Packing For Overnighters.

[Al Agnew]

Campfires are great, but on popular rivers, finding firewood is often a problem. I'd rather not spend a lot of time crawling through the brush (and possibly trespassing) to find firewood that escaped the notice of the hundred other people who wanted to build a campfire on that gravel bar. So I don't plan on having a campfire for cooking on the popular rivers. If I happen to stop on a bar that does have handy wood, then I'll build a fire, but I don't depend upon that.

Hank, I have a DEEP aversion to radios on the river, period. If my partner or partners insist upon a radio, that'll be the last time I go with them. And Christmas tree lights? You gotta be kidding! That's only for old retired people in huge motor homes at the KOA.

[Mitch f]

Hank, I have a DEEP aversion to radios on the river, period. If my partner or partners insist upon a radio, that'll be the last time I go with them.

Yep, nothing worse than the locals pulling up to a gravel bar with the tailgate down opening up the doors and blasting heavy-metal music! Maybe they can't afford headphones!

[hank franklin]

Al, I completely understand your aversion to radios on the river, and in general I feel the same way. We NEVER have it on during the day or on the water at all. I cant stand that either and if a partner inisted on it I too would never do that again.

The only time we pull the radio out is late in the evening, after dinner, and the only purposes are Cardinals ballgame or old-time country music. WSM out of Nashville, Grand Ol Opry, is our favorite. We've also picked up some good country gospel. Several years ago Houston MO had an FM station that played country oldies, some of it just crazy backwoods stuff. Awesome. We play it real low so that's it kind of background music to the night sounds.

I'm sure I'm not converting you but I do love my Grand Ol Opry on the gravel bar.

Regarding campfires, we've never had a problem finding wood. Summer fires are simple and don't take much more than some scattered deadfall. In winter we will pick less traveled spaces and also bring backup (wood purchased along the way) if need be.

[hoglaw]

One of my favorite campfire meals is a big honking steak and a potato. I always save the leftover steak for skillet fried potatoes with steak and eggs for breakfast burritos the next morning.

On my engagement float, we pre-made foil packs with meat and veggies for dinner, and with breakfast sausage saturated with egg and onions for breakfast the next morning. Those pack up really nicely. The dinner one worked out great, but the breakfast one didn't do as well. Really didn't need as much heat for the breakfast pack.

[Greasy B]

I have a DEEP aversion to radios on the river, period.

I agree but did make an exception with the playoff game Saturday. We listened on a tiny hand crank radio. As soon as the game started the fish turned on. As the game progressed the action just got faster and faster and peaked out at the ninth inning. Just as Mike Shannon declared it a winner the sun went over the hills and the action stopped. It was kind of magical.

[Terrierman]

My Ipod in a little battery powered speaker box goes river camping with me. Bluegrass and good old classic country, some good whiskey, the river, my old dog laying by the fire. If that offends anyone, well, that's just too bad and your loss not mine.

Also I always cook, even if it's just a bratwurst on a stick. Part of the deal for me.

Put down one more vote for the Sealline dry bags.

[Flysmallie]

He is going on a fishing trip, not a camping trip. He has very limited space. If he was going camping I would agree.

They are one in the same to me. If I'm floating and fishing I might as well be camping too and for that I'm going to need some real food.

And there should be a law against sleeping on a gravel bar without a campfire.

[Chief Grey Bear]

They are one in the same to me. If I'm floating and fishing I might as well be camping too and for that I'm going to need some real food.

And there should be a law against sleeping on a gravel bar without a campfire.

I don't disagree. But I float on a 17 ft barge too. Not a play boat. I have a ton more room to haul stuff.

I love cooking over a campfire too. I can't decide if I like dinner or breakfast better. They are both awesome from the gravel bar.

There nothing better than a campfire. But over here wood is everywhere along the river. Any gravel bar will have plenty for a fire without having to trespass. That ain't so true east of highway 65.

[Gavin]

The 17' canoe...really is the perfect extended float boat...shy of a jon....We usually bring at least two chain saws on winter floats...We get the wood that that summer campers don't have the need for (or the means to get with hand tools). My folding bucksaw works great for a small group...A bag of match light charcoal works great for a solo trip...just enough for two nights..or a small bag for one night. No wood needed...instant fire.

[Flysmallie]

That's the reason I float a barge too. I like lots of stuff apparently.