handiest "gadget"?

[coyote]

putting aside "essentials" (such as nippers, hemostats/pliers, etc.)...

what oddball fishing gadget would you hate to be without?

Thanks!

 

[ryansheehan]

Digital thermometer

 

[coyote]

good one, Ryan!

perhaps the dumbest question ever, but...how does it help you?

 

[Bamboozle]

My trusty EZ-Lap hook hone when I miss a couple in a row.

My Hat Eyes so I can see to sharpen my hook.

My Swiss Army knife with the saw blade so I can cut off the branch I keep getting snagged on after I sharpen my hook.

A head lamp so I can find my way out of the woods after I cut the branch to retrieve my fly.

A flask, because of all of the above.

 

[ryc72]

Smith creek rod holder is pretty nice. Holding a rod under your arm for a while can get uncomfortable.

 

[ryansheehan]

coyote wrote:
good one, Ryan!

perhaps the dumbest question ever, but...how does it help you?

I don't worry about temps much in the summer months as I fish alot of tailwaters. However, this time of year the difference between 38 and 40 isn't just two degrees :lol: Finding water that is just a little warmer can make a big difference in how active the fish are. Tempature change also plays a huge role in what kind of water I'm fishing. The warmer the water the more spots I will fish with moving currents. As the temps get colder the deeper and/or slower water is all I will fish.

 

[coyote]

thanks for all the replies!

Great stuff!

 

[sgrim]

I guess it qualifies as a gadget: I have a magnetic net holder that allows me to carry handle down from the back of my vest. Way easier than trying to manage a bungee cord lanyard around my neck, the way I used to do it.

 

[baileyoconnell]

O’Pros belated clip rod holder....a little expensive for what it is but works great.

 

[PennKev]

Bottle opener.

 

[Swattie87]

Anymore, it's one of my UL backpacking stoves. Good for having a hot meal streamside on an all day outing during colder weather.

I have two:

MSR Pocket Rocket - Good for boiling water for dehydrated meals, or coffee.

Firebox Nano - Mini wood burning stove. Better for actual cooking over a more moderate heat.

 

[DoctorWater15]

My Ty-Rite hook snare! I fish a ton of tiny flies, and this thing has made it so much easier to hold and spin the fly when tying them onto my tippet.