Recently got exposed to Fishpond/Orvis fishing gear packs at a fly fishing show. After looking at these at the show and on the internet there seems to be a wide variety available.
Does anyone have any experience with using any of these types of gear bags out on the streams/rivers ? Does anyone have any preference between the chest type packs and fannypack type ?
I’m considering getting one to carry my fly gear. I’m looking for one mainly to carry gear for day outings.
This topic has been covered various times here and on other boards but I can offer this advice:
I haven’t used a vest for years and instead use a Richardson Box for flies and a waist belt for the rest. It works for me because I streamlined what I carry. If you go the chest/fanny pack route; lay out everything you think you need for a day outing and if possible take it with you to the store when you look at the packs. Some of them are a LOT smaller and hold a lot less than you think.
Also keep in mind if you wade deep, the fanny pack will get wet. If you consider a chest pack, try casting with it on. Some folks I know HATE having something on their chest while fishing.
Good luck
I have a convertable chest/fanny pack made by ‘Fish Pond’. It has extra straps hidden in a pocket that let you were it as a chest pack, a fanny pack or over the shoulder side pack.
As a chest pack it has great access, but in the chest position it limits my range of vision directly in front of my feet. I don’t like this in tough wading conditions.
The fanny pack position is tout of the way, but I need to loosen the belt and move the pack to the front to get at something.
I tend to wear it in the ‘over the shoulder’ position most of the time. The pockets are easy to access and as long as I keep it on my none casting side I don’t get the line wrapped around it.
The problem with chest packs is that once you start filling them with boxes, they really interfere with the ability to see your feet and sort of get in the way. I’ve never tried a fanny pack so I won’t comment on that. I still think a regular vest is the best thing for trout fishing. I use a small chest pack for warmwater fishing, but I have to keep it minimally loaded for the reasons I gave above. The only other thing I’d recommend is the Wood River type of bag. I don’t know if they’re made anymore, but I have one to bring on plane trips because it’s easier to pack than a vest.
I have the fishpond pack mentioned earlier - and the problem is that when you really load it up, it sticks out too far in front, and sort of interferes with the double haul. I sometimes wear it slung on the side, or as a fanny pack on my back - but then I have to move it when I want something out of it. It holds quite a lot, (3 small CF boxes, two large waterproof CF boxes plus all the usual gadgets and gizmos) but it’s still pretty bulky and as often as not, I end up just setting it on the bank beside me rather than wearing it. I use it as my all-purpose bag, and sometimes I will leave it in the car and just take a box, the nippers and some tippet with me to fish.
All-in-all, it’s not a bad bag, but I’m not entirely happy with it. It holds a lot more than most chest packs, but I wish the space were distributed better - it just sticks out very far in front.
I use the Waterdance pack from FishPond for fishing and guiding. It can be worn as a chest pack but I usually keep it around my waist or on a shoulder.
Love it. I can carry just enough stuff and it keeps me from loading it up with everything I own.
Thanks for your input and sharing your experience.
Some of the issues you raised were ones that I had some concerns about. In particular how bulky the packs could be, how they might impact your casting, and how readily accessible they are. The idea of the bulky ones blocking your vision of your feet is one I don’t really care for.
I must admit some of the chest packs and waist packs do look bulky and cumbersome. Right now, I have been carrying limited gear in my wader front pocket and also a fly box inside my waders(held up inside by my belt). Seems to work ok for now.
Once again great input.
Maybe I really don’t need one of these types of gear handlers. :shock:
Dear Bob,
I haven’t worn a vest for about 15 years and I will in all likelyhood never again wear a vest.
Currently for trout fishing I use an Orvis Safe Passage chest pack without the hydration bladder. For bass fishing I use a William Joseph chest pack. The lightness and comfort I get from a chest pack beats a vest hands down for me.
I suffer from Dunlap’s disease and I haven’t seen my feet while wading since I was a child, so the visibility issue is a non-issue to me. :lol:
Best Wishes,
Avalon 
>>Maybe I really don’t need one of these types of gear handlers.<<
You know Bob, when I get a day off during the summer and go fishing I just put a small fly box in a pocket along with a few weights,… a lanyard around my neck and that’s it!
The FishPond and Orvis packs are nice but I sure wish they would come with instructions - especially the FP stuff. I have no idea what to put in all the little pockets.
Aftershaft:
I’ve looked at the Fishpond items and I’m not sure what goes into those pockets either.
Avalon: As I go through the seasoning process, I begining to “suffer from back end sucked up to the front syndrome”
It’s all about selling. Who the heck uses 1/5th of the features in Word, Excel, etc…?
And when you do put things like a fly box or two, forceps, weights, indicators, etc… there is no room to put stuff in the little pockets because the thing is so stuffed full - you couldn’t access them if you wanted to! And, when I am out fishing or guiding on a hot day wearing a waist thing around my waist and there isn’t a bathroom for many miles they sometime press on my belly and you know what can happen.
But still, for some odd reason, I prefer them over a vest. I usually just sling it over my left shoulder. The FP stuff is actually just georgeous though. I wish I owned that company. The other posters that warned about chestpacks obstructing your view are dead on! I sometimes wear a 3 drawer Joe Humphrey’s Richardson box but it doesn’t block anything. Rests quite comfortably on my buddah and seems to like it there 
-paul
Paul said:
It’s all about selling. Who the heck uses 1/5th of the features in Word, Excel, etc…?
You are right. My PC programs have more horsepower than I’ll ever get to know how to use.
I’ll check out the Joe Humphrey’s Richardson box.
Sometimes shopping around and looking at fishing gear is actually more fun than actually buying it.
>Sometimes shopping around and looking at fishing gear is actually more fun than actually buying it.<
And cheaper too!
California Bob…
I?ve been using one of these for about a year now: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi … %26fvi%3D1
They are really nice in the summer time. Much cooler than a vest. You can wear it over a t-shirt or long sleeve shirts as you please. Everything is already loaded for when you want to make a quick trip fishing. I keep mine in the car all the time. The main pouch swings around to your back while your casting or fishing and when you need something it swings to the front for easy access. Way more comfortable than a but pack.
They retail for $74.00 but you see them all the time on eBay. The link above is for an auction that is going on right now.
DickM:
I looked at it via the link you sent. Does it hold a reasonable quantity of gear ? Not that I’m lugging a ton of stuff out on the water, however need some room for fly boxes and other assorted items.
Thanks for the link…
Aftershaft: Do you guide out of Long Outfitting ?
Aftershaft: Do you guide out of Long Outfitting ?[/quote]
Sometimes. Matthew is a buddy of mine. I’ve know him and have guided with him for 13 years now, mostly out of Hubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge.
How do you know him CB? Have I met you before?
-paul williamson
[
Aftershaft: Do you guide out of Long Outfitting ?[/quote]
Sometimes. Matthew is a buddy of mine. I’ve know him and have guided with him for 13 years now, mostly out of Hubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge.
How do you know him CB? Have I met you before?
-paul williamson[/quote]
No I don’t know either of you personally. A number of months ago, you had responded to a post of mine regarding fishing in Montana. We swapped notes. In one of those notes you had made mention of being an Orvis approved guide. While I was poking around the Orvis vacations site I had remembered this. So when I saw Long Outfitting in Livingston I said…I wonder if this is where you worked out of ?
Sometimes. Matthew is a buddy of mine. I’ve know him and have guided with him for 13 years now, mostly out of Hubbard’s Yellowstone Lodge.
How do you know him CB? Have I met you before?
-paul williamson[/quote]
No I don’t know either of you personally. A number of months ago, you had responded to a post of mine regarding fishing in Montana. We swapped notes. In one of those notes you had made mention of being an Orvis approved guide. While I was poking around the Orvis vacations site I had remembered this. So when I saw Long Outfitting in Livingston I said…I wonder if this is where you worked out of ?[/quote]
I remember now CB!!! Have you made a decision for your trip? Just curious!
Thanks for the quick reply!
Yes my nephew and I will be coming out the week of 6/24. We will be spending a few nights in the Ennis area, couple of nights in Dillon area, couple of nights in Livingston, and a couple of nights in the Gallatin area.
When we are in the Livingston area, we would be looking to fish the Yellowstone. That’s your neck of the woods.