Packing Question

[T-Bone]

In our group, it's almost comical how much BS we bring on our trip. By the time Friday hits the day before we leave Kipawa, half of my clothes are still clean and in the luggage, 50% of the food in still in its packaging, 95% of the "just in case" wares are snuggly housed where they were when I packed them to come into the bush. But still...every year is the same...overloaded, overpacked, and griping about lugging that stuff around like a Mt. Everest sherpa. So...I seek the advice of all you veterans.

For a common trip (in main camp for a week, renting boats from outfitter, fishing Kipawa (or like) waters, etc.) what is your normal personal load? I'll post mine below. I'd like to see your list(s) as I'd bet most of us have them, or at least a guess of what your personal load consists of. I think the 'bulk' of our stuff comes via ancillary items like PFDs, anchor and rope, bait containers, etc. I've got to pare it back this year, just not sure where to start. Maybe on the clothing side. I have been known to take ~10 t-shirts with me, plus sweatshirts, pants/shorts, two jackets, rainsuit x2, shoes and boots...you get the picture.

Large canvas duffel 20"x 20" x 50"
Hard baits tackle box (briefcase size)
Loaded large backpack (jigs and boat gear)
Loaded large backpack (more gear, anchor and rope)
Tactical backpack (emergency gear)
Sleeping bag/pillow
Net/bait bucket
(7) rods & reels (large rod tube)
Shore lunch / cooking kit

Seems like that's what I "need". Also seems like too much cr@p...

Thanks.

[RHYBAK]

I'm afraid to show you my list.

[Bennythebushman]

An old backpacker once told me to worry about the ounces...the pounds take care of themselves. This was a guy who would carry 30 pounds for a week trip (including food and water). I am not that crazy. I am sure I am forgetting something, but my list follows. It should be noted that Johnny Walleye packs the coolers and a Coleman stove. Also, he brings a cooking screen house tent. Of course, we also bring a boat and an extra outboard. I was able to fit everything in a dry bag the size of a large duffle bag. Written out it seems like way too much stuff...time to slim down again.

2 pairs of Columbia fishing pants, 1 pair of shorts, 1 pair of gym shorts
1 hoodie, 1 backpacking jacket
1 rain suite (with 1 back up between the wife and I)
4 or 5 pairs of socks (dry socks are more important than all other clothes)
3-5 pairs exoffico boxers
1 life vest, 1 1st aid kit, 1 water filter, 1 hammock, 1 single burner camp stove, 1 fire kit, 1 hatchet, 1 fish cleaning kit, extra gas, 2 cycle oil, beer, flashlight
1 pair of rubber boots, 1 pair of hiking books, some camp shoes
1 backpacking tent, 1 sleeping bag, 1 sleeping pad or cot
2 rods, 3 reels
1 tackle box
1 box of worm harnesses
1 flat of worms

[Jay Thomas]

I don't mind if you guys enjoy a laugh at my expense. Here’s my list of things I typically bring on all my fishing trips:

1 Rubbermaid Roughneck 68 liter tote â€" all my clothes and my pillow
1 small leather satchel for change of clothes on first morning and overnight kit
1 Cabela’s boat bag that contains:
    Set of Cabela’s Guidewear rain gear
    Transducer holder and transducer
    Spare prop (I bring my own motor)
    Inflatable PFD
    Hook cutter
    Boga grip
    Small plastic box with slip bobbering stuff
1 briefcase sized tackle box (jigs and whatever)
1 soft sided tackle box for swim baits, bottom bouncers, marker buoys
1 dry bag for my camera, my walkie talkie, dry matches and emergency dry clothes
1 large rod caddy
1 reel caddy
Stainless steel sonar box with sonar and 51 amp/hr deep cycle battery
1 five gallon pail for my anchor, 100 feet of anchor rope and my drift sock
Swivel boat seat
Honda 2000 watt generator
1 small cooler with 30 amp/hr deep cycle battery and electric fillet knife (cooler facilitates carrying).
1 small box of tools for my outboard

The only guy I know who brings more stuff than me is Captain Crappie.

We use the same Rubbermaid Roughneck 68 liter totes to transport all our grocery and kitchen stuff. On our Aug 2016 trip, we have to travel by water for almost 2 hours to get to camp while on our Sep 2016 trip, we’ll travel about 70 minutes by water to get to camp. We’ve been using these totes for years to keep our stuff dry.

Jay

[CaptainCrappie]

When it comes to taking stuff,  I've been mocked , ridiculed, and sneered at on pretty much every trip I've been on. It never bothered me in the least.  Those trips were very special to me and I always wanted to cover any situation that could possibly come up when it came to fishing tackle.  My explanation was.... I'd rather be looking at it than looking for it. Once when I was in my teens I forgot to bring my nice 8 tray UMCO tackle box which was full of lures, ( took me most of my paper route money to buy and stock that box) on a bass trip with my Dad. I was sick when it wasn't in the trunk!  My Dad handed me twenty bucks and told me to get something to fish with for the day so at the marina I bought a JitterBug, a Johnson Silver Minnow, a Heddon Flat Fish, a CP Swing, and a jar of Uncle Josh Pork Rind. I had some change but I don't remember how much. That had to be in 1962 and I can't tell you how much I missed my box that day.  But...  I have forgot a couple of things that were semi-partially important in those 18 Kipawa trips.  Went commando one year...... No skivvies!  And once I forgot to bring the traditional, annual, customary, corn meal mush for breakfast  that Commander Bluegill and I would reminisce about, growing up.  What the heck, when it comes to stuff, take it so there will be no WHAT IF's.  It'll make your skin a bit thicker when your buddies make fun of you.....but you' may have the only lures/jigs/colors that them fish will hit and you can gloat all the way... if you want.

P.S.  I still have that original UMCO box and every so often I'll get it out and remember.....

C.C.

[Fort Wisers]

Our list these days includes "stuff for the two kids and the dog"....enough said.....
If I was a smart man, I'd build a camp and small pond in the backyard, stock the pond and call it a day.
But, I'm not a smart man, so we pack the truck to the "rafters"...

[mcsteve]

I travel quite a bit for work and can go away for a week with a small carry on bag and my laptop.  In fact,those I travel with have at times commented that they wish they could figure out how I pack my stuff.

However, when it comes to the fishing trip, I'm with CC in that I'd rather be looking at it than looking for it.  I bring warm and cool weather cloths, duplicate rain gear in case I rip a set (have done that) and extra of everything.  Most of this is due to being in a situation at some time when I needed something and didn't have it.  If I trimmed out all of the extras I could probably get away with only the large duffle, a large cooler and my tackle, but what fun is that?  Lugging the stuff back and forth from the dock is probably the best exercise I get all week.

Steve

[RHYBAK]

It is funny how every trip I constantly pack casting lures, trolling lures , what if lures etc,etc but all week all I end up using are floats, single hooks, split shots, jig heads and worm harnesses.

But all of that JUST IN CASE tackle still finds it's way into the van before departing.

[fishtildark]

T-Bone,
Your list as well as some of the others posted include stuff that is not necessarily for you personally, but for the group. Unless everyone duplicates that, it doesn't count against you...As to the clothes, its the same here. I am going to try to reduce the extras to provide for a couple changes and  the possibility of drenching rain. otherwise it seems the same pair of blue jeans can become potential throw aways at end of week. I also keep reminding myself that with all that water, I could wash a shirt if necessary.I think my duffel is the same size as yours , way too big, and am thinking of splitting into two smaller ones. It also has too many pockets that contain stuff that was there last year. In addition to the tackle box and rod tube, I take a small gym bag size with the spare stuff and extra batteries for the fish finder.. A good portion of the spare stuff may hopefully not be needed but it also doesn't do me much good sitting in the basement . I look at the 4 runner when loaded for two people and wonder how we ever took 4 in the Jeep Cherokee one year.

[NortonJoe]

First of all we have prepared and compiled a check list over the years...we generally go at the end of July or beginning of August each year so its mostly warm weather clothes, shorts, t-shirts/tanktops, watershoes/flip flops/old tennis shoes.  But I also take two pairs of jeans and two sweatshirts since the weather can change! A toothbrush but NO RAZOR! Pillow, sleeping bag and sheets...Rain gear is a must including a pair of boots. The only place I ever wear a baseball cap is fishing...sunglasses and always, always, SPF 15 lip balm (dry cracked lips are not fun!). Lifejacket. Tackle is three rods, three reels one tackle box and a bait box. My filet knife.  A seat cushion and beer holder for the boat and a net.  A lantern ( I don't know why since I almost never use it.) Always take my bathymetric map of the lake even though we have it memorized. There's a nice sandy strip in front of the camp so I bring a set of horseshoes for those lazy, warm afternoons...a book, deck of cards and poker money.  BOOZE and food...

[T-Bone]

WOW!!! Well...I guess if nothing else I don't feel so bad any more. And Jay...thanks for the giggle...that's a load.

I've been looking around finding ways to better 'compartmentalize' my stuff. Saw some pretty cool things on Amazon that should help keep the QUANTITY of bags to be fewer, even if the load is really no lighter. And I know I have 'space bags' in the house somewhere...those should help with the clothing and similar wares, I would think.

I'm with 'ya Rhybak. I use jigs about 95% of the time I have a line in the water, but I have at least 40 other hard baits in tow...and harnesses...and inlines...and spoons...

Funny stuff Captain...and I don't wholly disagree. If I take it and don't use it...whoop-tee-do. The sherpa routine isn't really that bad I guess.

And McSteve...I can guarantee you...the portage of stuff from dock to cabin and back again IS the only exercise I get all week. Other than 12-ounce curls...and the reeling of those pesky 'eyes from the water to my boat. 

78.68

[Canuckbass]

And I thought I pack to much!! I leave most stuff on island and just bring clothes and beer. Firewood and food. I'm in a different scenario as I'll get up a few times a year.
But your right, I pack lots of clothes and take 80% back clean.

[johnny walleye]

Just in case should be my nickname. I pack more then I need.

[SgtCrabby]

There is a reason I drive a full sized pickup truck; I need it to carry all the stuff we haven't needed yet.

Yep, things like trolling motor and battery, depth finder, generator are group things.   
Cooking equipment is for the good of the group (I'm the group cook).   
I have enough crankbaits to open my own tackle store.

[RHYBAK]

There is a reason I drive a full sized pickup truck; I need it to carry all the stuff we haven't needed yet.

Yep, things like trolling motor and battery, depth finder, generator are group things.   
Cooking equipment is for the good of the group (I'm the group cook).   
I have enough crankbaits to open my own tackle store.

Jigs and wormharness and floats

All you need