Brownliner gear is not for the dainty. It’s largely genetic and we’re proud to be social Visigoth’s, uncaring which fork goes with what dish, which sleeve to wipe our nose with – and how many minutes a food item can roll across the floor before it’s officially undesirable.

Our gear reflects that mantra, it’s neither showy or flashy, usually inexpensive, and hopefully rugged. I use serviceable tackle that I can afford to lose.

Wandering some creek in a farmer’s “south 40” may get me afoul of any number of situations, so I gear with that in mind. Issues associated with trespass are never simple – nor will it matter who is right, it’ll be you waist deep in water and him on the riverbank with plenty of rocks, a herd of milling bovines, or some dimwit nephew with a hard on to evict you.

I’m fishing in the rural-urban interface, a fancy term that means the city is close to the woods. Come Friday evening I can expect anything from the “high-powered rifle hatch” to the Gang-bangers with a yen for white-meat. All of them will be powered by Jack Daniel’s or Budweiser, and it won’t matter whether you have to defend yourself or cut and run, that rod is a liability.

My rod is a Fenwick Eagle Graphite 8.6″ for a 5 weight line. It was the rod I kept for clients to use when their tackle was poor quality, back in my guiding days. It cost $80 new (circa 1990), and throws a nice tight loop. The epoxy is lumpy, the guide trim is painted on, the reel seat is all metal, and it fishes smooth.

It has survived horrific damage, everything from my ample unguided posterior to a trolling motor battery dropped on it.

I am a control freak, one of those demon-possessed folks that white knuckle the passenger side arm rest if I’m not driving – naturally the suitable reel is “anything with a rim control.” I learned painfully that mechanical drags should never be tinkered with while playing a fish, so my fingers provide what the reel lacks.

My favorite is the Scientific Anglers System 7 made for SA by the Hardy Brothers of Alnwick, England. They also marketed these under the Hardy label, calling them the Hardy “Marquis.” The reel is the only expensive item I carry when Brownlining, as poor quality can handicap you badly if you’re lucky enough to hook a big fish. These have a butter-smooth simple ratchet and pawl drag that is augmented by my bruised knuckles.

For those interested in following suit, your tackle should be chosen by quarry and surroundings; sized for the quarry, and keep damn alert to your surroundings.

Brownlining ain’t for the faint of heart.

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