What can you carry onto a boat when lake fishing?

[Chris Puchniak]

When competitive fishing, I have read through many of the previous threads and seen some good ideas of what to bring with you in terms of redundant equipment - a spare rod, a back up net, padded seat, PFD, etc...  But how much can you actually bring with you on a boat for loch-style fishing (or whichever format the competition uses)?  Reading through the rules I haven't been able to find a specific restriction on how much gear you can bring - though I assume common sense dictates something.  If someone knows of a specific citation in the rules, I'd appreciate it if they could direct me there.

I am just wondering if the following types of equipment would be valid:

A gear bag the size of a typical "carry-on" bag - 20x12x10 inches?
A 2-piece fly rod in a 70-inch tube (pretty much a standard rod case for a 10-foot rod)?  Although its pretty typical in size, is this too long of a rod case?
An extra bag for spare clothes - such as rain gear, etc...?

Not having been in a competiton myself, I am not certain how much space you have between you, the competitor with you, and the controller.  Do any anglers use something as big as a duffel bag?

How much gear do some of you guys carry with you?

[Aaron Laing]

Space really depends on the boats assigned. In the Loch style events at the 2008 and 2010 Canadian Nationals boats ranged in size from 12-16'. In both cases the two competitors self-controlled.

Normally you have one rod assembled and another unstrung as a back-up. I think bringing a two piece back-up case on a 12' boat is probably a good way to piss off your boat mate, but I don't think there's anything in the rules regarding this.

The gear bag is a good size, but I really liked the Soldier Palmers boxes, which measured about 24x18x24 and often had wooden blocks on which you could place a rod holder (tough to describe really). I would skip on the extra gear bag for clothes--you're only out there for three hours (in the Nationals), and you can usually tough it out.

Leave the spare net at the hotel, but don't forget the seat padding (unless you like wiping your arse with sheets of 8.5x11 for a week after the event). An item I'll be adding in the next Loch style event is a stripping "tub" with about an inch of water in it.

Aaron

[Chris Puchniak]

Aaron, do you have a picture of the Soldiers Palmer boxes?  Sounds intriguing.  Any new options are of interest to me.

[Aaron Laing]

Aaron, do you have a picture of the Soldiers Palmer boxes?  Sounds intriguing.  Any new options are of interest to me.

No snaps, sorry. Perhaps you can ask Ronnie nicely and he'll send you a photo. Andrew suggested they were pretty common on the UK circuit.

Aaron

[Chris Puchniak]

Will do - and thanks for your tips.  Knowing what you can and cannot carry with you seems an issue much better to sort out before one approaches the competition rather than just before you step into the boat.

[Todd Oishi]

Aaron, do you have a picture of the Soldiers Palmer boxes?  Sounds intriguing.  Any new options are of interest to me.

Here's a shot I took while I was in Scotland, which shows the lay-out of a typical boat box that is used by many internationals...

[Aaron Laing]

Thanks, Todd.

...and to think that's only half of their spools. LOL!

[Chris Puchniak]

Thanks for posting that Todd.  I like th elayout.  Very simply done.  Yet uses space effectively.

They definitely carry a lot more lines than I do... more colours than a rainbow.