DIY — Put Your Wet Boots Here

by | May 16, 2018 | 5 comments

When my boots dry out I know it’s been too long since I’ve fished. Thankfully, they’re usually wet, so I like to have a good place to store them. Here’s an effective way to transport wet wading boots without draining creek water where you don’t want it.

I use a drawer from a plastic storage bin that I bought for $12 at Wal Mart a long time ago. That’s a small price to pay to keep my wife happy (enough) when I turn family visits into fishing trips by bringing fishing gear along.  She doesn’t want creek juice leaking onto the carpets of the van.  Yes, we have a mini van. No, I won’t try to defend it.  Let’s move on . . .

Update (May 2018): The van died an early death. The boys got older. And we bought a second SUV. So all is right in the world again.

 

 

The plastic bin fits perfectly atop the Rubbermaid container where I keep all my fishing gear, so they make a nice set. I think you could fit boots up to about a size 13 in one of these bins.

I find this system to be a far better solution than stuffing the boots in a bag and dealing with them later.

The plastic on these bins will crack if thrown to the ground, so don’t be a monster. Baby it a little and it’ll last. Oh, and I made mine fancy by cutting an old rubber floor mat to fit inside the bottom.

Not bad, eh?

 

Enjoy the day.
Domenick Swentosky
T R O U T B I T T E N
domenick@troutbitten.com

 

 

Share This Article . . .

Since 2014 and 1000+ articles deep
Troutbitten is a free resource for all anglers.
Your support is greatly appreciated.

– Explore These Post Tags –

Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

More from this Category

Fish and Film – Fishing Fall Streamers (VIDEO)

Fish and Film – Fishing Fall Streamers (VIDEO)

Nothing compares to actively fishing streamers and watching trout attack the fly. In early November, I found good streamer action in some favorite water. The takes were spotty enough that I had to work for them, but frequent enough that I could learn the preferences of the trout and dial in a presentation . . .

The Jerk Strip – Streamer Presentations VIDEO

The Jerk Strip – Streamer Presentations VIDEO

Moving the fly with the rod tip and not just the line hand is a fundamental skill that opens up many presentations that bring trout to a streamer.

The jerk strip is critical for any serious streamer angler. It’s a must-have skill for animating the fly — for selling the streamer to a fish. And it’s the baseline for what I think of as a jig strip, a twitch strip, a glide strip, a head flip and twitch, a lane change, and much more. At its core, the jerk strip is a hand off from left to right — it’s about moving the fly with the rod tip and then recovering with the line hand. In this way, the jerk strip sets the table for everything else . . .

Fishing Big Water – One Key Tip

Fishing Big Water – One Key Tip

Most anglers are tempted by big water. We fall for the trap. The river dares us to fish the far side, and it tricks us away from the things we do well.

. . . These are easy mistakes to make on big water. But discipline solves the problems. Actively planning and following through is an elusive quest with a fishing rod in hand. Most of us want to be creative. We want to follow our whims. The shady side of that boulder sure looks good, right? So why not make a few casts? Then fifteen minutes later, you’ve wasted time, energy and confidence with bad drifts and poor judgment . . .

Are Trout Selective About the Drift or the Position?

Are Trout Selective About the Drift or the Position?

Our small-window trout isn’t discriminating about the quality of drift, but it is picky about the location. And our larger window trout might be extra-selective about the quality of the dead drift, but it’s probably less picky about the exact location.

. . . Why did the trout eat the fly? Was it drifting naturally for a long distance, or did it enter the tight window of a waiting wild trout?

What do you think?

Be part of the Troutbitten community of ideas.
Be helpful. And be nice.

5 Comments

  1. What a great idea. I, and my family, appreciate it.

    Reply
  2. Alas, as I observed today, life has intervened , my boots are dry. Come to think of it, that’s a great indictor of activity. Also, the fit of that mat in the bottom of the drawer tells me a lot about your attention to detail and how you approach all things three dimensional in life. Check out Malcom Gladwell’s Revisionist History podcast “Hallelujah”. Are you a Picasso or a Cezanne? I trend toward the Cezanne school.

    Reply
  3. The non-defense of the mini van just brought a smile to my face

    Reply

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Articles

Recent Posts

Domenick Swentosky

Central Pennsylvania

Hi. I’m a father of two young boys, a husband, author, fly fishing guide and a musician. I fish for wild brown trout in the cool limestone waters of Central Pennsylvania year round. This is my home, and I love it. Friends. Family. And the river.

Pin It on Pinterest