vest or pack?

i use a couple of vests for different types of fishing (trout, wading pymatuning, etc) but after reading doubletaper's review on his blog about the orvis sling pack, i ordered one. i looked elsewhere, but could not find another sling anywhere. i think this will be the ticket for using a noodle-rod or even a fly rod without the hassles of the rod handle meeting the filled vest when fighting a fish.

what does everyone use? chest, back, sling pack or vest? just curious.

fishpond waterguide pack great pack The best I ever had I dont like the chest style
fishpond is the best stuff out their if you ask me
FC

I have a White River chest pack, but it tends to get in the way alot. Vest is nice for carrying lots of gear, but it isn't as compatible as a chest pack during cold weather fishing.I guess both have pros and cons, and are adaptable to the type of fishing your preparing for.

I use a Filson Chest Pack. I like it very much. mine is faded and stained, but here is what a new one would look like:
http://www.filson.com/products/fishing-tackle-pack.16004.html?fromCat=true&fvalsProduct=activity/fly-fishing&fmetaProduct=aa13
I reccommend them.

pack

I find a loaded up vest to be a bit restricting, and prefer additional weight on my back than front side when hiking around.  I have an Old Navy sling pack for river wading, picked up on clearance about 10 years ago for under $10.  Also use it for night time wiper fishing.  It is starting to show it's age.  I love it, but doesn't have the amount of pockets like those Orvis ones for all of the small stuff that trout fishing seems to need, especially fly fishing.  I picked up a Gap sling pack at the Thrift Store for $5 too.  It's a bit larger, which I have my salt water stuff in.  I do wear a vest or wading jacket for trout fishing depending on weather, with the multiple smaller pockets for all of the small crap that I carry around while trout fishing.  I'm sure that I'd probably prefer a sling with a ton of pockets over a vest for trout too, but don't trout fish enough to justify another.  I'm sure that I'll buy one if I see on sale though.  Probably post about it in 2-3 weeks... 

dru, i do have a wading jacket, but it is sized to wear over a sweatshirt or flannel. for really cold weather, the sling pack will do over my heavier jackets. also, in warm weather, i figured it will be cooler than a long-sleeved jacket and sweatshirt. guess i will have the best of both worlds.

I hae one of the medium sized JW Outfitter's chest packs and it holds a double C&F fly box on one half of the front compartment and another 3" x 5" nymph box on the other half. I put those little 1/2" round Velcro tabs on the back of the boxes and they then stick firmly to the fuzzy material inside the pack. There are also two smaller pockets that wrap around your sides and are large enough for the 3" x 4" Myran clear boxes. Lots of other pockets for floats, BB's, clipper, leaders, tippet, etc. The only reason I'd take my vest is if rain is forecast so I can stuff it in the rear pocket.

One of the major appeals to flyfishing for me, was to carry less gear.

I carry my flybox, a roll of 6lb mono, and some clippers/hemos....that's it.

I recently purchased a vest, and am still on the fence about it...I cant find my 4 items in those 400 pockets.

Good old sachel from the army navy store.... heavy canvas, straps over like a sling, tons of room but does not take hardly any space. I have 2 and I keep them ready, one for steel, one for wading for musky. They carry all that I need for both and are out of the way when I am fishing. I also swap them out for deer season and turkey, I carry a back pack with all my food and goodies in it but I carry the sachel with the important stuff, knife, extra ammo, 1st aid kit, water, drag rope, that way if I drop my pack to make a stalk or just want to leave it where we meet to have lunch I have what I need with me. They are less than $20 at the army/navy surplus store can't say enough good about them.

Jacob

bill, how does your daughter like the rod? hope to see her nail one with it.

nah, can't get enough "man bags" from the army-navy stores. my daughter has confiscated two of them already. guess they are back in vogue.

I have the same one as shutupnfish and love it. I can fit all my tackle in the front pockets, the wife's spinners and stuff and a sixer in the back of
the pack.

Depends on what i am doing, how long I will be out, etc. If I am going to spend the day walking I mostly use a vest as it carries rain gear, a thermos, water bottle, snickers, two ham sandwiches, a hard boiled egg, camera, streamer box, egg box, nymph box, leaders...

I wear the Pack Rat vest. More than enough room to hold all my stuff. I have never tried using a pack or sling though.

A small pack slung over the shoulder and spun around the back.
It also has a belt that pulls out so it can be worn as a fanny pack.
I use a vest for trout.