North 40 Fly Shop eMagazine September 2018 | Page 29

Have a throw rope, life jackets, and a throw
cushion with you. Most states require you to
have life jackets and the throw cushion, but not
all states require the throw rope. I always have
a throw rope in my boat that is close at hand. A
throw cushion is good but in moving water, a life
jacket is best. Plus, the throw rope is invaluable
to help retrieve someone out of the boat.
Also, I always have a serrated safety knife at the
ready near my anchor line. This is critical, if your
anchor comes loose in fast enough water, the
anchor could grab a rock suddenly and pull the
rear of the boat down quickly and flip it. This
happened to me once. I was able to cut the
anchor line in time, but we were seconds away
from a really bad day. So, it is a good idea to
carry a spare anchor and an anchor rope just in
case this happens.
A term most seasoned drift boaters know well
is, “high side.” This term refers to when the
boat may get high centered or stuck on a rock.
It can spell disaster if you don’t know what to do
and do quickly. If you come into this situation,
it is imperative that you get as much weight to
the opposite side of the “low” side of the boat or
side closest to the water as soon as possible. If
one side of the boat starts taking on water, it is a
matter of seconds before the boat will sink. So,
you will want to get yourself, and anybody else
in the boat, to the high side of the boat quickly.
Hopefully, this will keep the boat from taking on
water.
SUPPLIES & RIGGING
Making your boat comfortable and easy to use
will not only lead to a more enjoyable day on the
water but may increase your fishing success as
well. The comfort of knowing you are prepared
on the river lets you focus on the tasks at hand,
like fishing. Ask friends how they set their boats
up or research it online. There are dozens of
different ways to set up a boat.
Let’s cover some things that you should always
have in your boat and some ideas on how to rig
and supply your boat.
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