Revisiting the Fly Fishing Vest

For the previous 5 or 6 years I’ve been an ardent supporter of the chest pack because the premier technique to carry and retailer deal with 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 available on the market. 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 sporting 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 first rate leaps prior to now decade, and I feel I’m switching to 1 full-time.

Decrease Profile

The principle cause 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 just a few (learn: approach various) kilos. The vest is a decrease profile technique to haul my deal with to the river, and I really feel much less like a doddering hippo than I do when sporting 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 situations 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 method to the water, since they’re so typically smaller than vests or slings. However even with that minimalist method, 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 nicely, because of the bevy of pockets on a vest in comparison with a chest pack.

Mild and Breathable

Once I was nonetheless utilizing vests, the fabric was thick and didn’t breathe nicely. Sure, there have been some mesh vests available on the market 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 lately been attempting, all of them are mesh-based and splendidly mild 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 suitable transfer.