What's your all-time favorite piece of gear?
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If you had to pick just one piece of equipment–only one!–and call it your favorite, what would it be and why?
It’s really kind of a difficult question, right? Do you go with your first, crappy fly rod? Or the reel you lusted after for years and finally procured? The waders you’ve taken to three continents? Or maybe grandpa’s fishing bag?
Personally, I’m not overly sentimental about my gear, but it’s a close-run thing between that first rod (a St. Croix Pro Graphite 9-foot 5-weight, which I unfortunately ran over with my car and splintered in my garage, but which I have kept anyway) and the reel which has served me best. I think the reel wins out: a roughly 1995-era Ross San Miguel 2, the best reel Ross ever made, horribly inefficient by modern standards. It was the best reel on the market when I started, and cost $425 even in mid-1990s dollars. I lusted after it sinfully! And then finally I found one, used, I think through the old flyfish.com. I have loved that thing ever since. I fell in the Smokies and dinged it, which annoys me every time I see it, but it also reminds me of how many places that reel has been. I actually have a picture of it sitting here in my office. From Yellowstone to the Cumberland to the White and the rivers of Tennessee and North Carolina, it has served me well and has seen me land probably 60%+ of all the fish I’ve ever caught.
Here’s the pic in my office, from a 2006 trip to Yellowstone:
Zach
Zach
Graywolf fiberglass 6’9″ 4-piece 2/3 wt. The cork disks in the handle are spaced so the rod flexes for the entire length. The rod is borderline magic. Custom-built for someone that backed out of the sale; that person made a mistake.
You are correct – this is a tough question. I narrowed it down by asking what I would do if I only had one last fishing trip. For me, the answer is brook trout, with this rod.
There is also something cool about talking to the person that built a particular rod. Their enthusiasm for the rod they built can be infectious.
An old Orvis Silver Label 8’6″ 5 wt. My first decent fly rod. It has travelled with me from Tennessee to Montana to Michigan and everywhere in between.
A close second would be a ratty old fishing hat I bought over a decade ago in a fly shop in Grayling. It finally disintegrated in the washing machine. My wife thought she would do me a favor and clean it. I’d rather not talk about it.
Too many rods and reels to pick just one. Tough question. I might say my favorite piece of gear is my kayak, but its not with me on every trip. What is? This box of flies.
Buggers and soft hackles. I never leave home without this box. These are go to flies in just about any condition–spring, summer or fall. It really doesn’t matter what rod I am using, what line or what the fish are doing. You can always chuck buggers and soft hackles anywhere and catch fish.Strategy without Tactics is a Slow Route to Victory, Tactics without Strategy is the Noise Before Defeat - Sun Tzu
Tied between my Scott G2 4wt because I fish it all summer, or the Scott S4S 10 wt because that’s what I caught a 30 lb Rooster on.
For sure the piece that I sold and wish I had back…Ross San Miguel #2. Beautiful reel nothing else I know of looks as good.
I’ve owned – and still own – far too much gear. But if I had to choose a favorite it would have to be my drift boat. In the middle of the building process, I was diagnosed with leukemia and had to take six months off for treatment. When I began recovering, I started working on the boat again. It was my therapy. So, while it’s not quite a piece of gear, it has to be my favorite fishing ‘tool’.
Aaron I’d love to see a picture of that spaced out handle you’re describing.
Zach
Here is a pic of the rod grip –
I like the way it gives a full flex on a relatively slow, short rod. I wouldn’t like it on some of my bigger rods, but it works great on this small stream rod.
I am not much of a poster. Mainly a lurker but this topic really made me think. I am not one to hoard gear. I typically by last year’s latest greatest used, always looking to improve on what I have. Once I get a replacement the old one either gets sold or traded. However there has been one rod that I have yet to find an upgrade for. I bought a used Winston LT 8’9″ 5WT. It’s a 5 piece so it travels great. Been all over my native New England and West. The action is just right for me. Got an older Bauer on it with a Wulf Triangle. It just casts perfect. I buy other rods for a certain type of fishing but always seem to end up using this one.
Very cool Aaron. It looks great too.
If you ever had another one made, I bet you could get the same effect but without the gaps (which I imagine pinch the hands) by interspersing a soft foam disk between cork, which could compress under load as the rod flexed. It’d look a lot like rattan cane handles of the 19th century, which that kind of does too.
Zach
Like Michael….mine would be my driftboat. Both my boys helped build it when they were youngsters. My Taco is a close second as it is often my humble abode when going on fishing road trips.
For me it’s my Simms Wader Jacket. It has saved me many times. From south Chile to south Idaho, Florida to Texas it has made the difference for me. Combined with my Patagonia waders I stay dry in brutal weather. It’s simply the best piece of gear I have ever owned.
Brett
Houston, TXNo Zach, you can’t put that pressure on us… 1 piece of gear… no man, I can’t choose just one…
My Simms L2 boots (retired), must have walked 1500km’s, just in the mountains… and another 1000km’s on other trips.
My Prowler, just love it… I know I am going “proper” trout fishing when it is pulled out…
My Galvan Torque 12, just cause its tarpon time…But the one I love the most?
My Renzetti Travler, just cause it starts the fishing trip well before the fishing trip starts…
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