Something better than a vest?

[outsider]

troutwilleatflies,

Like you, I am in my "golden years" but I have a broken down body so I had to shed every ounce of weight, including my vest. So I became inventive and converted a Field & Stream fanny pack into a sling pack that I bought at K-Mart for a whopping 5 bucks, and it couldn't have worked out much better.

It holds 4 fly boxes in the main compartment (3 if I replace one with a sandwich) and tippet material, split shot, strike indicators, extra leader, spare forceps etc. in the two front compartments. I attached a clipper and sheepskin pad to the outside, and I carry a water bottle on the back sling with a carabiner. I also attach a wading staff with carabiner to the front of the sling.

Like I said, this couldn't have worked out much better for me, practically don't even know it's there.

 

[mutzinbaugh]

where do you guys put the beer?

 

[outsider]

In my belly, or the creek to keep it cold.

 

[LongLineRelease]

I'm with Pcray on this. I wear a chest box and lanard for about 90% of my troutfishing. It's pretty much all I need. I do wear a William and Josef vest pack if I'm going to be away from the vehicle for a long time. This is to carry all of the stuff I might need, but never do need.

I don't think a fanny pack would work me. It would be soaked from wading. I do sometimes use a small army surplus pouch on a shoulder strap for brookie fishing.

 

[Sylvaneous]

In my bait fishing for trout days, I used a sling or 'satchel' to hold my jar of live minnows and all my stuff. This in mind, I tried a sling pack
by either william Joseph or who ever. I just couldn't make it jibe with my style. I am, however, thinking the patagonia Atom Sling may be the best alternative to a vest that isn't a 2-sided, non chest pack.

 

[Gone_Phishin]

Sylvaneous wrote:
In my bait fishing for trout days, I used a sling or 'satchel' to hold my jar of live minnows and all my stuff. This in mind, I tried a sling pack
by either william Joseph or who ever. I just couldn't make it jibe with my style. I am, however, thinking the patagonia Atom Sling may be the best alternative to a vest that isn't a 2-sided, non chest pack.

Sylv,
Check out the link I posted above. Vedavoo is an awesome company. Everything is really well thought out and made in the USA. Scott is great to work with and will customize a pack with anything you want and any color combination.

 

[Phish_On]

Gone_Phishin wrote:

Sylvaneous wrote:
In my bait fishing for trout days, I used a sling or 'satchel' to hold my jar of live minnows and all my stuff. This in mind, I tried a sling pack
by either william Joseph or who ever. I just couldn't make it jibe with my style. I am, however, thinking the patagonia Atom Sling may be the best alternative to a vest that isn't a 2-sided, non chest pack.

Sylv,
Check out the link I posted above. Vedavoo is an awesome company. Everything is really well thought out and made in the USA. Scott is great to work with and will customize a pack with anything you want and any color combination.

X2 on Vedavoo. Awesome gear, and moderately priced. If you do decide on them. Tell them John and Joel sent ya.

 

[FNG_IN_AK]

You might look at this for a chest pack solution: http://www.tals-fishing.com/TALS-600.cfm

Adopted in an effort to lighten and re-distribute my load. Very lightweight. Made in PA. Unique fly attachment system. Nice working platform. Excellent price point. It's great on a pontoon or float tube. Very handy for wading the river, too (though it does force me to move my .44 from my chest to my underarm). Since I have to have a backpack on me at most times, the bigger stuff that I can't put in this chest pack has a home, anyhow.

Used it for two seasons, now. Don't think I'll sell it.