I recently just purchased a Fly Fishing Vest and was just wondering what things I should take in it. I know like the basics and what not to carry, but what is everyone set up like? Some tips and pointers would be well appreciated.
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I recently just purchased a Fly Fishing Vest and was just wondering what things I should take in it. I know like the basics and what not to carry, but what is everyone set up like? Some tips and pointers would be well appreciated.
Ever seen a war movie where the new recruit puts 75 pounds of gear in his backpack and then the Sergeant unloads more than half?
That's people and fishing vest. After enough time on the water and sore shoulders/back you begin to figure out what you "need" and what you don't.<<Largely determined by the waters your fishing on any given day.
Basics?
Tippet for the waters your fishing, some flies (don't over do it), split shots for nymphing/indicator. Clippers and light pliers.
A sandwich and cold water :)
just what you need for the day not the week. at the end of the day replenish it
Toilet Paper
- i like to have a pack of gum
- ziplock bag for your phone/wallet
I'm one of those guys who like to be always prepared. I like to keep a small wader repair kit. Depending on the kind of day you are having, where you are, how cold temps are etc. a leak in your wader could end your day in a hurry. For the weight of it, I always carry a patch.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TurkeyObsessed
^^^^^^^^^ THIS ^^^^^^^^^^
Definitely toilet paper in a zip lock. A small first aid kit with some cloth bandaids and a light lunch/snack and a drink. All in the the back pouch. I also include a garbage bag and pick up stuff on the way back. I fill it every trip.
As mentioned above I only bring enough flies and tackle for the day not the season.
I stopped using my vest except for bush-wacking. I use a shoulder bag for 90% of my stream fishing. I reserve one pocket for experimental flies too. Keep the weight to a minimum, your back and shoulders will thank you at the end of the day.
If it is a new river I bring my stream sample kit and collect a few insect samples to make new flies for that river.
muddler
Thank you everyone for the suggestions!
Great advice so far, almost nothing to add except this~make a mental note of the flies/trinkets you don't use after every outing and decide on the drive home if you should carry them next time. The only thing that doesn't qualify are the tickets. Bring those every time. :)
Back when I fly fished 2x a week all season long...I started to move away from foam-lined fly boxes...and towards those small boxes that are a collection of small compartments. Seemed like you could hold more in less space. I also always wanted a net for the 2-3 times a season (being honest) I'd pull a genuinely large fish from the small streams I fished. However, the silly thing got in the way and hung up on things on the bush-whack in every time. Questioned my sanity on that...year after year. lol
Water/snacks~not an option..you have to have those in my opinion. I keep a small cooler in the truck, chug as much water as I can handle while putting my waders on...then carry a smaller bottle with me on the river. I always make sure there is water and G2 ice cold waiting for me when I get back. Being dehydrated sucks...and it happens to me more in cool/cold weather than it does in warm weather. Or used to.
What kind of fishing wader did you buy? I always keep an energy bar in my adamsbuilt truckee river wader. For vest, maybe check out this list https://fishmasters.com/best-fishing-vest/
My advice would be take more than you need JIC, then with experience you can pare it down, like "I don't need this box of PMD's today because it's October".
A buddies vest weighs damn near 15 lbs. I keep telling him "At the end of the day's fishing, go through your vest and separate the contents into two piles: 1 for the stuff you needed/used and 2 for the stuff that was dead weight." I'm guessing the second pile would be larger than the first. Did I mention he complains about a sore back?