How To Make The Hike To The River Not Suck (As Much)

Some anglers look for the best fishing spots, no matter how long it takes to get to the river from the car. Other anglers look for the shortest hike possible so they can fish as soon as they put the truck in park. If you do have to hike in chances are the fishing is going to be way better, but you have to know what you’re doing so the hike doesn’t keep you from fishing.

In order to stay light on your feet and make it to the river with enough energy to really fish hard, you need to give the hike in the respect it deserves. Here are some tips to make sure your hike in doesn’t feel like torture…or at least the whole time.

Hiking To The River Doesn't Have To Suck (That Badly)
You can make your hike in to the river a little less miserable next time.

Get Ready, Then Hike

Postfly’s founder Brian Runnals hiked in nearly an hour each way to fish a canyon stream with Andrew Loffredo of Trout Unlimited/Costa’s 5 Rivers College Outreach Program, last weekend in Denver, Colorado. If you ask him, he’ll tell you that his body, “wasn’t ready for it,” but that might have something to do with late nights at vintage video game bars and Colorado’s local flavor…if you know what I mean.

In order to make sure the hike was enjoyable as possible, or at least not straight up torture, Runnals made sure he had a good pair of wading boots designed for hiking long distances to the river. Then once they parked the car, the whole group rigged up and got ready to fish right in the parking lot. If you get ready before you start your hike, then you can start fishing as soon as you get to the river. This makes you think about the fishing and stay excited, rather than dread the setup after a long hike.

Fly Anglers Get Ready To Hike In To Fish
Getting ready at the car before hiking in will make you more efficient once you’re ready to fish.

Pack Light…Really Light

Good waders with pockets for your gear and small fly fishing packs smartly prepared with everything you need will make walking over mountains feel like a walk in the park. If you’re weighed down by heavy backpacks, coolers, and other non-essentials, your hike will quickly turn into a death march and the fishing will suffer.

Pack a light snack, a bottle of water, or even better, an empty canteen with purification tablets. Then you can stay energized and hydrated without burdening yourself with the extra weight on the hike in. Do some research before leaving your house and make sure you know what flies you need to fish that section of the river. Then you can pack just a handful of flies and not carry a whole fly box of patterns that you’ll never even tie on. Join The Postfly Tribe now and we’ll send you the right flies for how you fish every month. 

Postfly Fly Selections Make Hiking In A Little Easier
Small fly packs will make your hike in a little more bearable.

Keep Things Moving

In order to make the most of your time at the river before you have to turn around and start hiking back to the car, it helps to keep moving. Rather than focus on a single spot and waste your entire day on showing a handful of fish different flies, rig up a presentation that will keep you moving and covering more water.

If you hit a spot with a few casts and don’t have any takes or bumps, move on. If you see a fish, then you can spend a little more time and present a few more flies to the fish, until you spook the fish, then move on. Making sure you cover as much water as possible in the time that you have before you hike back to the car will make sure you walk away thinking the whole day was worth it. There’s nothing worse than freezing your butt off in a snow-covered canyon all day long for just an hour or two of fishing unless you’ve put in a solid effort on the river. If you do it right, you might even forget about the hike entirely when talking about it at the bar that night. Maybe.

A Fly Angler Ties On A New Fly By The River
Small fly fishing packs make hiking in and swapping flies on the go much easier.

Make your hikes into the river suck less by having the right flies and gear before you even leave your house. Sign up for Postfly now and Join The Tribe of thousands of other fly anglers all around the country. 

https://postflybox.com/blog/2016/12/07/questions-you-should-be-asking-your-fly-guide/

https://postflybox.com/blog/2016/11/18/how-to-become-a-master-of-euro-nymphing/

10 thoughts on “How To Make The Hike To The River Not Suck (As Much)

  1. Kevin Nunnelee January 13, 2017 / 5:30 pm

    Drinking a few beers either before the hike or during the hike also helps.

  2. Brandon Hueth January 16, 2017 / 3:07 pm

    Shoot my buddy and i would hike around 15-20 miles per trip, with food and water, packs probably 30+ pounds. River crossing multiple times, we thought of it as an endurance race and we were able to fish all day! I started fly fishing 2015 and I picked up quick, now we compete and give each other an edge. Except I broke both my legs in November in a work accident, so those big trips won’t be happening as soon as I would like! Going through physical therapy and tying some streamers I’ve created keeps the edge I need to help push me to get back on the water sooner than later. Happy fishing!

  3. AP Fletcher January 16, 2017 / 4:26 pm

    Being prepared is the key. Very good points. Also, be incredibly thankful for those waters that you have to hike in order to get too. These are the waters that you most often get to work alone and with no crowding or traffic. If it were easy, everybody would be out there. I live in Oklahoma where our few Trout streams/rivers are either located close to parking and/or are the only place within 100 miles. These spots are easy for anyone to get too. That being said, if I had to spend half of the day hiking in, I could almost guarantee that I wouldn’t have to fight over a nice run with a pack of kids chunking powerbait with bobbers the size of my iPhone over the fish I’m trying to delicately present to. Treasure the hike!

  4. Mike January 27, 2017 / 10:25 pm

    I try to avoid hiking in my fishing gear… and I do a lot of hiking in to good fishing. Hike in gear that’s meant for hiking, and carry your wading boots, tackle, and waders in your pack- I have one that’s designed to do just that. Use the right gear for the job, and avoid wear and tear on the things that are meant to be in/on the river and not on the trail…

  5. John Squires February 18, 2017 / 7:06 pm

    Carry a lighter (or two). I would suggest a Lifestraw water filter instead of purification tablets.

    • Pat March 7, 2017 / 11:04 pm

      Very good suggestion for the water purifier! The Lifestraw is very compact, light and easy to tote in your fly bag! Thanks!

  6. Bruce Robinson February 19, 2017 / 6:13 am

    Terry from marble head fishing gave me a tip years ago .Alway carry a gallon of water with you to soak your wading shoes before you put them on before a long hike makes it a lot more comforble really give it a try you will be happy with the long walk.

  7. Trent Fleming February 20, 2017 / 4:56 pm

    Great article, good things to think about whether hiking 100 yards or a mile or more.

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