Those Hard to Reach Places

Much of fishing success depends on access. Having the right boat can help. Sometimes a jet boat may get you there, other times floating quietly in a kayak is the ticket. When fishing from shore, hip boots or waders can help you reach deeper water and get past shoreline vegetation.

But sometimes, locations are a little tricky. And like casting, not only do you have to get there, but to have a memorable fishing trip for the right reasons, you also have to return.

Keith Sutton, author of “Out There Fishing,” used a tree to help fish a location in a flooded jungle in Brazil. It worked great except that his guide thought it was amusing to drive the boat out of sight and leave him up there for a while.

I’m not much for heights or rappelling but always carry a rope in the truck for scaling steep river banks. If the fish are there, I need to be there too.

When exploring those hard to reach places, stay safe. Go slowly, wear a life jacket, and always have a fishing buddy. Make sure that the adrenaline rush and excitement is due to the fishing only.