This day isn’t what you intended: the sun has vanished; the hours are dull; and the water is wind-blown, forced to constant ripples and confusion. All fish seem to have disappeared, have tucked themselves beneath the surface. And you’ve been sitting in your boat for an entire afternoon with nothing but blisters and boredom to show for it.

You need relief. You need a reward. And trail mix offers that, providing the flavors you crave and the nutrition you need (keeping your thoughts sharp and your focus unwavering) — but only when it’s been created through good sense and food dehydrators.

Salt and trans-fat, cholesterol and sugar: store brand trail mix can be an unfortunate thing, providing saturated tastes and artificial energy. Its calorie counts are bested only by its expense; and its ingredients can baffle. Choosing to create your own mix is therefore considered the wiser alternative — especially for long days on the lake.

It’s an all too simple process to form your own foods: you merely must understand the flavors you want and the nutrition you need. Consider beginning with a peanut butter base for solidity. Stir in walnuts (which will provide amino acids and nitric oxide). Toss in granola kernels and butterscotch chips for texture, as well as fiber. And then add fruit, dried with the aid of food dehydrators. Peaches, apples and grapes are the most common selections and will provide sweet complements to any mix. Place the product into a container and let it settle. It will be ready by the time your stomach demands satisfaction.

Knowledge is power and forming your own mixes allows you to understand precisely what you’re eating. All ingredients reflect your needs; all flavors are chosen; and the result is a collection of polyunsaturated fats, antioxidants and potassium: which will make enduring slow moments on the water far easier.

Mix up your fishing trips. Gain nutrition without sacrificing taste — or vitamins.