weekdays to be void of people. Probably the only disappointing thing in retirement. All my outdoor activities are just as crowded on weekdays as weekends. I need this remote work world to end ASAP.
Oh, and I retired 2 years ago. Just warning you, don't expect the weekdays to be void of people. Probably the only disappointing thing in retirement. All my outdoor activities are just as crowded on weekdays as weekends. I need this remote work world to end ASAP.
I fish solo a lot and have for decades. Never have had any issues. I get more conservative wading the older I get.
If I need to carry, then I am not fishing in an area I should be in the first place.
Newer cell phones have satellite connectivity for emergency situations for when cell service is unavailable. That capability is only improving on a continuous basis.
If I need to carry, then I am not fishing in an area I should be in the first place.
Newer cell phones have satellite connectivity for emergency situations for when cell service is unavailable. That capability is only improving on a continuous basis.
I fish solo often. Walk and wade
mostly. I don’t wade as aggressively anymore, especially when solo. I make sure my wife knows where I am, and when I’m expected back. I don’t pack my .38 often, but there are certain places I do. Typically urban fishing, or if I’m hiking in to places. I used to almost always pack when I fished downtown Reno
mostly. I don’t wade as aggressively anymore, especially when solo. I make sure my wife knows where I am, and when I’m expected back. I don’t pack my .38 often, but there are certain places I do. Typically urban fishing, or if I’m hiking in to places. I used to almost always pack when I fished downtown Reno
I almost always fish solo. In remote areas, I carry bear spray. I don't carry a firearm. I'd like an InReach, but cannot justify the expense. I have a subscription to GaiaGPS and download topo maps of the area I'll be in to my cell phone before the trip, so I can navigate in my car or on foot without cell service.
If going far from my car, I carry a Lifestraw (a small cup of some sort makes it much easier to use the straw without having to kiss the stream), firestarting stuff, knife, headlamp, bug dope, sunscreen, mylar emergency bivvy, and a small first aid kit (my car has lots more stuff, bigger first aid kit, etc.).
I always have a staff and felt soled wading boots when fishing rivers.
If going far from my car, I carry a Lifestraw (a small cup of some sort makes it much easier to use the straw without having to kiss the stream), firestarting stuff, knife, headlamp, bug dope, sunscreen, mylar emergency bivvy, and a small first aid kit (my car has lots more stuff, bigger first aid kit, etc.).
I always have a staff and felt soled wading boots when fishing rivers.
I fish solo 90% + these days. 99% of the time I carry only my rapier wit for protection.
Once in a while when I’m fishing in grizzly bear country I carry bear spray. I mean if I’m going to get mauled I owe it to the bear to spice it up a little, right?
Once in a while when I’m fishing in grizzly bear country I carry bear spray. I mean if I’m going to get mauled I owe it to the bear to spice it up a little, right?
If it's a long hike in , like 2 hours or more, I'll carry the 10 essentials in a day pack. Having an H20 purifier of some sort is always handy.
Not really bear country where I fish, but bear spray is handy to have if you do fish in that country. A whistle is good anywhere, bonus points if it's a fish whistle...
Not really bear country where I fish, but bear spray is handy to have if you do fish in that country. A whistle is good anywhere, bonus points if it's a fish whistle...
82 years old and have mostly fished solo for 40+ years. Fished 49 days last year, would have done more but they closed the road to Leech Lake all of Sep. last year. I used to fish all waters, loved the little blue lines. Age compromised that about 10 years ago and I now am a stillwater fisher. Fortunately, lakes hold lots of nice sized fish.
I have never had any threatening experiences nor any bad accidents. Luckily. I carry an iPhone and it now has emergency satellite abilities. Friends tell me they work. I own no guns and try not to go places where I would need them. I let somebody know when I will be off the grid. I have a whistle on the boat, keep a first aid kit in the truck, use sun block, keep in shape and bring water.
My advice: Do Epic Shit. Carefully.
I have never had any threatening experiences nor any bad accidents. Luckily. I carry an iPhone and it now has emergency satellite abilities. Friends tell me they work. I own no guns and try not to go places where I would need them. I let somebody know when I will be off the grid. I have a whistle on the boat, keep a first aid kit in the truck, use sun block, keep in shape and bring water.
My advice: Do Epic Shit. Carefully.
I'll just echo everyone else, I fish solo, love it. Note to wife, phone, use common sense. Shit happens, be prepared.
Shit does happen:
Charged by a moose twice.
Seen bears and cubs.
I am sure cougars watched me. Never saw them.
Badly tore an ankle. Two mile walk out took hours.
Deeply bruised my knee when I slipped on rocks while wading in 6" of water. Another long walk.
I rarely if ever let my wife know where I am going to fish. Primarily because I do not know. I used to take 1 month at a time to go fishing.
Charged by a moose twice.
Seen bears and cubs.
I am sure cougars watched me. Never saw them.
Badly tore an ankle. Two mile walk out took hours.
Deeply bruised my knee when I slipped on rocks while wading in 6" of water. Another long walk.
I rarely if ever let my wife know where I am going to fish. Primarily because I do not know. I used to take 1 month at a time to go fishing.