There is no doubt that Canadians will be looking for ways to spend their vacation time a little closer to home this year. It’s a good thing we are geographically spoiled and have so many beautiful lakes and rivers to enjoy. Often, the distance travelled to these bucket list destinations makes one want to stay for a night or two, or even a week, to really be able to enjoy and replenish the soul in the wilderness.
For some folk, the thought of packing up everything but the kitchen sink seems so incredibly overwhelming, they just choose to stay home where the sink is. The more time Robyn and I spend packing for our weekend adventures away, the more we realize just how little we need to survive. We thought it would be fun to share with you our list of must haves for our overnight fishing adventures, and hopefully encourage you to pack up and go with some simple camping tips!
PICK THE RIGHT TIME OF YEAR
The first tip is a relatively obvious one, but one of the most important! After all, what do we have to complain about if not the weather? Think about the species of fish you want to target, think about the best season to do so, and consider what the weather is like historically at this time of year. Ultimately you may not know right up until your trip how the weather will behave but having a plan and packing your gear and wardrobe accordingly will lessen the chance of halting your trip altogether.
WEATHER APPS HELP
Consider downloading wind and rain apps which can also assist you with a backup plan should things really start to look hairy. Speaking of hairy, use Google Earth to locate quiet bays or islands that will offer the shelter and protection you need should Mother Nature put you to the test. Once you arrive, be sure to head to the locations you have scoped out to make sure they will work.
It’s not a bad idea to have a few lakes in mind within the same region. Larger lakes can be more difficult to access and fish when the wind picks up. Consider choosing a destination that has smaller lakes nearby that you can fish as a back-up plan should your first choice not be a safe one.
SETTING UP CAMP
Home sweet home! Look for smooth rock faces near the waters edge. You will want to consider your ground options based on your shelter. If you have pegs to drive in, look for softer ground, if you are primarily using rope, make sure you have trees to safely tie to that won’t get in the way of the rest of your camp. Another option which we are excited to try, is a tent hammock. For those who prefer to travel light, tent hammocks are lightweight, compact, keep you dry and off the ground and often come with a built-in bug shield.
A NIGHT IN THE BOAT!
If you really want the full experience, our absolute favourite way to spend our nights is right on the boat. Toss a few air mattresses down with sleeping bags or blankets and tie a bug net around the bed so you can sleep under the stars undisturbed by those buggers. A key tip: be sure to pick a spot where you can safely anchor your boat. Additionally, you will likely want to tie your boat to a few trees or rocks on the shore to steady the boat (provided it’s safe to do so with weather conditions). If you don’t want to wake up with the sun, pay attention to your tent, boat, and/or hammock position keeping in mind the sunrise.
SAFETY
We should never not try something because we are afraid of what will happen, but let’s be realistic because “stuff” does happen. If you’ve ever met Robyn you know that slips, trips and cuts do happen (she is so accident prone) so travelling without a first aid kit is not an option. Nor should it be an option for those of us who are not so accident inclined. The rule, your camping first aid kit should only be used for camping and before heading out, an inventory should be completed to ensure that nothing is missing or needs restocking.
SHARED TRIP PLAN
Always tell someone what your plans are! Even if you destination has full cell service, you should always tell someone where are going, where you plan to camp (send your location if you can), and when you plan to be home. If you are able, have an agreed upon time to check in daily with your designated person. If going off grid is really your goal, it might be wise to invest in a satellite device such as an inReach or Spot as they can literally be life savers.
Know your limits. Keep in mind when you are out in the sun for prolonged periods of time, even if it is not that hot out, the elements will have more of an effect on you. Make sure you can escape from the sun while on the boat (canopy, umbrella, tarp).
Don’t forget the water. As obvious as the weather, but frequently the most overlooked preventative action, drinking enough water should be your top priority as dehydration can sneak up on you quickly. If you don’t have room to pack water, invest in a purifying pump/and or bottle.
CAMP FIRE CHEF
Food preparation is not always the easiest thing while in the field as the action of cooking can add a lot of bulk to your equipment, not to mention consume a lot of valuable time that could be better spent chasing those giants you drove all that way to catch! What’s our solution? We spend Thursday nights prepping all our food, from bacon and eggs to BBQ chicken and potatoes. Once cooked, we package the food in servings in either sealable bags or tinfoil. To reheat, place the tinfoil on a hot pan or the bag in boiling water, serve, and enjoy.
PLENTY OF FIRE POWER
Is that a stove in your pocket? We have three stoves that we rotate through depending on our destination. If we need to save on room, we take the jet boil stove. This is definitely the most expensive option but really ideal for the backpacker canoe trip style of traveller. Not so light a load, but still quite compact and versatile (and the stove we use the most), our single burner stove which uses small propane canisters. A very cost-effective option for those just starting out with their adventures.
And finally, if we are settling in for a longer trip, we have a full-size camp stove which uses full size propane tanks. This is nice to have for those weeklong trips where we have more of a “kitchen” set up. Think about what will work best for you and your set-up and what you will use the most before deciding on your purchase.
It’s all in the pack. Just like your safety gear, it’s ideal to have a “food” kit that never gets unpacked (except to clean). Plastic dishes, mugs, a utensil bag or kit, a pot, a pan, tinfoil, a small cutting board, eco-friendly dish soap, salt, pepper, and any other spices you may like to use frequently (for us it’s garlic). A simple kit can be put together with items purchased from the dollar store and replenished or added to as you see fit and as you figure out what would be handy to have.
Hey, you may find that your fishing multi-tool has many uses in the kitchen so make sure that’s on the “to pack” list every time. Plan a night to cook your catch. There is nothing quite like cooking over an open fire with good company, and nothing but time. Food never tastes better.
POSTIVE ATTITUDE GOES A LONG WAY!
Our love of fishing has helped to enhance our love of camping as we just never want to leave when we are out on the lake. Which brings us to our final tip. Stay positive. Nothing will go perfectly, you will have to improvise often, you will not starve (you may have to eat cold food), you will always learn something new, and you will always come away with an experience. Some of our favourite stories come from the most challenging times we have had.
No matter your level of experience, we hope that you will be inspired to GO PLAY OUTSIDE, and hey, maybe do some camping this year.
P.S. Don’t forget the butter!
SPECIAL NOTES:
Thermocell MR150 or MR300, bug spray and bug nets are all effective ways to enjoy the outdoors while keeping flies and mosquitos away.
Manitoba Apple, great for snacking around the fire. Place a beef bouillon cube or packet along with butter in the middle of an onion, wrap in tinfoil, place beside your campfire until soft. Enjoy!