Fishing Adventures in Remote Locations: What You Need to Know

As Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz once said, before closing her eyes and clicking the heels of her ruby slippers, “There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.”

While it’s true—fishing your home waters and the ole standbys instill confidence and a certain sense of comfort and safety—there’s something to be said for getting out of your element to truly feel alive. Whether it’s a rare fish you’re seeking, an exotic, off-the-beaten-path destination on the bucket list—or even better, both—discovering different species in remote fishing locations brings out the adventurous side in every angler.

Challenges & Rewards of Remote Fishing

Fishing in remote, less-explored locations certainly has challenges—from long, tiring treks with minimal services, comforts, or conveniences to language barriers, difficulty communicating, and adjusting to time changes and different climates. But it also has big rewards, including fewer crowds and competition, healthier waterways and species that have not been overfished, and the pure excitement of catching a new type of fish in a different environment that you truly had to work for in order to reel in the reward. 

Then there are the things that can be both a blessing and a curse. What’s one of the worst parts of wilderness fishing? No Wi-Fi. No GPS. No cell service. You are on your own. Good luck. What’s one of the best parts of adventure fishing? No Wi-Fi. No GPS. No cell service. You are on your own—and loving it. Sure, disconnecting can make the usual things more inconvenient, but it can also allow you to be in the moment, better connect to your surroundings, and set your mind free from notifications, texts, calls, and the latest disturbing news headlines to focus on your passion in peace without any distractions.

Essential Gear for Remote Adventures 

The good news about many of the challenges with remote fishing is that fishing far from home can be made much easier with the right outdoor gear. Think travel rods, slim packable fly boxes, solar chargers for cell phones, adapters for foreign outlets, air tags to track luggage, transparent packing cubes to organize gear, bug-repellent clothing with UV protection, waterproof bags, collapsible hats, and polarized fishing sunglasses to reduce glare and see more clearly into the water and the creatures and structures within it.

Bajío Sunglasses are the ideal companion for remote outdoor adventure, providing high-quality, durable yet lightweight fish spotting shades that combat glare, enhance visibility, protect from UV rays and bad blue light, and stand up to the rigors of travel with durable lenses and oleophobic, scratch resistance coatings. Also available in Prescription and Readers, Bajío offers lenses made for every type of light and various weather conditions—whether you are fishing for Taimen (River Wolves) in Mongolia, in search of rainbows on the Upper Nushagak in the remote streams off Alaska’s Bristol Bay, going for bonefish on the flats off Christmas Island, or chasing tiger fish on the Ruhudji River in Tanzania.

Preparing for a Remote Fishing Trip 

When headed out into the wild, fishing trip preparation is key. In addition to your usual rod, reel, fly box, waders (unless you’re wet wading), wading boots, hat, sunglasses, rubber net, pliers, nippers, forceps, flotant, extra tippet and spare line, fishing travel requires a fair bit of homework. 

A few helpful fishing tips when preparing for a remote trip are to: research your location (what are the regulations and limits, where are the public access points, parking areas and driving directions); read more about the species you are fishing for (this will determine what equipment you’ll be using from rod weight and line to flies); find out typical weather conditions for the time of year you are going (and pack accordingly); acquire any necessary licenses (or find out how to obtain them upon arrival); invest in a map (in case your GPS does not work where you’re going); line up transportation and lodging; make sure your passport is up to date and make copies of it to leave with a trusted friend in case you lose it (some countries require travel to be completed six months before your passport is due to expire); get trip insurance and additional medical insurance that includes helicopter evacuation in case of emergency; and use social media and search engines to pre-connect with locals or guides for any insider info. 

You’ll want to think of your adventure a bit like a hiking or backpacking trip—travel light, but make sure you have the essentials in case you get stuck somewhere. This includes an adequate supply of water, a first aid kit, non-perishable food (energy bars work well), sunscreen, and camping gear, if applicable. If you go with a guided outfit, the company will do most of the above for you. But if you’re DIY fishing, you need not forget any of these details.

Adventure Awaits

Adventure awaits in the wilderness waterways of the world—from Tierra del Fuego to Australia’s Wessel Islands at the tip of the Northern Territory. Come prepared with solid research, a thoughtful packing list, and a pair (or two) of Bajíos tailormade for the light and conditions of your special destination. Find your invaluable fishing travel tools here and see remote fishing in a new light.