WHAT'S IN YOUR VEST?
Heres an interesting question.
Ever wonder what the pro's have in their vest, and what you might be missing? Or perhaps they are?
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WHAT'S IN YOUR VEST?
Heres an interesting question.
Ever wonder what the pro's have in their vest, and what you might be missing? Or perhaps they are?
I don't use a vest, but I have a May pack . 2 boxes of flies ... one wet, one dry, roughly 16 per box. 3 tippet spools, 2 with tippet, one empty. Zinger with hemostats, and nippers. A "tail knotter" tool. An Able tool. A big orange whistle. I tend to fish fairly light!! Oh, and a chamois like cloth from BP that sucks goop off a fly, or your hands. That's it!
How do you fit 16 fly boxes in one vest? Wow!
OK, here's mine. I have a simple lightweight mesh vest that I bought for $25 somewhere. I don't even know what brand it is.
Lower front pocket left: Sci-Angler Nymph box (Orange). Nymphs on one side, Dries on the other
Lower front pocket left outside mesh: Junk. found bobbers, found hooks and other trash that gets thrown out when I get home.
Lower front pocket right : Sci- Angler classic fly box (Blue). Dries and wets on one side. Larger wooly buggers, hoppers, streamers etc. on the other.
Lower front pocket right outside mesh: Mini Leatherman knock off. Strike indicators.
Left inner pocket : Water bottle.
Left chest pocket : Over priced C&F "not at all waterproof" nymph box with 2 threaders for micro size flies.
Right chest pocket : Tippet spools and clip on magnifier that clips to my hat.
Right chest pocket outer mesh : Extra floatant and sink.
Front of left chest pocket: Wool fly patch. Forceps on zinger. Monomaster on zinger.
Front of right chest pocket: Fly floatant. Nipper on zinger. Fishing License.
Clipped to back of vest : Net.
I hardly wear a vest but I fish mostly for steelhead and all I need is one box of flies, tippet or leader, nippers, hook file, tip wallet. All of this will fit into the pockets of my rain coat or the upper pockets of my waders on those rare occaisions when I don't need a raincoat, nippers and hook file are on a lanyard. Oh, and in the back storage pocket of the rain coat is a ziploc bag with a partial roll of tp.
On a lanyard hemostat, bottle floatant, tie fast knot tool, fingernail clippers. file.
In a fanny pack main compartment
one box of buggers.
two boxes assorted, poorly tied dry flies
One box assorted wets
one box pan fish flies.
one Little south fork,(thanks danbob) magnetic box full of size 22 and smaller drys wets etc.
in the small pocket
leaders
strike indicators
expired state of wa parking pass
Three spools if tippit
one pair of small smooth jaw needle nosed pliers
two bobbers in case I need to introduce a spin fisherman to the joys of fly fishing.
(way to much stuff)
Eric
16 fly boxes....holy smokes !
In my trout vest, I carry 4 boxes plus a streamer wallet
No zingers for me either.... more trouble than they're worth
For years I never used a vest. The reason was for the same reason stated in the article. They were just too heavy and I found they got in the way when I was fishing. I also lost a lot of stuff out of them.
I just used a small pouch that held two or three small fly boxes and a few other essentials and I used a lanyard.
I ended up buying a vest last summer...the Filson Strap Vest. I'm not sure what the major driving force was that got me to put the bucks down for it. I always liked it's classic look but I think the reason I felt I had to have it was because I was needing a way to carry a rainjacket, food and drink with me on full day outings. I really didn't want to use my regular day pack for that. This vest has a nice little pouch in the back that would hold all that.
This year the vest started out HEAVY :rolleyes:... but now I have that tamed down again. :) What is with the idea that we have to fill every pocket? I had the thing stuffed at first. Now I go through the vest every couple of weeks, sometimes every couple of days, to decide what is now what is now obsolete. There's no point in carrying several boxes of flies I won't use and other items I won't be using on a particular outing. Most of my tools are still on my lanyard. On some nice days or a short outings I don't even need the vest. Once I've fished an area I can get it down to one box and my lanyard.
My wading staff is attached to my belt.
2 large & 1 small Flambeau Blue Ribbon fly boxes
hook hone
nippers
forceps
Ketchum Release tool
tape measure
red tin (actually plastic) Mucilin
4 furled leaders
3 spools tippet/mono
thermometer
small 1st aid kit
Magnetic Fly Guard-GREAT item from Dot Man (Fly Reel Dots)
I carry my 4-6 favorite patterns on it-seldom have to open a box
20/20 Tippet Threader...again, from Dot Man
waterproof digital Pentax camera
(I also carry a gym bag & soft tackle bag in the Jeep with various other items in case I need to switch out)
Th-th-th-that's all folks!
Mikey
if I'm dry flying (small creeks)
3x - 5x tippet
3 fly boxes
dry fly's (has a few small nymphs in it, usually if I want a dropper I'll do something more like a midge emerger, or the swamph or whatever it's called lol). also a few large fly's in this box like hoppers, chernobyl ants etc which I usually only use as a strike indicator for a dropper)
streamer box
floatant
insect repellent
leatherman
zinger w/ clippers /hook eye cleaner (only zinger I use)
wading lader waters (usually nymphing only)
3x, 4x, 6x, and 7x tippet
4 fly boxes
dry fly's
small scientific nymph box (small nymph's)
other nymphing box with bigger stuff
streamer box
small sinkers
strike indicators
floatant
zinger w/ clippers /hook eye cleaner (only zinger I have)
net on the back on large zinger
most of my time on larger waters is in my boat. I carry everything including the kitchen sink, and I don't feel iike writing a book so we'll just list the contents of my 1 bag that I fish out of. no vest here
tp
polarized sun glasses
3x -7x tippet
furled leaders (6' 2WT-5WT, and some 9' 6WT-8WT)
5 fly boxes
dry fly's
small scientific nymph box (small nymph's)
other nymphing box with bigger stuff
streamer box
large fly's including cidda's for the green
sinkers, tons
strike indicators, 4 different kinds
floatant
zinger w/ clippers /hook eye cleaner (only zinger I have)
leatherman
4 reels (3 6WT - mine, usually 1 for my passenger I usually provide their gear, and my 4WT that never leaves my bad as I carry it as a backup)
about 5 bottles of floatant
and a partridge in a pear tree
the vest is accurate I change empty it / load it every time I use it. the bag is off memory I'm sure there's more I'm forgetting.
Here's what I ALWAYS have:
3 flyboxes....dry,wet/nymphs/streamers,midges
2 spools of tippet
1 sinking leader,1 mono (knotted)leader (got extras just in case)
muskol (bug juice)
thermometer (just in case I get a fever)
night lamp
canister for insects (if I'm lucky enough to catch 'em)
snippers
When I DO go out, I include:
my cigarettes and a lucifer
Some snacks and water bottle
When I DO go out, I EX-clude:
work
worries
the hustle and bustle of everyday living.
It's sure is GRRRRRRRRRRREAT to leave them off my vest and take them off my chest!
Happy Fishing All!