This is a list of a few items that I think we should never leave the docks without. Items that will make your time on the water much more enjoyable, and safer for you and the fish. Nets, we should never leave the dock without the proper net for the type of fishing we are going to be doing. For all species, other than large Pike and Musky, I like a rubber net. The hooks rarely get caught up and and it is easy on the fish. For the Pike and Musky I like the large soft nets that we are using at camp. When ever I can I will release fish at the side of the boat, but I will always have the proper net in the boat as there are situations where it is best for the fish. I can't go fishing without my Polarized sunglasses. If you spend a lot of time on the water you need to protect your eyes. You also need to see whats going on down below. Musky fisherman rely on seeing the fish and Weed Walleye fisherman need to find the pockets. We also need to be able to see rocks, rocks you wouldn't have seen with regular sunglasses. And rocks you may not have hit with the trolling motor, or the big motor for that matter. You dont have to spend alot of money, twenty or thirty bucks will get you a decent pair of Polarized sunglasses. Cheaper than a lowwer unit. One of the most important tools for catch and release is pliers. Not only for the good of the fish but for the fisherman as well. Trying to extract a crank-bait from a thrashing Pike, or even a big Bass, can be dangerous work without pliers, someone will get hurt. I dont ever want to be attached to a big angry Pike at the arm. Pliers have a habit of getting lost or going over board so its good to have 2 or 3 pairs on board, trust me. A pair of bolt cutters is a good Idea as well, you may need to cut the hooks out of a big fish and the cutters that come on most sets of fishing pliers will not cut braided line, never mind big musky hooks. And two last items that we tend to forget the most, are a good set of rain-gear and a camera. It may look nice when you leave the dock in the morning, and you may think you are not far from camp, but who wants to leave a hot bite to go get rain-gear, or fish wet and cold. I have left some pretty good fishing to run back to camp to get my gear only to return to find the bite quit. Now I have two sets of rain-gear and one stays stored on the boat. As far as cameras go, I am going to keep a disposable camera stored on the boat now in the off chance I forget the digital camera. On occaision, I have been out in the evenings without my camera only to miss a big storm roll by or a big fish caught or a bear swimming across the bay. The camera is your link between what happens out on the lake to the real world. Dont leave camp without it. Wayne
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