One Hand In My Pocket
While we’ve offered plenty of fishing storage solutions over the years, sometimes your pants are the best option around. That’s why I am constantly on the lookout for a good pair of fishing shorts. They must have pockets and zippered pockets are a plus.
My pockets act as my purse while out fishing or hiking.
I would never put anything sharp or spillable in them, but there are plenty of things that go inside of your pockets to save you time and energy and help you make more casts. Here are some of my favorites:
Bag of Senkos or Worms – They’re small and malleable enough that they can fit in your front and/or back pocket. I know that people take them out of the packages and put them in boxes but then if the bite is on, inevitably the fish is going to spit the bait and you are going to lose time on the water trying to find another. You’ll have to put your rod down, open the bait compartment or fumble around in your bag, take ONE out and rerig it. In the meantime I’ve probably caught and released two more fish.
Hair ties – An extra hair tie is a lifesaver, especially if you have long hair like me. Many times, I braid my hair (well, I have Pete braid my hair) and for whatever reason the bottom tie comes out and goes missing. No problem: reach in that pocket and pull your backup one out and you are back to being beautiful and you’ve taken care of the knotty hair issue.
Blistex with SPF – Never leave home without it. Lip balm helps moisturize and protects your lips from dryness, blistering and sun damage. We put sunblock on our face and body, cover our heads with a hat and wear sun protected glasses but our lips need protection too. Cancer sucks, try to prevent it!! If you have it in your pocket, you’ll be reminded to reapply several times during the day.
Boomerang SNIP cutters -- I know they have a clip to clip on your belt loop but that doesn’t work for me. They need to go in your pocket. Again, when you need them, you shouldn’t have to go fumbling around in your bag, the bottom of the boat, etc., to find them. If they are where they should be, in your pocket, snip snip and re-pocket and back to catching. Just make sure you fold them back together so they won’t rip through your pockets or gouge you in the nether regions.
Lens cap – I guarantee you that if you set it on the deck of the boat or on a seat you’ll step on it or have it possibly go overboard. The next result will be a scratched or cracked lens, at which point you might as well toss the whole camera in the water. By making it a habit to put that lens cap in your pocket, you’ll always know where it is and you’ll always replace it. That ensures you can keep your camera lens protected between uses.
Hopefully, I am not giving away my patent, Shark Tank or retirement idea but if there was a company that made five-inch inseam, well-fitting shorts with zippered pockets that had Flex Seal (rubber sealant) in the seams, I’d buy them in an assortment of colors.
