Hey guys! Tessa here!
Now that we are in the heart of the 2018 fishing season, I thought it would be cool if I would share some of my favorite items and accessories I like to use for my fishing adventures. Some items are for fishing, and some items accommodate fishing trips.
These items are based on my own opinion from my experience using them – totally ok if your opinion differs completely from mine. But, I do hope there is something on here that gives you the idea to try out if you haven’t seen or used it before.
Gore-Tex waders: This is a MUST here in Alaska. We have thick shrubbery, cold weather, and freezing waters. I’m sure there are many of you who have used the technology of Gore and know exactly what I’m talking about. The extra tough layers in Gore-Tex waders help keep me warm, but they are also breathable!
Vedavoo Sling: The sling packs made by Vedavoo are definitely a favorite of mine. There is such an ease of access to them, and they don’t feel too bulky to carry on your back. They have plenty of pockets and compartments, and the material does not rip and tear easily – at all. We use the Seam Sling, which is a great size for all our fishing adventures.
Cheeky Limitless 375: This is my go-to reel. It’s perfect for my 6wt, which is what I use most often.The Limitless series from Cheeky use a Gasket Drag System and is perfect for the newbie or experienced angler. Obviously Cheeky has the coolest colors, which is what caught my attention in the first place. Ironically, my favorite reel from them is my blacked out Limitless 373, but I paired it with some teal line. I love teal.
Costa Cooks: These glasses are AMAZING. I have always worn polarized lenses ever since I could remember, but I was truly blown away by how much these glasses allowed me to see in the water. Not only could I clearly see fish and snags to avoid, but I was able to see them a good 50ft away. My favorite pair of Costas are the Cooks, which if you know me, isn’t a surprise. I love the aviator style sunglasses, and these are as legit as they come. Since I fish a lot of inland creeks and streams, I use the Copper Silver lens, which is the perfect brown color for the creeks I fish in Alaska. I would be using the Green lens, but our Alaskan summers last about 2 months, and so I see more fall colors than I do green. The best advice for picking the right pair was from Cody Rubner, and he told me to match my lens color to my surroundings. Thanks for the tip, Cody!!
Tacky Big Fly Box: Everyone knows about Tacky Fly boxes, and for a good reason. They’re sleek, durable, and the unique magnetic function makes it easy to access flies quickly. The big fly box is perfect for my excessive amounts of Dolly llamas and other streamers. It’s plenty big enough to hold my beastly Alaskan flies but doesn’t take up too much room in my pack!
ARC Dehooker: This was a game changer for me. Especially during the cold months of October and November when we fish during snow days and don’t want to freeze our fingers by unhooking the smaller fish from our line. It’s especially useful when fishing from a boat or raft, but can also be used while wading! At this point, if it ain’t a big fish, dehook it! Check it out here.
Fishpond El Jefe Net: Real question – who doesn’t have one of these? Any kind of rubber net is a win in my book. The Fishpond nets are lightweight, plus the non-metal grip makes it easy to use during the winter months! The El Jefe net is the perfect size for our raft, or just wading in general. The other biggie- they float! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dropped our Fishpond net in the water and was saved by the fact that it floats. I wonder how many nets there are on the floor of the Kenai?
Garmin Fenix 5S: This snazzy watch tracks my movements and sends them to my phone through the Garmin app. The Fenix 5S shows everything on a satellite map, so I know exactly where I went while walking along the rivers. It also displays notifications from my phone so I don’t have to scramble to find it in my pack. Kory and I are river runners, so being able to know the exact track we took our boat helps us avoid log jams and shallow spots every time.
Groove Rings: These breathable silicone rings are amazing! Kory got me a beautiful promise ring that I cherish, but fear to wear it while fishing. Thankfully instead, I wear a Groove ring so I’m not afraid to lose it. Plus, they’re breathable, durable, and ultra comfortable. So many colors to choose from (including teal yay)!
Fabel Lifestyle Bracelets: These bracelets are SO awesome. They’re handmade by Bridget Fabel and are made of recycled fly line. They’re cute and comfortable, and she makes so many different color combinations, so they are perfect for both guys and gals. I’m not much of a jewelry wearer, but I love these bracelets so much. I love them so much, she noticed and named my favorite one after me. Check out her IG: @fabellifestyle or her website.
MTN OPS Blaze Pills: Out of all the delicious MTN OPS products I’ve had the chance to try, nothing beats the simplicity and effectiveness of the Blaze pills. I don’t know about you, but I’m not the biggest fan of 4 AM fishing trips, but they have to be done. And sometimes when it’s that early in the morning, I don’t have much of an appetite for a caffeinated drink of any kind. Which is why I love Blaze! It’s basically a caffeine pill, and I know every product says they don’t make you crash, but these pills really don’t make you crash after taking them. These also work great for the sleep-deprived college student.
Mtn House: I’m probably the pickiest eater in the world, but I sure do love some Mtn House. Especially the chicken teriyaki flavor! If you’ve never used Mtn House, its freeze-dried food that only requires water to make, which while fishing for hours in the middle of November, is the best thing ever. Typically, we use a Jet boil (another fave) to boil our water, and unless you have the special Mtn House sporks, you usually have to eat out of a cup or bowl since the bags themselves are too deep for a regular utensil. For convenience, we use Stanley Thermos jars to avoid messy hands.
Postfly Salmon & Steelhead Box: And last but certainly not least, I thought I’d share my favorite box from Postfly! Like I said, we typically use massive, meaty flies here in Alaska. The only times I use small dry flies are for grayling or lake fishing – which I rarely do (the grayling like streamers, too). So, I stick with the Salmon & Steelhead box, which provides me with the bigger, brighter flies perfect for Alaska.
Okay, I think that’s enough for now! There are so many other things I could talk about and share, but I will leave that for another blog post! If you guys have any questions at all, feel free to send me a message or an email, all of which can be found on my IG @tessashetter.
Also, don’t forget to use my special Postfly discount code on your boxed! (TESSAPFB10)
Tight lines!
https://postflybox.com/blog/2018/10/18/invest-in-what-you-love-equity-crowdfunding-and-why-were-doing-it/
https://postflybox.com/blog/2018/02/28/tessas-tips-fly-fishing-alaska/
https://postflybox.com/blog/2016/10/21/6-questions-with-postfly-ambassador-tessa-shetter/
https://postflybox.com/blog/2017/08/30/tying-up-le-bugs-to-catch-le-fish/
