[Mike Barrio]

Do you use a fishing bag for your trout fishing, or are you a fan of back packs, bum bags, chesties etc?

Do you use different methods of carting your gear around for a river compared to a loch or stillwater?

How do you carry your fishing stuff .............................?

[Rob Brownfield]

Like this


But for fly fishing I don't take so much gear

Trout/grayling river, Airflow Outlander vest/backpack combi

Trout stillwater, Plano tool bag. It has internal pockets big enough for reels and boxes whilst having a waterproof, lipped base meaning standing it in mud ot puddles is not an issue. Its a subtle brown colour too, £20 for B&Q whilst the fishing version in green is £70!

Salmon river, an Orvis bum/chest pack sling over my shoulder. Extras are stuffed in my jacket pockets.

Saltwater/Pike fly fishing, same Orvis pack as above or a chest pack/back pack combi also from Orvis

Trout stream, an ex army windproof smock with pockets.

[Colin Sunley]

The Boot of my car is my bag, I  just tend to load up the pockets of the Vest's or Jackets where ever I'm going.
I have everything in there which is probably not the best of idea's saying as there is about £1200 quid's worth of gear in there, Easy mash and Grab,    

[Robert MacDonald-Lewis]

When fishing rivers I tend to use a vest. For hills loch when traveling light, i.e. No stove and minimal supplies, I use an Orvis Safe Passage Tri Pack. This is my preferred choice as it allows me to keep mobile and explore numerous waters without having to backtrack.  If I await to take a stove, take the bike or think I may need additional clothing I will use a daypack and take a vest. This is ok if visiting a single loch but can be a pain if you want to explore.

[Euan Innes]

Strange you should ask this Mike as I have just bought one of these from the states.

https://umpqua.com/products/packs-and-bags/packs-bags/overlook-500-chest-pack-0

And here's the video about it (from the folks I bought it from on ebay)



And from Umpqua (cooler vid!)



Initial impressions are great and I think this is what I have been after for a long time.
Full report to follow after a good trial period. Intheriffle.com are really good to deal with and the import tax is added before the UK customs can screw you 
I like it!

 

[Mike Barrio]

A bit early yet ..... but do I see a pattern emerging?

[Marc Fauvet]

William Joseph Confluence. perfect.

[Andy Wren]

On the way out of the house I have 4 different bags
A salmon ,a resser trout bag a small river trout bag and a wee SWFF bag
Pick up the resser and river trout one and at the bank side the contents required gets transferred into my Orvis takl pak,unless I am boat fishing when the bag goes on board
SWFF I dont have enough kit to load into a waistcoat so its a pocket job
salmon Its set up with a fly box a couple of spools and a SH wallet all goes in wading jacket
Cant stand those things that makes me look like I am wearing Maddonas bra!

[Mike Barrio]

Cant stand those things that make me look like I am wearing Maddonas bra!

    

[Mike Barrio]

Interesting to see the popularity of the various types of packs

So, if you are off to your favourite stretch of river, or perhaps a loch, for some bank fishing or wading ........ I'm guessing you'll prefer to travel light for your trout fishing. Apart from your rod in your hand and perhaps a net on your back, what do you carry in these packs? What do you want them to carry?

I'm sure your thoughts will be similar to mine, but it's always good to ask

Cheers
Mike

[Euan Innes]

In my new chest pack I have all this -
two fly boxes (one large, one small)
Gink
Sink
Frogs Fanny
Forceps
Abel nippers (very expensive but very very good)
Smith Creek rod holder
Spare leaders
Leader attachment kit (needles and Zap-A-Gap)
3 spools of Drennan (3,4,5lb)
Leather leader straightener (old sharpening stone holder)
Net on the back
Platypus 1ltr bladder
Camera
Bog roll
Leatherman Squirt multitool (very handy)

The boxes and nylon get changed out when I am after silver tourists but other than that it stays the same.

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Waterproof jacket in the back pack part with a small flask of Bovril.
Boxes of flies divided into Dry/Wet/Nymph/Streamer/Bug, selected to match where and when I am fishing.
Spools of line
Ready made leaders/polyleaders
Scissors/foreceps combination
Floatant x 2, sinkant
Maggots 

And thats really about it.

[Jeff Donovan]

With one of these.......  http://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/MILITARY-VEST-TACTICAL-VEST_246420572.html ....who needs a bag?

[Mike Barrio]

I'm going fishing ..... not to war Taffy1

Cheers
Mike

[Jeff Donovan]

I'm going fishing ..... not to war Taffy1

Cheers
Mike

 

[Rob Brownfield]

I can get you these if you want...on issue to us now.

Heavy, cumbersome and not much use...but what would you expect of the Ministry of Defence? 

[Marc Fauvet]

you're supposed to shoulder the rifle against those strap buckles ?! nice thinking... 

[Rob Brownfield]

you're supposed to shoulder the rifle against those strap buckles ?! nice thinking... 

You have to remember, a lot of kit designed for the military is by people holding the purse strings rather than those actually using the stuff.

[Mike Barrio]

I would like to be able to do this with just a jacket ....................... any suggestions?

[Euan Innes]

Orvis pro guide jacket Mike.
Plenty pockets, very comfy, great hood. And it is actually waterproof!
Not cheap but worth it. I just like the chest pack for warm days and carry my packable Orvis jacket in the back pocket next to the water.
I couldn't find a one solution fits all situations way of carrying all my stuff, what little there is. Marcs chest pack was close but the Umpqua has a string pocket for the water.

 

[Marc Fauvet]

Marcs chest pack was close but the Umpqua has a string pocket for the water.

there's plenty of space for a hydration bladder and strap thingies to hold the tube
anyhow, what makes the WJ so special is the pull open / snap shut magnetic closures of the two front pockets.
as far as i know no other company has this.

once you've had snap you never go back... 

[Mike Barrio]

I guess I'd really like something like the Ron Thompson jackets, but better quality?

[Euan Innes]

once you've had snap you never go back...

Definately horses for courses Marc. I do love my Umpqua! 
Especially the camera pocket. You have no idea how many times I have failed to get my camera out because it is buried away inside a jacket or waistcoat.
One thing we do have in common with both packs is the deep wading ability, something that was very important to me. If the water reaches my pack I am in too deep!
I see in this months Trout and Salmon that Peter Hayes has the same pack and expensive, over-engineered nippers! Top bloke that Hayes chap...

 

[Rob Brownfield]

Waterproof Mike or just practical?

Just a thought, but there are some good quality windproof military jackets available with plenty of pockets. The one that springs to mind is this one... http://www.huntingandmilitarystore.co.uk/sas-smock-windproof-sniper-military-army-jacket--dpm-camo-14-p.asp Even has a large rear pocket for waterproofs and so on.

If you are willing to spend a little cash, there is a company called Special Air Sea Services in Lancaster that will take a standard jacket and add pockets to your hearts content. They do a plain green version of the previous SAS windproof which can be custom modified. You will not get better quality and UK made.

Another is Dixies Corner http://www.dixiescornermilitarysupplies.co.uk/pimp-my-smock-61-c.asp Again, well respected in the military world and the quality is superb.

[Mike Barrio]

Thanks Rob, interesting gear and designs, but I just don't like wearing camo clothing for some reason

I'd like something waterproof ........... but have stopped looking for the moment and will probably start again in the spring.

Cheers
Mike