Prep list for fishing trip

(1) What to wear?
Clothing is very important because fishing is an outdoor activity. When weather changes, there is always danger of hypothermia or injury. Dressing properly can ensure the joy of fishing. Winter requires extra clothings. Here, I assume a trip during Summer, Spring and Fall time.

• Hat: You always need a hat to make shade and also keep your body temperature. If it is a extremely warm Summer day, you can wear a sun visor.
  
• Cargo pants: It provides extra storage. Except humid Summer day, I do not recommend shorts. Because long pants protects skin from sun and unexpected cuts from fishing tackle. Personally, I do not prefer jean because jean is poor at insulation. And when it gets wet, it does not dry fast.
  
• Long sleeve shirts: Although you wear short sleeve shirts, you need to wear or bring long sleeve shirts.
• Shoes: In many cases, snickers are fine. If you are going to wade, you may need water shoes (sandal) or boots.
  
• Jacket: There are many brand name jackets available on the market. Breathable sports jacket (ex. Gore-tex) is always fine for fishing.
  
• Rain jacket: You have to keep one in your bag. In many cases of shower and drizzling, breathable jacket works as a rain gear. But during Summer, fisherman has to fight heavy shower, and 100% water proof rain jacket is necessary.
• Wool sweater: Wool is a great material for sports wear. It keeps body temperature when it gets wet. Because fisherman stays near by water, he/she has more chance to get wet. Wool sweater is a perfect extra clothe which you want to keep in your bag.
• Gloves: Fingerless gloves are convenient to handle fish and bait. I heard that wool gloves are good, but have not tested them yet.
  

(2) Fishing tackle?

• Fishing rod and reel: I usually bring two sets with me and rig one rod for bottom lure, and the other for mid or top water lures.
• Tackle box: including hooks, floats, line, sinker, swivel, lures (top, mid, bottom lures), clipper and so on
• Multi tool: It is very useful when you cut your line and remove hooks from fish. I used use Swiss Army knife. Now I use Leather man multi tool because it has long nose pliers.
• Can of bait: Worm, minnow, crayfish, paste bait and so on. Whatever you want.

(3) Record keeping?

• Camera: If you are a catch-n-release fisherman, you at least want to take a picture of your trophy. You may not want to bring your expensive camera unless you have a personal property insurance. I saw that there is a disposable digital camera, which looks good for boat fisherman.
• Ruler or scale: Many waters have size limits which you have to pay attention.
  
• Thermometer: I check water temperature. Temp information is useful to measure degree of fish activity.

(4) Food?

• Water: When it is windy, your body loses more water than under calm weather.
  
• Snack: energy bar, jerky and so on. Fruit is always first choice of mine. Fruit helps our body quickly regain energy. It is more effective than any other processed food.
• Beer: Not a good one. But can you imagine fishing without drinking beer?

(5) Last but not least!

• Sun glasses: Polarized sun glasses make difference: you can easily see through water. But any kind of sun glasses is better than nothing. I prefer gray or amber color under day light, and yellow during dawn and twilight.
  
• Flash light: Always keep one in your bag. When you go out for night fishing, you definitely need a head lantern.
  
• First aid kit: Most injuries in fishing is related cut or punctuation by sharp tackles. At least, you need clean gaze and band aid.
• Sun block and lip balm: Protecting your skin from strong sun beam is very important. Sun burn really hurts.
• Insect repellent: Unfortunately fish are biting most, when mosquito are biting most.
  
• Plastic bags: You need couple of bags for many purposes, such as wrapping your catch and collecting your garbage.
  
• Small towel: Whenever you hook bait or dehook your catch, you may want to wash your hands. It means you have put your hands into water. You can dry your hands by wind, but it can hurt under windy weather. Dry your hands with towel.
• Tissue: Emergency situation.
• Contour map and Regulation booklet
  

This list is the basic of basics to prepare for fishing trip. You may need more. Remember, always more prepared is better than less prepared. BUT, lighter bag is better than heavier one. Difficult decision to make.