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vest recommendations
- Thread starter C&R
- Start date
fcch
Salmo salar addict
C&R, ...
As you see, ... we answer questions with questions ...
$$$ ? You can get some pretty pricey vests out there.
If you drag around LOTS of stuff, ... (4 boxes of flies), ... do you need a BIG vest. Lots of pockets for lunch, rain gear, coffee, extra spools??
You can look into vest and packs.
I prefer a vest as it has MORE pockets for little stuff. I also drag around a kit bag and drop it on the beach. I have about a dozen fly boxes on some runs, so I keep 2-3 on me and the rest stays on the beach or in the canoe with the jackets, snacks, drinks, dawg etc.
Pricey vests from Simms, Pantagonia etc are nice. Make sure to bring you biggest fly boxes with you when you go shopping to make sure they fit into the proper pockets.
I took a while to find on. Zippers have to go the right way, on the proper side etc.
Mine has 16 pockets plus tippet slots on the inside for spools. 2 upper back pockets for extra spools. Built in retractors are nice, .. but not essential, as you can buy reasonable ones at Wally world.
My girlfriend has one which the back can zipper off to make a mesh back vest in arm weather. Personaly, ... I still haven't found full mesh vest that hangs right on me.
Take your time looking, ... vests are hard to fit and you'll have it for years and years.
Look for quality zippers, stitching and hardware.
As you see, ... we answer questions with questions ...
$$$ ? You can get some pretty pricey vests out there.
If you drag around LOTS of stuff, ... (4 boxes of flies), ... do you need a BIG vest. Lots of pockets for lunch, rain gear, coffee, extra spools??
You can look into vest and packs.
I prefer a vest as it has MORE pockets for little stuff. I also drag around a kit bag and drop it on the beach. I have about a dozen fly boxes on some runs, so I keep 2-3 on me and the rest stays on the beach or in the canoe with the jackets, snacks, drinks, dawg etc.
Pricey vests from Simms, Pantagonia etc are nice. Make sure to bring you biggest fly boxes with you when you go shopping to make sure they fit into the proper pockets.
I took a while to find on. Zippers have to go the right way, on the proper side etc.
Mine has 16 pockets plus tippet slots on the inside for spools. 2 upper back pockets for extra spools. Built in retractors are nice, .. but not essential, as you can buy reasonable ones at Wally world.
My girlfriend has one which the back can zipper off to make a mesh back vest in arm weather. Personaly, ... I still haven't found full mesh vest that hangs right on me.
Take your time looking, ... vests are hard to fit and you'll have it for years and years.
Look for quality zippers, stitching and hardware.
Eagle Claw
Trout Hunter
Try a shoulder bag from Creek Company, I use one and would not go back to a vest, its the size of a creel. My inventory I carry is Two large fly boxes, three to four medium fly boxes,3-4 tiny boxes, 15 packs of leaders,magnifying eye glasses, clippers,forceps,two fly patches,split shot,strike indicaters, two types of spray floatent,3 others floatants, decadent powder,12 different spools of tippet from 1x to 8 x,bug repellent,For safety:small air horn,small boat flare,wistle, room for my cell phone, and I could still get an extra reel into it.
It carries more than a vest, is more comfortable and totally out of the way. Do I carry too much, no doubt about it but thats me. Everything I need is there along with everything I dont need and no matter what I put in there is no more overall bulk around me.
It carries more than a vest, is more comfortable and totally out of the way. Do I carry too much, no doubt about it but thats me. Everything I need is there along with everything I dont need and no matter what I put in there is no more overall bulk around me.
Lucci
Master Baiter
Take a look at Columbia's vests. I have one and am real happy with it. The one I have has plenty of pockets--I carry six fly boxes with me (4 large ones), and I still have room for more boxes, tippet spools, a leader wallet, split shot, knife, honing stone, sunscreen, bug spray, etc., and there is a large back pocket where I carry rain gear, food, and water. Furthermore, it has 2 built in retratcors for my clippers and leader straightner, and a small pocket for a hemostat. It has a padded collar, is well built and sturdy (I have put it through hell), and best of all, it is not as expensive as other vests; I think I got it on sale for $50, but it was normally $80. I believe you can get them at Cabela's. Hope this helps.
fcch
Salmo salar addict
C&R, ...
Just a quick question
If you need to change vests to get 2 large fly boxes to fit, ... could you possible just change fly boxes (go to 6 medium instead of 4 large ones) ?
(Seeing as you like your existing one ...Getting used to a new vest isn't easy ... I had one given to me to test, ... and I just can't get around to it )
edit: Hit the wrong button, ... didn't mean to say Thanks to my own post
Just a quick question
If you need to change vests to get 2 large fly boxes to fit, ... could you possible just change fly boxes (go to 6 medium instead of 4 large ones) ?
(Seeing as you like your existing one ...Getting used to a new vest isn't easy ... I had one given to me to test, ... and I just can't get around to it
)edit: Hit the wrong button, ... didn't mean to say Thanks to my own post
Petergoodman
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
Vests
A couple others things to ask yourself. How deep do you wade? Some vests with lots of space are also long, and it is a pain to be always drying out fly boxes. I have a "short" Columbia vest I have had for years that has room for 4 medium boxes up front, and more behind. What background do you fish in front of? If out west a tan vest is great, but if stealth is an issue where you fish, and you are in wooded areas, maybe a darker color is better. And if you fish a lot in the hot sun, then a darker vest can fry you.
Be sure to try it on not only with all the boxes you would normally carry, but also with winter clothing - turtleneck, sweater, rain/wind jacket - otherwise you will find that your vest has shrunk once you get to late September.
A couple others things to ask yourself. How deep do you wade? Some vests with lots of space are also long, and it is a pain to be always drying out fly boxes. I have a "short" Columbia vest I have had for years that has room for 4 medium boxes up front, and more behind. What background do you fish in front of? If out west a tan vest is great, but if stealth is an issue where you fish, and you are in wooded areas, maybe a darker color is better. And if you fish a lot in the hot sun, then a darker vest can fry you.
Be sure to try it on not only with all the boxes you would normally carry, but also with winter clothing - turtleneck, sweater, rain/wind jacket - otherwise you will find that your vest has shrunk once you get to late September.
If you (general person) don't carry so much crap around, you can fit everything you need into the inside zip or velcro pocket in your waders. 1 fly box should have the flies you need for that day, an extra leader, some tippet material. If you absolutely must look like a christmas tree (or Dennis C.), and fit everything owned, every fly in 6 boxes, 8 spools of tippet, blah blah blah, get a small back pack.
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fcch
Salmo salar addict
Good point
FT, ...
I had a fellow with me last week who had a shooting pain between his shoulder blades.
I emptied almost everything out of his vest, ... no more pain.
I like to keep in my vest the few boxes of favourites, ... the rest stays on the beach in the kit bag (I'm getting old too).
FT, ...
I had a fellow with me last week who had a shooting pain between his shoulder blades.
I emptied almost everything out of his vest, ... no more pain.
I like to keep in my vest the few boxes of favourites, ... the rest stays on the beach in the kit bag (I'm getting old too).
dcabarle
Administrator
Well, if anyone deserves the equipment award, it would probably be me. I carry roughly 12 fly boxes with me because I'm a dope. The other day, I think I used 4 different flies. As you can see, there is no need to carry more than 1 box. Then again, there is one thing I can say... If it's hatching, I'll have it and I'll be prepaired!
What do we really need? Tippet Material, 1 box of flies, clippers, frog's fanny, and that should do it. I think a lanyard can handle that...
What do we really need? Tippet Material, 1 box of flies, clippers, frog's fanny, and that should do it. I think a lanyard can handle that...
C&R
trutta febris
Good stuff here. To answer some Qs:
I don't like to wade too deep. Brings back memories of my swim in Pulaski.
Colors don't matter to me, except for that awful orange that the Simms G3 comes in.
Come to think of it, that color would come in handy at the PA Gamelands.
The fly boxes I have are in fact small boxes:
One for my traditional dries, one for my nymphs/midges/tricos, one for streamers, and one with ugly looking things that I've tied up since I've started learning a month ago.
The problem is that I don't have real pockets, per se. I have shallow but wide zippered sections on both sides that once I put two fly boxes in and zip up, its really tight. So tight that sometimes I don't feel like zipping them up when I change a fly. Next thing you know I kneel down to land a fish and there goes a box.
I really like the non-orange G3 (from their website photo) so I'm gonna go try one out at Ramsey Outdoor soon.
And what's wrong with looking like a Christmas tree?
I don't like to wade too deep. Brings back memories of my swim in Pulaski.
Colors don't matter to me, except for that awful orange that the Simms G3 comes in.
Come to think of it, that color would come in handy at the PA Gamelands.
The fly boxes I have are in fact small boxes:
One for my traditional dries, one for my nymphs/midges/tricos, one for streamers, and one with ugly looking things that I've tied up since I've started learning a month ago.
The problem is that I don't have real pockets, per se. I have shallow but wide zippered sections on both sides that once I put two fly boxes in and zip up, its really tight. So tight that sometimes I don't feel like zipping them up when I change a fly. Next thing you know I kneel down to land a fish and there goes a box.
I really like the non-orange G3 (from their website photo) so I'm gonna go try one out at Ramsey Outdoor soon.
And what's wrong with looking like a Christmas tree?
Pete
Trout Hunter
PeterGoodman and Fly Tier have good points:
I started out with a large Orvis Tac-L-Pac with lots of capacity. It was fine until I started going to the Battekill and had to wade deep. Then sometime during the '70s...I got a Leonard "shorty" vest, and started keeping seperate boxes for each body of water.
My "lake vest" is actually a Stearns type III, life jacket with four pockets. Two of the pockets are too small for fly boxes.I manage with a 16 compartment Wheatly box and a streamer book.
More (smaller) boxes sounds like a good suggestion.
I started out with a large Orvis Tac-L-Pac with lots of capacity. It was fine until I started going to the Battekill and had to wade deep. Then sometime during the '70s...I got a Leonard "shorty" vest, and started keeping seperate boxes for each body of water.
My "lake vest" is actually a Stearns type III, life jacket with four pockets. Two of the pockets are too small for fly boxes.I manage with a 16 compartment Wheatly box and a streamer book.
More (smaller) boxes sounds like a good suggestion.
quality time
Just finished a River Runs Through it!
One more thought....
I have an LL Bean vest that fits like a glove, and I can find anything even in the dark after using it for over 5 years......large pockets, lanyards, the works. But what I like most about it is a built in watertight zippered pouch. I always put my wallet, keys and a small digital camera in it. This way, if I wade too deep (on purpose, or more likely accidentally ) these important items stay bone dry. I highly recommend this feature in any vest you get.
I have an LL Bean vest that fits like a glove, and I can find anything even in the dark after using it for over 5 years......large pockets, lanyards, the works. But what I like most about it is a built in watertight zippered pouch. I always put my wallet, keys and a small digital camera in it. This way, if I wade too deep (on purpose, or more likely accidentally
) these important items stay bone dry. I highly recommend this feature in any vest you get.
Scott
Salmo salar Sebago finatic
Dennis I'm proud of you. The path to a cure is first admitting you have a problem!dcabarle said:
I got a Hodgeman's vest a couple of years ago - because it was the only one with velcro flaps for the outer pockets, and I always seemed to get my leader wrapped up & stuck in the zipper thingys on my old Columbia vest.
Scott
Salmo salar Sebago finatic
I'm sure that's fine where you fish a pool then pack up & head for the next one, but the way I fish I wade in, and work my way upstream (or down) until it's time to go home. I've hiked up to around a mile - maybe more - or so back to my truck (in the dark - Lion, tigers, & bears O my), after a day of fishing.fcch said:
So when wading up through a pool 100 yards long, the last thing I want to do is wade back & pick up luggage!
C&R
trutta febris
I tried on a few vests at Ramsey today. Didn't care for any of them. Most notable ones were the Simms G3 and River Master vests. I briefly felt like Batman with his utility belt when I put them on. What I didn't care for about those two vests were the rigid pockets. Some might like this, but I didn't really care for it. Ideally I would like my vest to have four deep collapsable pockets, side-by-side, two on each side of the vest, with each pocket having a small velcro patch to secure its contents. I didn't like the Simms vests because they had a really large pocket on both sides with a smaller pocket on top of it. That would make the vest too bulky for me. And I don't really care for zippered pockets so that eliminated most of the other vests I looked at. Chest packs and waist packs are not my thing and that was evident when I tried one on.
Being that I wasn't able to find a vest to my liking, I decided to go to Plan B. I bought 6 small fly boxes to replace my 1 large and 3 medium boxes. I put three boxes in each side of my vest and everything fits perfectly with room to spare. Now I have to rearrange my fly collection tonight with the new boxes. Problem solved.
By the way, am I the only one that does this because I'm lazy? When changing a fly, I'll first decide what I want to tie on, then open that fly box, snip off the old fly, place it in the open fly box, close the fly box, then tie on the new fly. However, the old fly belongs in a different fly box. At the end of a fishing trip my flies are all over the place and I have to "reset" them. Might be more of a problem now with 6 boxes.
Being that I wasn't able to find a vest to my liking, I decided to go to Plan B. I bought 6 small fly boxes to replace my 1 large and 3 medium boxes. I put three boxes in each side of my vest and everything fits perfectly with room to spare. Now I have to rearrange my fly collection tonight with the new boxes. Problem solved.
By the way, am I the only one that does this because I'm lazy? When changing a fly, I'll first decide what I want to tie on, then open that fly box, snip off the old fly, place it in the open fly box, close the fly box, then tie on the new fly. However, the old fly belongs in a different fly box. At the end of a fishing trip my flies are all over the place and I have to "reset" them. Might be more of a problem now with 6 boxes.
Pete
Trout Hunter
I used to use Fleece or foam "drying patches" pinned to my vest. Then you put the used fly on the patch, and return it to it's proper box later.
I don't do that anymore, unless I'm in a hurry... Barbless hooks fall off, barbed hooks tear up the patch (and sometimes fall off too).
I usually just take the time to mess with two boxes. This can be minimized by sorting boxes by "body of water", rather than by dry vs wet vs nymph & etc.
I don't do that anymore, unless I'm in a hurry... Barbless hooks fall off, barbed hooks tear up the patch (and sometimes fall off too).
I usually just take the time to mess with two boxes. This can be minimized by sorting boxes by "body of water", rather than by dry vs wet vs nymph & etc.
Scott
Salmo salar Sebago finatic
The purpose of a drying patch is just that, to provide a place in the open where flies can dry. Putting a waterlogged fly into a box & closing it will result in trapped moisture, and soon you will find all your hooks rusting away, even flies you've never used.
Trust me on this, I tossed around $150 worth of dries once because of this issue. I use a wool drying patch, because as it gets fuzzy I can give it a hair cut. They last for years, and provide airspace under the flies so they dry faster.
I clean all the flies off the patch about once a month, more if it gets crowded. I usually harvest my patch first when fishing, then head to the boxes if nothing is there I want.
Trust me on this, I tossed around $150 worth of dries once because of this issue. I use a wool drying patch, because as it gets fuzzy I can give it a hair cut. They last for years, and provide airspace under the flies so they dry faster.
I clean all the flies off the patch about once a month, more if it gets crowded. I usually harvest my patch first when fishing, then head to the boxes if nothing is there I want.
cingras53
Trout,striper and grouse hunter
I use a "flytrap" that allows the flies to dry and you can't knock the flies off in the process. At the end of the day (or night) I return the dried flies back to the proper box. If I know which flies I will be using that day I put the flies in the trap and open the lid whenever I change flies. I think it retails for $19. Whenever I used the wool patch I lost some of the flies during the drying process.
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