FLYMPH FORUM

I use a day pack with a frame. It's much easier on my back/shoulders. I pack what I need, lunch, snacks, water, extra clothing if needed, a few fly boxes, leaders, etc. I also bring an extra lens with the camera I wear around my neck. That's about it. I tend to pack a bit more than what I normally need. I am one of those "just in case" kind of guys. You know, just in case I fall in the river and need a dry jacket (happened yesterday lol). I do tend to pack quite a bit more during the winter months. During the summer, I certainly pack lighter.

When I first started out I was fishing the high elevation streams in Georgia and SC, then throughout the Shenandoahs mostly, so the two mile hike down to the Hughes and more importantly, the hike back out after a day of climbing boulders was a major factor. I was keeping everything as minimal as possible. About like Narco's set-up, but all in a small waste pack. Honestly, it's been a couple years since I've been up and down those mountains and it's funny how complacent you can get when you park and fish some of the best waters in MD and PA. ASAP, I'm going to have to get up those small streams, but the luxury of having "stuff" is kind of fun too. I've never carried a camera either, which changes things.

Wayne Dubbn, your float trips look awesome. I love to see all those pics you've posted of the trips recently. I've done a little kayak fishing and carried about as much. Why not?

Flies, leaders, tippet, nippers, split shot, indicators, floatant, hemostats, amadou patch...bare minimum. Flashlight, small knife, TP, bug juice, sun block, bandaids, meds, license holder. Water.

But there are dozens of things you could carry. I carry a stream thermometer because I used to take notes and still plan on doing that but havent in years. A small vile to keep a captured bug that gets some use. I also have and usually carry one of those cool extension nets to catch a rising mayfly if you can get to it. Haven't used it in years, but I might sometime. Line cleaner, line dressing, leader straightener, knot tier aid (i like the paperclip idea), hook hone, alternate types of weight, discarded mono keeper, sunglasses defogger/cleaner, cigar/lighter/cutter/flask (rarely). Sounds like I should add a whistle. I have one in my camping gear, but in recent years I haven't ventured too far off. I need to change that.

Besides Bob does anyone carry a staff?

Mike, it's funny how we usually look at sport specific equipment. Your tactical vests look like a good idea, although you might get shot fishing around up here around DC or Camp David.

If I were fishing with Johnno or Wayne, I would probably carry a net, but I haven't found it necessary. Might need one in Roscoe though.

Bill mentioned a spare spool with sink tip. I carry a sinking section that attached to the end of the fly line, but I've been fishing a 3 wt for a couple years and didn't like the effect at all.

Anything else? What's your favorite kind of patch? Anyone use the old fleece patch?

I received a folding wading staff for Christmas, but I have not used it yet.

Good thread! It made me clean out my pack for the first time in 3 years. I found a petrified tent caterpillar in there amongst other surprises!

I like seeing what others carry with them when they are fishing. I have a nice vest that I don't wear. I find after after a long day on the stream it bothers my back and shoulders but a fanny pack doesn't seem to. I picked up a nice one for a really good price at Bass Pro shop. Intended for hunters I guess but it works. And it came with it's own water bottle.



It holds a surprising amount of stuff. The plastic is one of the cheapy rain ponchos from the dollar store. I usually also try to remember to throw in a plastic bag for garbage but if I forget then I start cramming things into the pack, wader pockets, pants pockets. It makes for interesting surprises that I usually forget about until the next time I go fishing.

Vicki, I can see those brilliant Wulff style dries even through the boxes. Absolutely deadly. That does hold a lot. It's not far off from what I used to carry (every season brings something new "necessary" )

A trash bag is a good idea too. At one time when I carried my pack/vest I had a bag for that too, so it's something I'll have to add. Cool pics. Remind me again what your most frequent type of fishing would be? This pack looks like it would cover a lot of areas.

w

Okay, here's where I'm at before the season get's underway. I had a Filson Strap vest that I wore for a bit and then went to the waist pack and put the vest pack away. Recently I filled it back up, trip ready, and added some newly constructed items. I added a new coat of the wax/oil that makes it water-proofish. I really like this thing. While decking this out and committing to using it this season, allowing me to carry the jacket, camera and a few extras, I saw the Chest Pack version used on the bay and wanted to see if I might like it better. I might. I added two coats of the Filson wax/oil and this thing is ready for foul weather, sits up high (which was a problem with the waist pack) and has a smaller pack in the back, which I like. Begin OCD, manic and kind of bored, I decked this one out too, almost item for item, trip ready. I'll have to try them both out this season and see which I prefer, and at the moment, I couldn't tell you which.

This is one reason I wanted to start this thread. Partly to learn a little more about the people here, and partly to get some feeback on why those who wear vests, waist packs and chest packs do so and thoughts about what they take along. Compared to rods, or tying techniques or fly history, this seems to be maybe the least interesting aspect of what we usually talk about, but I have time right now to think about it and you're being subjected to it. sorry for that.

Pack one:













Pack 2:













In both packs I've made my own amadou patches and fly line cleaner/dressers that are hung on leather cords. The nippers are also hung on a leather cord. Other accessories like tippet dispenser, knot tool, hook hone, are also tethered on a leather cord from the inside.

I've positioned small powerful magnets inside places that will catch the accessories hanging from the outside so not only is there no jingling from the sounds of metal on metal (no zingers, no bead chaines or d-rings, etc) but they also stay put if you bend over or as you move about. There is a pic above in the Vest Pack that shows the back of a couple. For some reason eliminating those distractions and sounds along with the more natural materials of the packs seems important. No velcro and I'm even working on eliminating some plastics by designing small scale fly wallets made of leather and heavy felt roughly 1/2 the thickness of the C and F boxes and about the same size, if not smaller. They won't hold salmon flies or old style casts, but they are perfect for #20-#12 softies and nymphs.

So I'm asking again for feedback. Have any of you found preferences that you are willing to share? I'm curious about smuggler's chest pack and Bob's Richardson box. Any pics or reasons for your choices?

w

Are you going on a weeks holidays William

Okay heres my lot, fly box's are on lanyards that go around my neck, tippet one pocket of vest, scissors on a bungee, mud in box tied to d ring of vest, spare mud in pocket. headlamp - side pocket. Inside pocket of vest goes a second reel and line if i deem it necessary. small box with quick wader repair and microrings and a few french nymph type braided indicators... jacket and waders - sling bag if i bring drink and food. ooops , throat pump , front pocket of waders and for this season sampling net, back pocket of jacket.ooops then theres the amadou patch, silica gel filled film cannister, oops and theres the yarn in case i want to use an indicator rather than a big dry.

and my ambition, 1 jacket, 1 pair of waders, 1 rod, reel, tippet, scissors. mud, amadou patch and 1 tiny box of flies and net.

maybe i need a chest pack or two

Thanks William!

Most of my fishing is small stream brookie and brown trout fishing (wet and dry) but I like to be prepared for surprises. It is a bit of an odd assortment but I like to explore a lot of new places and sometimes I'll get into areas where maybe there are some bass or other panfish. And sometimes the brookies just want something weird and unlikely. If we are anticipating something bigger (large bass or pike) I have a tackle bag that stays in the car but which contains larger flies and streamers that I can substitute out. I've been caught out in the dark before and didn't like it much hence the TWO flashlights (brighter one with batteries and the other without). The little screwdriver for streamside repairs, a couple of sets of nail clippers in case one gets dropped (funny how that never happens when you've got multiples + I have another set in my waders pocket). I just have simple compartment fly boxes, the flies usually end up a little mixed up anyway since if I have to climb out into a difficult area I'll leave the pack behind and just take a little assortment of flies in one box. I found the waterproof Scientific Angler boxes (I have a couple) not especially waterproof and don't spend any more money on them. Anyway I like to be a little prepared but I'm sure there are some things I could still use. There is more room in the pack if you have suggestions!

When we are wilderness camping I also keep a small first aid kit equally well stocked with everything from first aid supplies to extra matches to a tool kit for eye glass repair. Unfortunately it's not in my nature to be neat but I am prepared!

William your gear is very neat and attractive. I really like the more natural materials as well and the colour is perfect. Are you looking to change? My husband has a chest pack that he likes. I think the key is just to keep it really simple and not too much in there or it can get in the way. Personally I like the fanny pack because I can just slide it around to the front when I need to access it and can slide it back around to the back to keep it out of the way. I suppose it wouldn't be great for anyone who does a lot of deep wading but I tend to prefer to stay out of the water as much as I can so it works for me. Plus I have enough of a chest pack already!



Vicki

I've been active with the Boy Scouts (you know-"Be Prepared!") for more than a few years. It looks like every one of you folks are well prepared and would make very good Scouts.
Some very interesting ideas in this thread.

For the last 8years now I've worn an LL Bean chestpack. Three small boxes of flymphs, one regular sized box of weighted flymphs and a box of nymphs. On bigger water I will substitute a box of Streamers. Then there's all the spools of tippet&leader material.Last but not least a Hardy hemostat/ scissor-shot crimper. As I'm getting older I have become more clumsy wading. I guess I need to be able to see my feet now so going back to a vest looks more appealing now.