Wild_Guide_Spring2016

IRONIC
MISHAP
AVOIDANCE
Any serious fisherman will tell you that
there is nothing more frustrating – nay
irritating – than a messy, over crowded
boat full of tripping hazards.
A messy boat is not only annoying, it’s
dangerous. We’ve got some tips for
straightening up your boat this spring before
putting it on the water to help ensure a safe and
enjoyable boating season.
LIFE JACKETS
These are the most essential piece of equipment
you carry in your boat, but also tend to be the
biggest space hogs. However, thanks to the
advances of modern science and technology,
there are a number of options on the market
that help minimize this clutter while also
making them more comfortable to wear. For
these reasons, self inflating life vests such as
the Mustang M.I.T. 100 Inflatable PFD are
becoming very popular. They take up a lot
less space and don’t encumber anglers while
fishing.
While we recommend wearing your life
jacket at all times while on the water, we know
that it often comes off while fishing. When not
being worn, make sure they aren’t causing an
ironic hazard onboard. Take the time to slide
them over the back of your seat so its out of the
way, yet accessible.
STORAGE COMPARTMENTS
Most of today’s boats come equipped with
ample storage space. We recommend making
the most of these storage compartments by
organizing them as best as possible. Use plastic
tubs/bins to store similar items and keep things
organized. These can be purchased from your
local hardware store or places like Walmart
and Canadian Tire. Make sure to measure your
boat’s compartments before purchasing so you
can be sure they will fit. It’s also a good idea to
make sure that you buy water tight containers
to keep everything dry.
ROD STORAGE
Possibly the most frustrating mess you will
ever come across in the boat is a tangled up rod
locker. Not only can it be very time consuming
to untangle, it often ends in sorrow over a
broken tip on your favourite rod. Thankfully
this struggle is over with the introduction
of products, such as The Rod Glove to help
organize your rods, keep them from tangling
and to help prevent broken line guides.
The Rod Glove
www.therodglove.com
TACKLE STORAGE
While large tackle boxes may seem tempting
to the fishing hobbyist, they may not always be
the most boat friendly option for storing tackle
onboard. We tend to favour sleeve style boxes,
such as the Plano 3600 that can be stored
directly into your boat’s compartments. These
are often transparent so it is easy to see what’s
inside and quickly find what you’re looking for.
For convenience you can even write on these
boxes with a permanent marker to note what’s
inside if storing like items in the same box (for
example “5 inch worms”). This is an incredibly
convenient way to store baits as it makes them
easily accessible, keeps them organized and
promotes better onboard habits to keep your
vessel organized and tidy.
ROPE
This is another one of those absolute essentials
that tends to cause problems onboard. The key
to avoiding hair pulling frustrations is a good
rope management system. The first key is to
buy a good marine quality rope. These ropes
float to meet marine law standards but also
tend to be more supple and flexible, allowing a
neater bundle. Next you want to wrap/tie your
rope in a manageable manner. The gasket coil
is one of the more preferred methods.
There are also a number of handy solutions
on the market such as the Fox 40 Rescue Throw
Bag which conveniently stores a rescue rope in
a floating bag.
TOOLS
In any boat there are certain items that need
to be kept accessible and handy. Safety items
such as bail cans, oars and signaling devices
should be kept in the cockpit area of the boat
for easy reach. Tools such as pliers and knives
need to be handy at a moments notice while not
being under foot and creating tripping hazards.
Solutions such as the Rapala Magnetic Tool
Holder keep your tools secure and ready when
you need them.
M.I.T. 100 Inflatable PFD
Mustang Survival
www.mustangsurvival.com
Magentic Tool Holder
Rapala
www.rapala.com
9
Wild Guide . Spring 2016