Let me start off by saying I'm a bag junkie. I am in the neverending quest to find the absolute perfect bag (I realize it doesn't exist).
So that being said; I currently have a vest; two chest packs and a fanny pack. I use the fanny pack for spinning lures mostly. I have a nice cabelas vest that I use for freshwater in our Florida winters. Summer's just too hot. As far as the chest packs; I have the william joseph "flats lite" and the tals system. I love them both. The WJ flats lite can be worn as a waist pack or a chest pack. The belt is very comfortable with loops for clips, tools etc and a mesh pouch that I put tippet in (read big spools of flouro). The pouch itself is comfortable around my neck and has a foam patch. I don't use the foam patch, recently I put 2 or 3 tals tubes in the pouch. It also has some pockets & zingers on the outside. It's small enough that it doesn't get in my way. The tals system can be worn as a sling, waist pack or chest pack. I prefer the chest pack most of the time but for heavy bank hopping days I rig it as a sling. It's bigger than the WJ but still comfortable. Lots of room for tools & such and I absolutely love the tubes. I can also attach velcro to my plano boxes and carry them in the pack as well. One nice feature is a velcro tab at the top which gives you quick access to your stuff without having to zip it each time. I use both of them out of my kayak and I love it. Easy to get to all my stuff without a lot of clutter in the kayak. I usually don't wear a pfd because I'm on shallow flats. If I hit deep water then I put it behind me and wear my pfd. Here's a pic of me & the tals pack (and a small snook): http://www.pbase.com/kstaples/image/38545463 So to answer your original question: I find the WJ line to be good quality stuff with great customer service. I'm sending mine in for a zipper conditioning (LOTS of saltwater) and a buckle replacement (my fault). No problems and very pleasant. There are other good options as well. Ken On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 20:55:05 -0500, Eddie D <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I have used the TALS system chest pack on the susquehanna river for > smallmouth before and loved them. The good part that I liked, being wet > wading and clumsy, was that when you slipped and went under, the system > would float. I never had a problem with the straps coming lose or the clips > coming un-done. It was a LITTLE hard to get into if you did not feel like > losening the straps, but overall, I liked them alot. > > *Note, I do not OWN a vest, They were on loan from a local fishing guide who > was trying them out for TALS. > > I do, however, own the TALS fly tube (for those of you in the fly box swap > the mess, you'll see it) It comes with 5 silicon circles and is very > durable. I love how they are made and it is easy to find your flies. These > are the tubes that would be in use for a fly fishing chest pack. I've been > thinking about purchasing one of these as my vest seems to be getting very > cluttered. > > The website for this system is www.tals-fishing.com The tubes seem to be on > sale, but I remember paying only 2 bucks more for my tube when they were > very first introduced. > > For the system, the cost is 35 dollars. Chestpack and 6 tubes. Its > definatly worth a look if you are interested. > > > -Eddie > > > >From: "J&A Burbank" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Reply-To: <[email protected]> > >To: <[email protected]> > >Subject: Re: [VFB] Chestpack or vest ?? > >Date: Sun, 13 Feb 2005 17:13:32 -0800 > > > >I've been tossing around the same question. I've been looking at the strap > >vests and think that's the way I'll go this year. The one chest pack I did > >try I didn't care for too much, I felt it blocked my view when looking > >down, but that could just be the gut :- ). Cabela's carries a few different > >strap vests in a variety of prices. Check them out at www.cabela's.com > > > >Jim > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Vagn Hansen > > To: [email protected] > > Sent: Sunday, February 13, 2005 2:10 PM > > Subject: [VFB] Chestpack or vest ?? > > > > > > I'm on the lookout for a new fishing vest, but has been looking at some > >of the small chestpacks aswell and was wondering what you all are using. > > > > What do you guys and girls thing is good/bad about the vest and the > >chestpack. > > > > > > > > I just saw a brand called William Josef, witch is new here in Denmark, > >does any of you know it ?? > > > > Is it worth the money ?? > > > > > > > > > > > > Vagn Hansen > > > > Event of the year 2005: www.flyfestival.dk > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >------------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > Jeg beskyttes af den gratis SPAMfighter til privatbrugere. > > Den har indtil videre sparet mig for at f� 1725 spam-mails > > Betalende brugere f�r ikke denne besked i deres e-mails. > > Hent en gratis SPAMfighter her. > >
