I don’t know what it is. I keep my vehicle loaded and ready to go all season. Still, I get just far enough away from home that I won’t turn back when I realize I forgot something. Be it a camera, something I promised to bring down to someone, an extra box of flies, snacks or the return of some article that was loaned to me usually with the admonition, “You’ve Got to try this”, or, “You’ve got to read this>”
I’ve tried running open ended lists, I’ve tried loading it in the car when I think of it ahead of time…but still it happens…And this isn’t something that has only been happening recently that I can blame old age on or the various medical treatments I’ve had over the last year and a half. This has been going on as long as I can remember!!! Never anything I can’t fish with out but just little items that are a nagging anoyance!
Why do you think my girlfriend always has some sort of plastic or grocery bag on her lap in the pickup.
It’s always those same things that were ALMOST forgotten on the counter as we were heading out the door.
As a way of remembering those things,
[ul]
[li]90% of our gear stays in the truck all season long[/56fe4][/li][li]At the beginning of the season, the things we forgot get put into the truck soon as we get back home (for the next trip)[/56fe4][/li][li]Same for weird stuff, articles, loaners etc, … they get put on the counter or dash as soon as possible[/56fe4][/li][li]Lots of gear gets left (on purpose) on the river (stashed, buried or cached).[/56fe4][/ul][/li]
Just before pulling the front door shut, we go through a mime ritual of setting up camp, eating, suiting up and stringing up. Weird for the neighbours, but has helped to remember some vital stuff on many an occassion.
I’m convinced that forgetfullness is but
a simple math problem. There seems to be a
direct correlation to the frequency of
forgetting and the number of things forgotten that corresponds directly to the
number of birthdays you have had since you
turned 50. I’m pretty sure there is a
formula that can help, and I believe I’ve
seen it referred to as the CRS formula, but
I can’t for the life of me remember where
I saw it. May take a better mathimatician
than I. Good luck. Warm regards, Jim
Ditto on what Tim said; I even have multiple copies of my fishing licenses!
I have all of my tackle organized in gear bags by fishing type:
[ul]
*Fly fishing for trout
*Fly fishing for bass/other warm-water fishes
*Bait-casting for bass
*Spinning for bass
*Float tubing
[/ul]
Each bag has everything I usually need so I don’t have to swap stuff to another bag. When I go I just grab the requisite bag, rod(s); waders if needed and go. I have extra stuff in every bag just in case too.
I also have permanent lists in my computer of stuff to bring for different types of trips depending on the number of days; camping or hotel, etc. I then use these lists and start staging the extra stuff a week in advance.
It works for me.
[This message has been edited by Bamboozle (edited 06 December 2005).]
I have a set routine when packing for a trip and another for loading the car after a days fishing.
The secret of getting it all stowed without missing something. Is by Refusing to be distracted while going through your routine. One second of distraction and you fall into the Maw of the Mind Monster who will hide things from you.
Believe me. I KNOW. Jax.
I’m a much better Fly fisher when talking fishing, than when I’m Actually Fly fishing!
I am one of those ADHD folks, plus I have a disease that affects my memory and concentration amongst several other things. It gets to be emotionally painful quite often. I love those times when I have total clarity and I am grateful for them.
I was fishing with a friend a couple of summers back and due to generation on the White River we were going to be fishing from his boat. We drove about 26 miles to get to the boat ramp and launch. As we were getting the boat loaded at the ramp I realized I had forgotten the reel for the 6 wt. rod I was planning on using that day. I was, to say the least, a little POed at myself at the prospect of making this gracious friend drive another 26 miles back home and then return because of my forgetfullness. When I reluctantly mentioned this to my friend he didn’t say a word. He simply pointed straight across the river where I could see his house about 50 yds upstream… The one time It took to teach me to check my gear 2 or 3 times if I was going with someone else or driving any distance to fish. We simply loaded the boat and motored across the river to the dock so I could run up to the driveway and get the reel, avoiding one of the most embarassing moments in flyfishing for me.
These are the idle thoughts that posses a man’s mind when he’s not able to fish.
Mantis , you said “Never anything I can’t fish with out but just little items that are a nagging anoyance!”
How about I forgot my rod once now that is a nagging annoyance ! It was 4 hour trip back home so I bought a cheapo outfit at the lodge and told them it was for my grandson . Does that qualify ?
I think it’s just that when you decide to go fishing that the excitement of getting out on the water you become like a race horse with blinders on. All you see is staight ahead and go directly to the river. I keep all my gear in my truck but, I still manage to leave home the extra pair of socks or the new flies I tied the night before sitting on the table next to the door. Just to darn excited about getting to the river!!!
56fe4][/li][li]At the beginning of the season, the things we forgot get put into the truck soon as we get back home (for the next trip)[/