Are You Thinking About What You're Drinking Before and During your Fishing Trip?

As anglers, you make all the necessary preparations for a fishing trip, although missing out on one important detail can happen. Did you pack the right kinds of drinks for your trip?

In this article, we will talk about which drinks to avoid and which ones to consume to be in your best shape during your trip. Consuming the wrong kind of drink may result in seasickness, the very thing you don't want to experience while you're out at sea. A bathroom break is also out of the question during a fishing trip, so you need to choose your beverages wisely. This doesn't only mean what you drink while you're already out fishing, but also the day before you go on a trip. Some beverages have natural diuretics and people with sensitivities may experience effects that can last for more than one day. 

Avoiding drinks that contain dairy and possible allergens may be a good idea. A stomach upset or allergies are guaranteed to ruin your fishing trip. So if you want to be in the best condition, take a look at some of the drinks we recommend and ones you should stay away from.

Drinks You Should and Shouldn't Have Before and During Your Fishing Trip

1. Your magic drink, simply, is clean water. 

Our favorite word is hydration. While we don't recommend drinking too much water during your trip, hydrating days before you go on a fishing trip will ensure that you will have a good balance in your body fluids. We can't stress enough about how important water is. Still, more than just proper hydration, water also helps maintain blood pressure, boosts the body's performance during an activity, and regulates body temperature. So while you wait for your flounder or salmon to bite, take small sips of water and continue doing so throughout the day.

2. Bring your sports drink for a long day.

Health experts have a love-hate relationship with sports drinks because of the extra sugars and calories in them. Most of the time, hydration is solved by water alone unless you're losing too many electrolytes because of continuous activities, especially under the sun. Sports drinks replenish electrolytes in the body and help in reducing fatigue.  Anglers who compete take them to avoid muscle cramps and also to give them added energy throughout the competition. Having sports drinks onboard is not a bad idea. They will come in handy if you will be out fishing for a long period of time. 

3. Leave the spoon, but take the soup.

The argument of whether soup is a food or a beverage is over. In the last few years, bottled soup or “sipping soups” have sprouted in markets. These are vegetable broth conveniently packed in bottles so you can take them with you anywhere. If you're looking to have a nourishing drink that also staves off hunger, then you might want to try these. If you prefer the classic homemade broth packed in a thermos, it will benefit you just as well. 

4. Ditch the caffeine.

Well, yes, even just for this trip. Some of you might object to this one, especially if you're going on an early fishing trip. A cup of coffee may not be a bad idea, but more than that, you might find yourself needing the bathroom more often than you want to. Fishing trips and bathroom breaks don't go well together. Coffee is a diuretic drink that you should consider skipping or taking minimally before and during your trip. And again, hydration is key, and coffee is not going to help with that.

5. Drop the pop.

Soda is a convenient drink to carry with you on a fishing trip. A can of soda, however, is loaded with sugar. A 12-ounce can of soda, on average, has 39 grams of sugar. That is a lot of sugar. The energy you're going to get from a can or two won't last long. You will find your energy crashing after a few hours. It's not rocket science; it's just what sugar does to the body. Sodas can also leave you dehydrated.

6. Leave the alcohol at home.

It may be tempting to bring alcoholic beverages on a trip, especially if you're going out fishing with your buddies. An ice-cold beer sounds like a good idea when you're out there under the heat of the sun while waiting for a bite. Waiting for your first catch can take many hours, so, like a lot of people, you may also find that alcohol is great company while passing the time. 

There are excellent reasons why we want you to think about this again. One, alcoholic beverages can leave you dehydrated. Staying under the sun for hours while having your ice-cold beer - tempting as it may sound - is a combination guaranteed to give you dehydration. Two, alcohol affects your balance, and falling overboard, we presume, is not part of your plan. Three, alcohol is considered a boating stressor along with noise, wind, glare, and motion of the water; all these lead to a phenomenon called boater's hypnosis. 

Wait to celebrate your catch. Save your beers for when you've caught your tuna or red snapper.  And if it's not your lucky day, grabbing a beer is not a bad idea. Just wait until you have reached home. 

You have to keep in mind that you have to be in tip-top condition to make your fishing trip successful. You can avoid fatigue, muscle cramps, dehydration, headaches, and nausea if you mind what you're drinking before and during your trip. Your gear needs taking care of, and so does your body.