I Like Big Jugs…To Stay Hydrated

The number one rule of life is to stay hydrated. The lesson seems to have gained steam -- you can’t swing a dead cat around these days without hitting someone carrying some sort of water bottle. They hand out water bottles like they are going out of style at every event you attend so there is no excuse not to stay hydrated. However, not all water bottles are created equally, and that is important if you’re an angler.

Staying hydrated is especially crucial when you’re out on the water. Between the sun and hard work reeling in fish, dehydration can hit you when it’s too late, and nine times out of ten it’s just because you forgot to drink. It’s easy to get too focused on those “pesce” rascals (pun intended).

In the past when we went fishing, I wouldn’t drink so I didn’t have to go potty. Being a girl can be tough that way, but I continued to pay the price when I came home dehydrated, with a migraine, and feeling sick. Often it ruined the rest of my weekend.

One of the best anniversary gifts Pete gave me was the Yeti Rambler One Gallon Jug. It’s solved a lot of problems.

In the house I carry my Yeti Rambler 42 oz Stray Mug, but since the fridge is just steps away I can refill it often.

I bring the Yeti Rambler 18 oz Water Bottle to the gym as it is smaller and easier to move from spot to spot and there is a water refilling station, so again there’s no excuse not to refill.

On our boat, however, there is no faucet to refill your water bottle. Yes we have a cooler but who wants to spend money on plastic water bottles and accumulate trash? I realized that when I brought my smaller water bottles on the boat I would wait to drink as I was afraid I would drink it all and not have some for later. I was foolishly depriving myself and the end result was often a full water bottle as well as dehydration. With the gallon jug I can drink from launch to last cast and even have some remaining for the ride home.

I am not one to hang it over the side. It’s not that I am prudish, but rather just not sure I could make that work. Therefore I always add to Pete’s “items not to forget” post it note: MY BUCKET and rain poncho. Don’t knock it. It works. I can drink as much as a gallon of liquid and stay hydrated without feeling like I’m going to explode all day.

I strongly suggest getting a straw for your jug. The empty jug weighs four and a half pounds and with a gallon of water (eight-plus pounds) driving down the lake, trying not to spill and only using one had (please have at least one hand on the wheel) is literally impossible.

The Yeti has some genius features. It is 100% leak proof. Also, the cap will never get lost as it has a magnet and attaches to the top lid and has insulation which keeps liquids hot or cold. 

For an additional charge, Yeti will customize your jug, but be aware that color exclusions my apply. Pete thought it best to purchase my favorite color, orange, without customization, rather than choosing a runner-up with customization. He knows me well.

Many thanks to Brandon Palaniuk for making us aware of this jug and helping us to realize that it’s a necessity rather than a luxury.