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Vest or Chest pack?
I remember a time when a vest was pretty much the only option. My problem was that I could rarely easily find what I needed even though certain flies/boxes were in certain pockets. I just seemed to always pack just too much gear...extra spool and line, too many fly boxes, too many floatants and sink, thermometer , hook remover, pliers for turning down the barb, leaders , tippet spools, jack knife, rain jacket, Candy bar...it was endless.
Then I switched to a Richardson chest pack. I had so many flies stuffed into the compartments that I couldn't pull out a single fly with pulling out a bunch. This year I tried a William Joseph Mae West type whatever you call it and really cut down on the number of fly boxes etc. I have made up boxes with only a half dozen patterns that should be on the water. It seems to be working but I still have to get used to the figure I cut with those two big pockets sticking out in front of me like they do.
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Not too long ago I got a William & Joseph Mini Chest Pack II and I LOVE it...I don't wear it like a chest pack, what I do is wear it on my hip sorta...it's hard to explain really http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/wink.gif
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"GET THE DRIFT?"
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I recently made the switch from vest to chest pack. I have a small JW Outfitters chest pack that I got in a trade with duckwhacker. It has helped me to cut down on a lot of the extra stuff that I used to carry.
Steve
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"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went"-Will Rogers
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I'd love to hear more opinions regarding chest packs...I've thought about making the switch, but would like to know about the experiences of others.
Thanks.
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Neither. I use Fishpond's Blue River lumbar pack. So far, so good.
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Vest for fresh, lumbar pack for the salt...
Chest packs do not work very well with female anatomy.
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Out of the three options I've tried so far, I much prefer the Lanyard. I quess I've turned into a minimalist. I just put a small dry box and wet box in my pockets, and the rest goes on the lanyard. I've found the vest to be too much, and the chest pack too visually impairing. I seriously need to see the stream bed, and with my build, wearing a chest pack is like wearing blinders.
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He Knocks. You Only Have To Ask.
Joe
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I use both! I put on the william joseph mini ll for warm water and hot weather and vest for cold and trout fishing. I like to carry more than I need but the mini chest pack does not let me. I am learning to live with less especially when you end up using only 4 or 5 different patterns all day and you just happened to bring over 100 or so.
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You can't catch fish with your fly in the air!
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I have the tendancy to look like a Cabela's and Hodgman advertisement!! I spend as much time figuring out which pocket I put it in as I do fishing!! I am re-thinking what do I really need!? As I aquire more experiance in this sport I will definatly cut down on what I take to the stream. Heck I'm normally only a 15-20 min. trip back to the camp anyway most times and need another cola, snack, etc anyway.
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I feel more like I do now than I did when I got here!
Cactus AKA "Lucky Dog (Pirate Name)"
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inflatable pfd with 2 chest pockets. gotta be safe on the water
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roger
princess anne, eastern shore of md.