Safety Gear

August 09, 2021

Safety Gear

Besides an emergency aid kit, there are three essential pieces of gear I take when fly fishing and camping in the Southern Rocky Mountains of New Mexico.

Two-way Radios - I just picked up a pair of Midland two-way radios for a fly fishing trip with my buddy, Rich up north for a few days this week. One of my old radios got to the point where it wouldn't keep a battery charge. Even with new batteries, for some reason it quickly drained the battery charge. So, they have been replaced with new radios that are going into the duffle bag for this week's camping and fishing trip.

Two way radios are great when fly fishing in wooded streams where you can't see or hear your fishing buddies as everyone works different parts of a stream. I don't carry radios in all streams except for those that are in a heavily wooded environment. All kinds of things can go wrong in the wilderness and I like to be in contact with others that are fishing with me. If I can't see them or hear them, I worry and can't enjoy my fishing time...yet, spreading out over a stream makes sense for everyone getting the opportunity to get into fresh, undisturbed trout.

SPOT GPS Messenger - Two-way radios work well to communicate with others on the stream, but what if you or your buddy has an accident and not able to hike out for medical treatment? Well, I always take a SPOT with me each time I go fishing. My wife bought this for me several years ago...mainly for her peace of mind. She didn't want me to have an accident out in the middle of nowhere and not be able to call for emergency help. I have to say, it quickly became a device that is essential for me to go into the wilderness. These GPS messengers are technology every outdoors person should have...probably many lives would have been saved if only the individual had one in their moment of distress out on a hiking trail or trout stream. I don't leave the house without mine.

Self Defense - Lastly, and probably the most debated topic with outdoor enthusiast...self defense against potential attacks by toothy critters (I fish in black bear country). I'm sorry, but I'm not going to trust my life on the wind blowing in a favorable direction with a charging bear and only bear spray to save me. And, I don't trust the so called "experts" on the effectiveness of bear spray...they seem to me of having motives that bias their "sampled research" and subsequent advice to the public. Everything I've researched has lead me to a decision to trust my life on 10mm bear loads and not bear spray. Of note, I've noticed wildlife officials carry firearms for their personal defense while in bear country...hmmmm.

I actually picked up a box of handgun ammo at a big box store this past weekend. This is the first time I've seen any in a store in I don't know how long...over a year I think.

Anyway, that's what I pack in the truck for my trips to campgrounds and trout streams. Whatever you use...be safe out there, people! And have fun with some tight lines...

Note: The fishing and camping gear is going in the truck today...packing light for this trip and hoping that the California smoke clears once I get to higher altitude:)