Scott,

I will take your advice on the fly fishing recommendation. I am taking a class this spring and I already have an ultralight fly rod that I can use.

Thanks for the advice about the lanyard also. I will try that.

I do have a knife that I forgot to put on my list. It is a Kershaw Scallion that weighs 2.3 oz. I have used it to clean fish before and it works quite well.

I may eventually go without the fishing gear and use hand line, but there is just something therapeutic about casting a line into a mountain lake or stream:).

Thanks for taking the time to give me your advice!