Alternatives to vests

[overmywaders]

During the summer I find my dilapidated old fishing vest a bit too warm. This year I decided to try something new and wondered what others are using as an alternative to a vest.

A creel would, of course, be traditional. Say, I always wondered what you did with all your flies and gadgets once you had filled the creel with ferns and fish. When I was a pup I had a woven creel that hung from the side of my Herter's fishing vest and shared its fetid aroma with all the world. After a few uses, I experienced a dearth of fishing partners who would share a boat with me... I lost the creel.

Now I am going to try the photog bag I've been using for carrying my reels. I've loaded it with the contents of my fishing vest -- each fly box gets a nice padded partition. The shoulder strap seems a tad short, I'll need to work on that.

What have others used?

Best regards,
Reed
www.overmywaders.com

[Flyfish99]

I use an LL Bean chest pack with the cargo backstrap for much of my fishing. I can carry as much or more stuff than I could in my vest, and everything is more accessible. This time of year, most of my fishing is on a local tailwater. I only need a few patterns, as I know what the fish will be taking, so I use a small Orvis chest pack I bought on closeout for twenty bucks a number of years ago. It holds a large fly box, a spare leader, floatant, repellent, and a mini Maglite. Accessories and tippet material are hung on lanyards or zingers. I attatch the pack to my wading belt and wear it on my hip while folding down my waders to waist high. Works real slick on hot days.

[fessiewig]

Keep going guys, I'm listening.

[MJ]

Reed,

Unfortunately, my fishing vest feels a lot different when I'm fishing than when I first tried it on. (It would seem to make sense that retailers could provide a little weight when customers try on new vests.) Anyway, even with the built in yoke, the vest just isn't.....ahhhh....right. So, after reading your post, I took a bag I use when hunting and filled it with everything from my fishing vest, plus a bit more. The bag is a simple thing, much like the lightly insulated lunch bags many people now use, except this one is camo. It has a zippered top cover over the main storage compartment, a zippered external compartment on its front and two netted pockets on the bag's sides. It also has an adjustable web carrying strap. I haven't used in on stream yet, but I took it outside and did some lawn casting. I like it! Just as I do when hunting, I wore it over over my shoulder and across my chest as one would with a courier's pouch. Even with my wading belt w/wading staff holster, knife pouch and fishing net tucked in up against my back, the bag was out of the way. To access the bag, I simply swung it around to the front. Moreover, even with my rod tucked up under my arm, everything in it was in easy reach and quite manageable. In fact, the bag became like a little work platform. And, the bag only cost me $7.00! Again, I haven't used it in actual combat conditions yet; I'll do that this weekend. But, I am very confident it will work out quite nicely. Thanks for the inspiration.

[HarryM]

In the summer, I don't like to wear the extra material associated with a vest or even waders for that matter (I wet wade a lot), so I have been using a landyard. I will take a fly box with the patterns I want and put it in my shirt pocket. I use a tackle box and keep it on shore or in the car for any thing else I might need that I did not anticipate using. I've been wearing the landyard for a couple of years now and I really like it. Once the weather turns cool, I'll be back to the waders and vest.

[fessiewig]

I'm getting closer and closer. Keep going.

[sbeausol]

I use a chest pack with a front and back. The front part is located over my chest, and is compartnetalized. I keep 4 fly boxes, leader, tippet, etc in it with no problem. It folds down to create a small working area when I want one. The back is simple a zippered pouch that I keep spools, bug spray, sunglasses, and anything else. It works great. Doesn't get wet when I wade out deep and keeps me relatively cool...

[fessiewig]

Can you supply pack maker and model?

[dcs2]

I'm trying a lanyard for the first time this year. I bought some nice small fly boxes for only a few dollars at Hunters. They fit fine in the big pocket of a fishing shirt. This combination seems to work well for me.

[sbeausol]

coldwater packs, although I think they are out of business

Fish Pond also makes some nice setups:

http://www.fishpondusa.com/default.cfm

[fessiewig]

O.K. I'm gonna give it a shot. I have an old but relatively unused Orvis tackle bag / creel. It's green canvas and has some pouches on the outside for stuff with a large center pocket divided in half the long way. We'll see. I can see some advantages, but right now haven't figured out how to carry my net.

[petegas]

i have an orvis chest pack (seen here (http://www.orvis.com/store/product_choice.asp?pf_id=28TA&feature_id=&dir_id=758&group_id=781&cat_id=5093&subcat_id=6670&shop_id=)) its nice becuase it fits all my fly boxes, fits comfortably around my waist leaving my upper body free. also its good in the boat as all the pockets are top entry.
i also recenlty picked up a loon flack jacket (here (http://www.loonoutdoors.com/loongear.html)) for hiking, has just enough pockets and comes with a water bladder like the camel back back packs.

[fessiewig]

petegas,

Tell me more about the Orvis pak. I was looking at that on line. Can you use it as a chest pak or is it a fanny pak type rig only?

[petegas]

hey john, you can use them seperately or together. the front portion of the pack can be detached and used as a small chest back. i've never used that feature, i always leave the two portions connected and carry it around my waist. i've also gotten rid of the bottles that come with it, this allows me to carry more stuff in the large pocket in the back.
-pete

[fessiewig]

Yeah, I know you can detach the little pak. I was wondering if the whole thing could be used as a chest pak. I sometimes get as deep as my belt and a fanny pak wouldn't work for me unless I could get it up past belt high.

[petegas]

ahhh, i think you could potentially wear the whole thing as a chest pack when you get into deep water, however, i dont think the whole thing was made to wear anywhere than around your waist. when im in deep water either, fishing or making a crossing, i ususally just sling it over my shoulder.

[Jammin' Salmon]

I second the Fishpond vests. I've been field testing them for a while and they are great. I have the Open Range model that has molded pockets that have built in foam fly holders. These are removable and you can have extras on hand as well so you they serve just like a fly box. Fully adjustable and very well designed, made by fishermen for fishermen--highly recommend! You can buy them at North Country Angler in North Conway.
http://www.fishpondusa.com/

hope this helps-

Rick

[fessiewig]

I'm not slamming any particular manufacturer, but what's the difference between some of the models and a vest???? Oh yeah, there are no sleeves.

[fessiewig]

Last night I took all the stuff out of my vest and put it in my tackle bag / creel. I was surprised how little was actually in the vest. I would have thought, based on the weight of the vest, there would have been twice as much stuff in there. But there wasn't and everything fits nicely into the bag. The nice thing about the bag is you can wear it over your shoulder or around the waist. Deep wading it goes over the shoulder and for all the rest around the waist. My only bug-a-boo is what to do with the landing net. Still haven't figured that out. Anyone have any ideas?

[MJ]

John, regards your net, as you know, I keep mine tucked butt first in between my wading belt and back. Seems to work out just fine.

[MPSheets]

John,

I also have found that a net fits nicely, butt first, behind my wading belt. Additionally, I use an Edgin Handy Clip from Cabelas equipped with two lengths of braided leather (worn out eye-glass lanyards) tied to each end and attached to my belt and the handle of the net. After a couple of outings I found that ~ a foot of leather in total works best.

Regards,
MPSheets

[BirdFish]

You might want to consider one of the light-weight, quick drying guide shirts. These are great in the warm weather if you are going to be on the water for just a few hours. They have lots of pockets, can hold lots of accessories, long sleeves that can be rolled up, and keep you cool. Most of the local shops carry them.
Dave

[overmywaders]

Here is my camera bag ready to go. Leaders and tippet material are in the front pouch. There is still room for a sandwich and some bug dope in the main compartment. With all the closed cell foam padding, the bag should double as a life preserver.

http://www.overmywaders.com/extracts/bag1.jpg
http://www.overmywaders.com/extracts/bag3.jpg

[fessiewig]

Looks like you've got more than enough room in that bag. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with some additional items so you can fill the bag. Nature abhors a vacuum. :D You've inspired me, I'll take some photo's of my new set-up and post them as well.

[fessiewig]

O.K. Here is my Orvis Tackle Bag / Creel. Forget the Creel part cause I don't keep fish so I use the creel part as more tackle bag.

http://www.ffinh.com/kitbag1.jpg
http://www.ffinh.com/kitbag2.jpg
http://www.ffinh.com/kitbag3.jpg
http://www.ffinh.com/kitbag4.jpg

[Tom Jutras]

BW Sports has come out with a new "Sling Pack" this year that looks like it will do a great job. The pack has two sides one stays in front of you and the other is on your back. It simply rotates to swap the sides of the pack for easy access. I'm thinking of going with this setup for next year. I'm also tired of the heavy and hot vest.

[fessiewig]

Got a link to what it looks like or maybe some photo's?