My Favourite Things — Craig Rist

A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS

Craig Rist shares a few of his favourite things when fishing the remote lakes and rivers in Tasmania.

Like most of you reading this, we all learn from trying new things. Sometimes they work for us and sometimes they don’t. Over the years there have been many new products that have become available to make a remote fishing experience even more enjoyable. So here are a few things that really work for me.

To keep the weight down I only pack what I really need. I only take one or two small fly boxes that contain flies suited for the time of year I am fishing. One of these boxes is often carried on a neck lanyard or in my wading jacket or trouser pocket. With that goes some fly floatant, two or three spools of tippet, line snips, hook sharpener and fly removing tool.

The simplest accessories can make all the difference. Like the elastic line tamers that stop spools of tippets from unwinding in your pocket or hanging from a lanyard. I usually use the Sharktooth brand that is both line cutter and line keeper. But Mike Stevens put me onto the idea of the DIY stubby holder line tamer. These are very easy to make, simply cut neoprene rings from an unwanted stubby holder to fit the width of the spool and there you have it, so simple it works.

The best hook sharpener I own is actually made for sharpening Router bits. These are a diamond stone and are perfect for sharpening hooks when a hook point gets rolled or blunt from rocks or teeth. The one I am using now actually came out of a Router Bit kit. I also use the EZE-LAP DIAMOND Hone and Stone that can be easily cut down to make it small enough to hang off my lanyard or pliers. I never go fishing without one because a sharp hook always catches more fish.

My DIY hook remover is for removing flies that have been hooked too deep to remove with my fingers. It’s a tool I made myself from 1.6mm stainless steel plate. It’s no longer than a pen and has a small slot cut into one end to slip onto the inside of the hook. The hook can then be pushed out of the fish while holding onto the line to keep the hook straight. The great thing about a tool like this is that it only makes contact with the bend of the fly hook, so it never damages my flies. Pliers on the other hand can destroy flies if the pliers are too big for the fly.

I also like to keep cooking gear as light as possible. For me the Jetboil is the only way to go. It’s light, simple and compact and is really all I need to take other than a spoon, fork, collapsible cup and bowl.

Most of my cooking is done with boiling water, noodles for dinner and porridge for breakfast. Soup, coffee or tea for hot drinks and if I really want to spoil myself I will carry in a Jet Boil fry pan to fry up some eggs or sausages. Throw in a few lightweight snacks to keep me going between meals and I’m happy.

My DIY hook remover and hook file.

A Jetboil is a light, simple and compact.

Photography and Nets

Simms Dry Creek Z Hip pack will take a camera and keep it dry.

Keeping a camera dry and accessible is always a priority for me. When I’m hiking with a backpack I carry my camera inside a small camera bag attached to my packs chest strap to keep it accessible. To keep the camera dry I just slip it inside a small dry bag before it goes into the camera bag.

The other bag I really like when I’m not fishing with a backpack is my Simms Dry Creek Z Hip Pack. This hip pack is totally waterproof and will carry my 7 D SLR and tripod with ease.

Taking photos of live fish when I’m away from my fishing partner or I am fishing solo is hard work without a landing net. I’ve tried many of the traditional landing nets over the years, most are too long and hard to fold out or they get pulled from my jacket or pack when going through overgrown tracks.

I eventually ditched the landing net idea and simply used the netting from a landing net with a drawstring. Then when I landed a fish by hand I could slip the fish in the net pull the drawstring tight and leave the fish in the water to recover above that gill clogging mud or silt that can easily kill fish.

I can then take my time to sort out my camera gear, take a few shots and release a strong healthy fish that is capable of swimming above the mud and silt that kills so many fish that are released too early.

I repurposed a Mclean net to suit me.

I used my drawstring net for many years until two years ago I picked up a Mclean Spring Foldable Weigh Net in a fly-fishing store. My first impression was this would be perfect for the Western Lakes. Then when I unfolded it I could see the net was far too shallow and any fish over a couple of pounds would easily come out of this net as soon as the thin spring steel net ring would collapse under the weight of a decent fish. I quickly returned it to the rack and walked off a little disappointed. I continued walking around the shop thinking about this net when I suddenly realised I could fix this issue by simply replacing the net with the same over sized net I was using for my drawstring net. I immediately brought this net and have never looked back. Now I am landing fish in less time using this net like a normal landing net, but instead of lifting the fish up and out of the water, the longer net allows me to raise the net to capture the fish, without having to lift it from the water. I then grab hold of the drawstring, tie off the net with the fish in the water to recover and set the camera up, perfect!

I am a fan of Simms Freestone pants and Good gear makes life easier. DexShell waterproof socks are fantastic and a variety good gloves is essential.

Sea to Summit gaiters are first class. The harsh shrubbery of the Western Lakes and those Blackberry lined rivers can easily put holes in even the best-made waders on the market today. So to protect them I always wear good quality canvas hiking Gaiters, with my waders. I use Sea To Summit Gaiters and they have saved my waders from those sharp sticks kicking up off the track, more times than I can remember. Waterproof socks are another revolutionary invention that are ideal for hiking and fishing. I must admit I was sceptical about just how waterproof these socks are but I was pleasantly surprised to find they were 100% waterproof. I tried the DexShell brand and they definitely offer another great way of keeping your feet dry on those wet tracks. They have also come in handy when my normally dry walking boots have suddenly Keeping Dry and Warm become filled with water when I have slipped off a rock Finding ways to keep dry and warm in a remote into the water or I have stepped into a muddy track that environment even on day trips has also evolved for has swallowed my entire leg. It is always nice to have me over time. a pair of these waterproof socks in my pack to wear with wet boots, no doubt saving me from developing I can remember the days of walking into the Western painful blisters.Lakes in Winter and Autumn wearing those heavy, hot neoprene waders where I would be just as wet on the A good pair of gloves, to keep my wet hands warm inside as I was on the outside. Fortunately lightweight is also essential. I say wet hands because they are going breathable waders are now available and are perfect to get wet from both casting and handling fish. for hiking into the Western Lakes in the cold wetter I like wool or wool and opossum fingerless gloves months. I really like the Simms Freestone Wader pants or those thin full-length thermal gloves. for those early and late season hikes into the Western For the more extreme conditions or if you suffer Lakes. from the cold, gloves like the Simms Guide Windbloc Because these waders are just like pants I often forget Flex Gloves are hard to beat. I’m wearing them because they are so comfortable, Even the Simms solar flex gloves I wear for sun lightweight and breathable. When I combine these protection give some relief from the cold winds. wading pants with a Simms wading jacket and I can UV neck gaiters and buffs also take the chill off the literally laugh at the weather and fish anywhere in wind and keep your cap on in strong winds or a fast comfort. boat ride. www.tasfish.com - Get the knowledge - Get the fish.

Boating

There are lots of boating accessories that can make a day on the water that much more enjoyable.

Here are a few things that really work for me. I return with the remote to drive it back into me. With that said, I do attach a loose rope back to the shore or jetty, just in case the motor looses power.

Anchor lock is also useful when I have just hooked a fish while drifting a shoreline to stop the boat drifting over water I wanted to fish or stop it getting blown into the shore while I am fighting the fish.

Using my anchor and chain to fish from a stationary boat is rare for me now. They even make bait fishing easy. There is no more issues with my anchor pulling or my anchor rope being too short. Moving and trying multiple spots with the anchor lock is also effortless.

The other stand out feature on these GPS electric trolling motors is the Heading Lock function. This is where the electric motor will automatically steer the motor to maintain the boat’s set course. All the operator has to do then is adjust the speed. This function is great for someone who wants to operate the electric motor and fish at the same time. Sight fishing is a prime example because you need your eyes to stay focussed on the water in front of you and not have to keep looking down to see which way you need to turn the motor to keep the boat in a straight line.

Heading Lock is also good to set up an artificial drift when there is no wind. I have even used this to keep the boat moving when the wind drops out while bottom bouncing for flathead.

It would be hard for me to own a boat with trim tabs.

Trim Tabs

I used to think Trim Tabs were only needed for those unstable deep vee hulls to level them up when they were motoring. How wrong I was.

After spending some time fishing from flats boats with Trim tabs, over the years I realised that these Tabs do much more than that.

In an open unprotected boat like centre console the driver and the passengers are going to get wet from wave spray in rough conditions. The great thing about Trim Tabs is your passengers can sit anywhere in the boat to find the most sheltered spot and don’t have to worry about where they sit to keep the boat level. They can also take out that annoying porpoising or bouncing action form a boat when it is on the plane. Instead of the normal fix of trimming down the motor to stop porpoising which will also loose top end speed. Trim Tabs will push the bow down to stop porpoising without having to trim the motor down. They also help my boat to get up onto the plane much faster when the Tabs are trimmed down. So for me it would be hard to own a boat with out them.

Electric Trolling Motors with GPS

For those of you that already own an electric trolling motor that has GPS capabilities go ahead and skip this bit because you are already know how good these are.

Here are just a few ways that I use mine.

The Anchor lock feature and wireless remote control is a game changer for sure; I use it all the time. If I’m launching and retrieving my boat by myself and I don’t have a safe place to tie it off while I park the car I simply use the remote control and anchor lock to hold the boat off the boat ramp out of the way until

DIY Stripping Basket

When fly fishing from a boat, using a stripping basket will stop the wind blowing fly line off the boat into the water where it can easily find a spinning motor prop or a multitude of other items to get caught on in a boat.

When I have a choice and conditions and the boat I’m fishing from allows it, I would actually prefer not to use a stripping basket because they can and do cause the fly line to tangle at times. But that is nothing compared to a fly line becoming entangled in a spinning prop.

Quick tip, when you have switched off the petrol motor to start fishing, stick the motor in gear and this will stop the prop spinning in neutral. I’m pretty sure I am not the only one who’s had a fly line, braid or mono wrapped up in a prop spinning in neutral.

One of the best DIY stripping baskets I have used is from one of those Mr Tidy Economy Pop Up Garden Bags. To stop this stripping bag from blowing out of the boat I used a thick piece of rubber matting or conveyor belt rubber, cut into a disc the size of the base. The rubber disc sits in the bottom of the bag to

DIY Fly Tying Travel Bag

For me, fly-tying goes hand in hand with fly-fishing and where it really comes in handy is when I travel abroad and locally. I can quickly restock or make flies to suit the conditions on the spot, limited only by the fly tying material I have packed in this kit.

For my fly tying travel bag, I have repurposed a Berkley Soft Plastic Wallet to make a fly tying travel bag. The wallet system is perfect for storing all sorts of fly tying material including the vice and because the zip lock bags are clear, it is very easy to find what I need to tie a fly. The size of the soft Wallet also makes it easy to pack and is never an inconvenience to bring it along on a trip.

These are just a few things I take for granted now and wouldn’t be without.

When you start to think about all the things that have evolved over the years it is going to be very interesting to see what’s to come in the future and what still remains as tried and proven. Craig Rist

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