Picture: Alex Stulce
For the previous 5 – 6 years I’ve been an ardent supporter of the chest pack because the premier strategy to carry and retailer sort out whereas on the water. I’ve by no means appreciated sling packs, backpacks are too unwieldy, and all of the vests I’d worn in my earlier fly fishing years weren’t nice for my again, neck, and shoulders.
My present chest pack is on its final leg of life, although, and I’m not enamored with the opposite choices in the marketplace. So, I made a decision to revisit the fly fishing vest, principally to see if any modifications had been made within the years I give up carrying them.
I’ll have an in-depth have a look at a number of new vests popping out shortly, however within the meantime, I’ll simply say this: fly fishing vests have made some respectable leaps prior to now decade, and I feel I’m switching to 1 full-time.
Decrease Profile
The principle purpose I’m stepping away from chest packs is my love affair for hen wings and all the opposite unhealthy meals that’s led to me placing on a number of (learn: manner various) kilos. The vest is a decrease profile strategy to haul my sort out to the river, and I really feel much less like a doddering hippo than I do when carrying a chest pack.
On prime of that, my fly line has much less alternative to catch on the vest because it’s nearer to my physique than the chest pack. It’s already led to noticeably fewer cases of grumbling and complaining whereas choosing fly line off zipper pulls or tippet caddies.
Elevated Storage
A chest pack is nice for anglers who wish to take a minimalist strategy to the water, since they’re so typically smaller than vests or slings. However even with that minimalist strategy, you continue to want some spools of tippet, cut up shot, indicators, spare leaders, floatant, nippers, your fishing license, and a few flies. Vests have extra storage room than chest packs on common. It’s a bit extra organized, as properly, because of the bevy of pockets on a vest in comparison with a chest pack.
Mild and Breathable
After I was nonetheless utilizing vests, the fabric was thick and didn’t breathe properly. Sure, there have been some mesh vests in the marketplace then, however they had been both cost-prohibitive, lacked sufficient storage, or the mesh was of poor high quality that seemingly wouldn’t stand as much as lengthy days on the water. Of the vests I’ve not too long ago been making an attempt, all of them are mesh-based and splendidly gentle and breathable.
I’m excited to place these vests to extra use within the coming months and see if my inclination to ditch chest packs seems to be the proper transfer.
