Are you really ready to go fishing?
Before leaving to go fishing, the last question I ask myself is: “How are my F-DABs?” or “How are my Fishing DABs?”
F-DABs is a simple acronym with much importance. It’s a mnemonic like ROY-G-BIV (Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.)
An entire fishing trip can become unpleasant if the F-DABs aren’t minded ahead of time.
Save yourself future annoyances by asking yourself about your F-DABs, or Fishing-DABs, before you go fishing.
F-DABs - FOOD
Food : Any fishing shift that is more than 2 hours ought to have a snack for each person. High protein and high fat trail mixes, granola bars, and chocolates are great choices. These foods pack a lot of energy without taking up much space. Portion out the food rations ahead of time so you don’t end up carrying too much weight and/or using up much space.
TIP: You’ll need a trash bag not just for your food packages but also line you’ll cut off when tying rigs and other items.
F-DABs - DRINK
Drink : A water bottle should be an accessory on any fishing trip. Even in cold weather hydration is important. Whatever your choice of drink, just make sure you bring plenty.
When ice fishing and/or fishing in the winter, a thermos with a hot drink will help you stay warm. Some fishers prefer to bring some cold beers as their beverages of choice; just keep in mind that some bodies of water do not permit alcoholic beverage usage along a shoreline and/or on a boat. Check the local regulations/signage.
No matter the state, it is illegal to operate a boat while intoxicated.
For areas that require hiking a long distance and being far from the amenities of running water, bring a small water purification device and/or tablets to make potable water.
F-DABs - ACCIDENTS
Accidents: Any outdoorsperson knows that the wild offers a lot of rewards while remaining a sometimes-dangerous place. As fishers, we are always tossing around sharp hooks and dealing with creatures with sharp spines. We often fish on unstable terrain and deal with numerous other obstacles. Water, in and of itself, is quite dangerous. Be prepared:
Medical Kit - It’s important to have, at the very least, a medical kit with items that can clean and patch a small wound. Medical kits can be packed with a variety of items. You need to decide what is worth being in your kit.
Cell Phone / Back Up Battery - Definitely have a cell phone ready in case of emergency. For deep fishing treks outside of the range of cell towers, bring a satellite phone, at least one offering a GPS emergency signal. An extra power source, like a small portable rechargeable battery, is encouraged in case a phone dies.
Tell People Where You’re Fishing - Before you head out, just tell someone you trust about your fishing location and how long you plan on being there. This notification is a courtesy to your loved ones and, one day, may very well get you out of a tough spot.
F-DABs - BUGS
Bugs: A bit of bug spray is recommended anytime you’re outdoors during the warmer months. Mosquitos are the ubiquitous annoyance in most terrains. Horse flies, ticks, and chiggers are also top annoyances. Not only are these small animals annoying, these creatures are capable of spreading diseases.
For most all of my field work (not just fishing) I pretreat my clothes in permethrin compounds. Just make sure to really wear protective gear when applying the compounds to your clothes. Treat gear outside, wear eye protection, wear a respirator, and keep your pets away from the clothes until fully dry—it’s a very toxic mixture. I’ll usually only do this treatment two times over the course of the entire spring, summer, and fall. In the winter, the insects/arachnids/bugs aren’t a worry, at least here in the more temperate latitudes.
Often, I’m having to get into the water. I don’t wear any toxic chemicals when I do this as I do not want to contaminate the aquatic system. Instead, to protect myself from bugs, I wear a couple layers of thin, breathable clothing.
F-DABs - SUN
Sun (Weather): The last part of our acronym really should be thought of as “weather” but a “w” at the end of “F-DABW” just doesn’t flow off of the tongue like F-DABs.
Prepare for whatever weather might occur during your fishing expedition. In the warmer months, this means wearing high SPF light clothing and applying sunscreen. Colder months require more clothing and still may require sunscreen. A hat is practical year-round as well as polarized sunglasses. Water reflects UV light, so just because you might be protected from the sun from above, keep in mind that the UV light bouncing off of the water will also get you.
Polarized sunglasses are also a must for any fisher as they allow us to see into the water with more clarity. A cheap, foldable raincoat is also nice to have with your gear in case of a sudden downpour.
TIP: Get a trustworthy weather app on your smartphone and set the notifications to warn you of any impending storms. If the weather could flip on you, just make sure not to be too far from a boat launch, your vehicle, or somewhere safe. I frequently check the NOAA/NWS doppler radar to see how weather patterns are changing. I also suggest that you have a backup power source with you to charge your smartphone.
The adjacent image shows a line of tornadoes that appeared in the United States while I was on a fishing trip in 2025. I was monitoring the radar all day, making sure I could safely access shelter when needed.
Thunder/Lightning : Never fish if you see lightning and/or hear thunder. A safer option is to put down any rods and get to a safe place. Lightning can extend many miles from its point of origin in the sky down to the ground/water. Depending on the composition of the rod, the rod may also act as a lightning attractant. A cousin of mine had his rod start shocking him when the thunder clouds were not even over his head; gladly he took the hint and dropped his rod before motoring to the boat launch with haste. I know of a high school runner that died from a lightning strike that began 14 miles away in the sky. It’s better to be safe than sorry when lightning is a possibility.
NEXT: BASIC GEAR
