Lessons Learned

[Christian]

bring an extra light.
i had to climb through a boulder field one of those foggy pitch black nights where you cant even see your hand about 300yards to my vehicle. all the while with a 20lb fish for added fun...and it was fun trying to find my way back, i just woundt want to do that again.

[crash]

The $10 led hedlamp may look stupid, but it's nice to have when your hands are full of pissed-off fish.

[JohnR]

When wading on a rocky bar with water waster up to your chest, don't allow bluefish on trebbled plug to get traction in the water and sink hooks in one side of finger and out the other

[baldwin]

When you have a dozen live eels in a soup pot in the refridgerator, let the wife know that it isn't dinner in that pot.

Don't leave your eel rag in your wading jacket pocket.

Make sure all your eels are accounted for before you leave your car in the hot sun.

Make sure you set your drag before you cast,...and have a huge striper inhale your plug.

Don't do acid and drive while looking through binoculars.

[gone fishin]

Don't leave rigged eel skins in the wader pouch. Don't leave bait on the rocks at the ditch and expect it to be there within minutes. ( many fat rats there) again - don't hang a 20 pounder plus from the handlebar and expect to take turns without being STOPPED! I call that striper revenge. Don't go tearing along the canal access road with rods upright in holders and forget where the low trees are. That will shorten a rod quickly.

[blue oyster]

never take your eyes off a blue fish when unhooking it , i didn't learn it the first time ,2 trips to the er for stitches

[Skitterpop]

Originally Posted by baldwin

Don't do acid and drive while looking through binoculars.

Do I know you?

or driving with 8 teenagers in a car made for five .... don`t turn the headlights off on a dark night on desolate back roads to see how long you can go without hitting something.

[baldwin]

That driving thing with the headlights off...we did that too. Where are you from? This is scary.

[Joe]

Get your gear set and your mind right before making the first cast; the first cast at any given spot is often the highest percentage presentation you will make.

[ProfessorM]

Originally Posted by baldwin

Don't do acid and drive while looking through binoculars.

The acid and driving is ok but never binoculars.

[jim sylvester]

never let your buddy talk you into this one

you can drive and control the gas and brakes while I control the steering wheel from the passenger seat. Key point the driver is blindfolded and has to listen to the passenger controlling the steerring wheel as to how much gas to give, when to hit the brakes, how much room in between you and the car in front of you.

[DZ]

Great responses.

OK - Here are lessons I've learned from reading your lessons:

Don't ever borrow Prof Moriarty's waders.

If you ever fish with Baldwin or Indanite - make sure you do the driving.

Canalman - Where did you say the "bloody boulder" is? I promise I wont tell anyone?

DZ

[Pete_G]

Originally Posted by Christian

bring an extra light.
i had to climb through a boulder field one of those foggy pitch black nights where you cant even see your hand about 300yards to my vehicle. all the while with a 20lb fish for added fun...and it was fun trying to find my way back, i just woundt want to do that again.

I actually carry 3; one around my neck, a headlamp, and then one more light hiding in my plug bag. Call me a wimp or whatever, or not hardcore, but I like to have light when I need it.

I see a lot of people say they don't carry a light at all, or only carry a very small lamp. Emergencies happen though, and I'll be sure to have quality light if and when it happens.