OKFlyFisher44 Posted January 19, 2009 Posted January 19, 2009 I don't know if anyone else has noticed but in the past few years...your conventional "fishing vest" has taken a backseat to all these new chestpacks, waistpacks, and such that are on the market. Maybe its just me thats noticing this...I dont know. It's almost a shame because the fishing vest, in all its glory, is a staple in fly fishing but it seems to be going on the wayside. I'm on my 3rd vest right now, the 270 vest from Bass Pro, and absolutely love it. It holds all my gear, fits great, and just simply works as a piece of fly fishing equipment. To my current issue... I was at Bass Pro Shops in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma this past friday. I was picking up a choke tube wrench for my Benelli shotgun and needed a new ammo box for the abnormal amount of shotgun shells I've acquired over duck season...still not sure how it happened. Well, after finding the items I "needed"...I walked around looking at other stuff that struck my interest. Of course I made it down to the fly fishing section. I gotta say, for some reason, the B.A. Bass Pro doesnt have a sectioned off area that is the "White River Fly Shop". Doesn't make sense to me because the OKC Bass Pro has it...oh well, whatever! As I was looking through all the stuff...I went over to the vests/pack section because the White River brand wading jackets were on sale and I was wanting to check them out. Right next to the jackets....was the FishPond line of vests and packs along with the other brands of vests and packs. I've always liked how the FishPond stuff looked...seems to be good quality stuff. I just think its over-priced and somewhat, lack of a better word, "poserish". Like the kinda gear that the guy who just gets into fly fishing and has way too much money for his own good. Buys all the expensive top of the line gear from what I like to call the Big 3 in fly fishing gear: Simms, Orvis, and FishPond. I've also been against the chestpacks/waistpacks for sometime because I've always enjoy my vests...maybe I'm old school and just hate change. The problem was this FishPond waistpack caught my eye due to its orange color scheme (Oklahoma State University grad). I pulled it off the display peg and checked it out. It was a nice pack with adequate pockets for all your basic gear and 1 or 2 small fly boxes. I tried it out though...and it suprisingly fit well and was comfortable. I looked at the price tag and cringed as I always do ($59). I put it back on the peg immediately and went on about my business browsing. Over the course of the next 20 minutes, I kept coming back to that pack and looking at it. Then I'd look at the price tag and put it back. I did this 3 different times....and finally on the 4th time I had what I like to call a impulse buy. I talked myself into it somehow. Somewhere in my head I told myself it'd be nice to have a small pack like this to fish the smaller streams and the trout parks as I could downsize my fly selection and gear down to a few select items. I could also use this pack when I bass fish the local ponds with my 7wt and keep my bass bugs box in it. Now I don't like to buy fly fishing gear from Bass Pro one bit. It has only happened a few times due to impulse purchases (like this pack) and just because of pure convienence. I like to spend my money with local fly shops instead of with big box places like Bass Pro. Anyways, I bought the freaking pack along with a few odds and ends to go with it. And I freaking love the stupid thing! It holds 1 fly box that I just put a few select patterns in that seem to be a staple with missouri trout waters along with the odds and ends you need (forcepts, clippers, floatant, weights, leatherman, etc). I used it this weekend at Roaring River and it was nice to have everything right there at your waist, completely out of the way. I didn't feel like I was dragging around everything I own like I do when I have my vest. Anyways...I'm a firm believer in this whole chestpack/waistpack revolution now. Guess being old school (I'm only 24) and a hold-out on change is somewhat useless. OK, I've rambled on enough.... Chance ...I'm haunted in my dreams of waters I have yet to fish and trout I have yet to catch... Chasing the Dream...
OKFlyFisher44 Posted January 19, 2009 Author Posted January 19, 2009 Sorry guys...I had to vent on my current fishing predictament... Chance ...I'm haunted in my dreams of waters I have yet to fish and trout I have yet to catch... Chasing the Dream...
Members BKB Posted January 19, 2009 Members Posted January 19, 2009 I absolutely love my Fishond chestpack..... holds more than you think it would, it's light, convenient, and made of durable material!
Members bcfish Posted January 19, 2009 Members Posted January 19, 2009 I am still using my origional fishing vest that I have had for more than ten years. It was on sale I think 30$, and I just sewed the zippers back on it this last week. I love my vest but I have been eyeballing some chest packs. I dont "need" all the stuff I carry I just like knowing that it is there. I will convert one day I am sure.
Terry Beeson Posted January 19, 2009 Posted January 19, 2009 I picked up a FishPond Windwalker chest pack at the Conclave auction this fall. While I too cringe at the price of some of this stuff, I really love my chest pack. I have a William and Joseph chest pack that will now go to my wife if she starts fishing because the Fish Pond holds everything my old vest would in one small section. It also can be a side pack, worn like a fanny pack, or attached to a back pack. It is very versatile. I started switching from a vest when I discovered it added a great degree of comfort when I took it off. This chest pack and the W&J gave me a lot of casting freedom I didn't have with the vest. Now if I could just figure out what all those little bells and whistles and loops and holes and tags on the pack are for.... TIGHT LINES, YA'LL  "There he stands, draped in more equipment than a telephone lineman, trying to outwit an organism with a brain no bigger than a breadcrumb, and getting licked in the process." - Paul O’Neil
Danoinark Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 You young whippersnappers...don't you miss the smell of that old vest? Dano Glass Has Class "from the laid back lane in the Arkansas Ozarks"
trout fanatic Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 I'll give up my vest when they pry my cold dead fin...Oh wait a minute, different topic-nevermind. I love my vests!
OKFlyFisher44 Posted January 20, 2009 Author Posted January 20, 2009 Now if I could just figure out what all those little bells and whistles and loops and holes and tags on the pack are for.... Amen to that...that was my first thought when I started to "outfit" my pack... I do feel more comfortable and feel there's more freedom now that I don't wear my vest. Bad thing is...my wife bought me my current vest last year for x-mas Chance ...I'm haunted in my dreams of waters I have yet to fish and trout I have yet to catch... Chasing the Dream...
Brian Wise Posted January 20, 2009 Posted January 20, 2009 If I'm not mistaken we had this conversation didn't we Chance? Waist pack or nothing for me, nothing in front of you but spin that thing around and you have everything you need. Question is...what are you going to do with that avatar now that AEG is on the fritz? Brian My Youtube Channel
OKFlyFisher44 Posted January 20, 2009 Author Posted January 20, 2009 No need to rub it in Brian...I understand now, I've seen the light. AEG on the fritz? Chance ...I'm haunted in my dreams of waters I have yet to fish and trout I have yet to catch... Chasing the Dream...
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