Viking Lars | Saturday, 1 June 2024
Among who knows how many small items I bring when fishing several days away from home, domestic or not, are a couple of repair kits. Three in fact, but the third is just a special key needed to open the brake system of the reels I use, a tube of silicone grease and a spare bearing, so that’s hardly worth showing. I bring a kit to repair pinholes and punctures in my waders and a kit to repair myself or a friend.
The wader repair kit won’t save the trip if I tear a big hole, but it certainly is useful. What’s in it? I use Gore tex waders, so all I need to locate holes is alcohol. Turning the waders inside out and applying alcohol pinholes and tears will reveal themselves as small, dark grey spots. So alcohol, glue, a brush and a big patch. I have AquaSure, which dries slowly (10 hours, but 3-4 in the sun will do) and a fast drying Bison glue (I need to order more). A small dab of glue over a pinhole, rub it in and with the fast trying Bison glue, I’m fishing (dry) again in 15 minutes. The AquaSure is better, since it dries softer. If I just a small seeping hole, I use AquaSure and let the waders dry over night. Tears can be fixed with the patch and it’s just like patching a bike tire. Smear glue (that’s what the brush is for) over the tear on an area a little larger than the patch and apply the patch (cut to size). Done - drying time also 10 hours (3-4 int he sun).
The fix-myself-or-a-friend-kit is of course just a small first aid kit. It won’t save lives, but if I fall, cut myself or get other small injuries, it doesn’t take much to make sure it doesn’t evolve. There are several things in there, everything is packed water tight and it takes up very little space. Small and medium sized bandaids, small compression pads, anti septic creme, q-tips, medical tape to better secure band aids, disinfection wipes and probably more that I can’t remember right now. Oh, pain killers of course.
I think that’s it. If I’m away for days, I never leave without these two kits.
Have a great weekend!
Lars