After last weekend's fiasco leaving my wallet and water at home, my sunglasses in my truck, too, I decided it was time to revise and USE my check off list.

No, I won't carry all of this every time out, but it'll take just a few seconds to run down the list to make certain I have everything needed that day.

Adds?

Brad

Good idea. It usually takes me a trip or two to dial in the items that I really need or that I have forgotten.

Most commonly left items for me:

Sunglasses left in truck
Did leave my paddle in the garage one time--I always just leave it in my truck, but had removed it to find something and forgot to put it back in the truck.

I'll add one item to the check list
--extra 3 amp fuse for fish finder--drove 2.5 hours out to a far East Texas lake only to find my FF fuse blown (the fuse holder had gotten some water inside, so when I powered on the FF, it blew the fuse)

Waterproof-case for cellphone

Fish finder and battery (preferably charged).
Fishing license, which I now keep in my PFD pocket
Seat, if removable. I forgot the seat on my Hobie Revo one time and it was NOT a comfortable day without it.

I used to carry my yak upside down on top of my truck cap, meaning I couldn't have any of my stuff in the yak. I built a bed extender, which allows me to keep almost everything in or on my kayak: Seat, with five Plano tackle boxes attached, landing net, paddle, three rods and reels, anchor and line, scupper plug/valves, Soft catch bag with fresh water bottle, red flag for stern, bump board, [censored] bottle. I roll the yak up to the bed extender T-bar, slide it in the truck, pick up the caddy(training) wheels, throw them in the truck, and go. Now I get to the launch with everything. The only thing I don't have IN the yak is a bait bubbler bucket, if I'm using live bait. All I have to remember is to spray me down with sunscreen! IslandJim

Stringer. If I forget it I will catch loads of crappies

21) A pretty girl fishing partner who knows where the fish are and who's kayak has the beer cooler

They are overrated and will only slow you down.

Not to mention, very distracting!

Seems like a decent list. Paddle, seat, PFD, poles and tackle would be my absolute minimum. I could survive without the other things.

Brad - Why do you pack the extra PFD?

I wear a manual inflatable all year round, carry an extra (non inflatable) on deck during the winter and early spring or if I'm going to be crossing big water far from launch. Never know when you might need it or someone else needs help.

Matty, I have a really high quality Stohlquist PFD that I wear, so I throw a cheap orange PFD in the front hatch and pile things on it. Less rattling around and they weigh next to nothing.

Oh! Just in case someone else forgets their own, needs a loaner.

*** Somne good "adds." I have a metal stringer for crappie and if I ever go out and target them, or white bass, that'd be another to add to the list.

Brad