is like seeing a stadium half full of fans. There’s a lot of wasted space.
Don’t forget food and drink for yourself
I cover the importance of drinking a lot of fluids in Chapter 6 because staying hydrated is both a safety issue and a comfort issue. You need to pack a lot of drinking water or sports drinks (say, a bottle for every couple of hours or so). Drinking plenty of fluids will keep you sharp and clear-headed. If you pack a cooler, freeze some water in plastic bottles. It will keep your food cold, and as it thaws, you’ll have nice cold water to drink.
You don’t want to go hungry, do you? Bring a sandwich or two, and some apples, bananas, and nuts. A plastic container of peanuts can be tipped to your mouth without having to handle the goods if your hands are dirty.
I’m taking it for granted that you already know how to make a sandwich. Over the years, I have found just a few common-sense things that have resulted in better sandwich eating or at least less sandwich disasters in the bottom of the cooler:
Wrap it small and tight. A big hero sandwich looks great, but you will not normally eat it all at once. Then you are in the position of having to rewrap it, which hardly anyone ever does properly, and the result is a lot of salami, lettuce, and tomato bits rolling around the cooler or the back of your vest. Cut the sandwich into smaller pieces and wrap each piece individually. Use wax paper or cling wrap for wrapping and then put everything inside a plastic bag.
Dry is good. Although soggy bread may be good for bait, it’s lousy on a sandwich. Remember that a sandwich to take along on a fishing trip is not the same as a sandwich that you make at halftime while watching the game on TV. Often, you are not going to eat your fishing sandwich for a few hours. That mayonnaise that tastes so good on a ham sandwich in the den is going to squoosh right through the bread when you unwrap your sandwich at the stream. Sliced tomatoes will soak through the crustiest, freshest roll. My solution is to cut down on the wet stuff, and if I absolutely need some, then I put it next to the meat and cover it with a piece of lettuce or a slice of cheese.
Tucking Your Fishing License in a Safe Spot
Fish are a natural resource, and as such, they belong to everyone and to no one. Actually, if you fish legally and catch a legal fish, then that fish belongs to you. But you still have to follow the rules. Fish populations are monitored and sometimes managed by your local Department of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife divisions, and their goal is to ensure healthy, well-balanced populations of fish. Those rules and laws governing wild game help maintain that balance, and Conservation Officers are the law enforcement branch of the DNR. When fishing, you may be visited by a Conservation Officer, and he or she might ask to see your license and inspect your gear.
Obviously, to prepare for this event, you need to have your license with you at all times. You also need to know the laws affecting the kind of fishing you are doing. Be courteous and let the officers do their job. They work to protect the same resources and places you love.
Like anything governed by rules or laws, in fishing there are those who knowingly break the laws for their own gain. Most often this involves anglers taking more fish than they are legally allowed to keep, or catching fish using illegal methods. Most states have a toll-free number that you can call to report this sort of activity to Conservation Officers, and I recommend you do just that if you see someone wantonly breaking the fishing laws in your area. After all, a poacher is taking fish illegally — fish that you and other law-abiding citizens will no longer be able to catch. It is your right to report poaching.
When you need a license
Check the laws for the state in which you are fishing before you wet a line. Some states, especially those that offer both salt- and freshwater fishing, have varying rules about when and where you need a license. But in most places, if you’re fishing public property, you need a license. If you’re fishing private property, you may not need a license, but you need permission from the landowner. If you’re fishing in the state in which you reside, you qualify for a less-expensive, in-state license. If you’re visiting the state you’re fishing in, you must buy an out-of-state license, and these tend to be more expensive. For example, in Indiana, a resident annual fishing license is $17. An out-of-state annual license is $35. Seniors often get a discount, and often children under age 16 don’t need a license. Check your state’s laws.
Where to buy fishing licenses
Most bait shops can still sell licenses, along with big-box stores like Walmart. It has become increasingly common to buy your fishing license online, though. Find the website of your local Department of Natural Resources, and you will most likely find a page where licenses can be purchased. Often you pay for your license with a credit card, then simply print a copy of your license to carry with you at all times. You can print more than one copy, in case one gets wet or lost. Try to buy your license before your fishing trip commences, so that’s one less thing you have to worry about the morning of your trip.
Chapter 3
Finding Good Fishing Water
IN THIS CHAPTER
