I use a vest that I bought at Gander a couple years back. It has a clip on the back to which I attach my net via a small carabeaner. The tether for the net I purchased is a "bungee" type, and it was too long. I fixed that by having my wife hold the tether at the base of my neck, then I extended my arm as far as it would go (like you would while netting a fish). I then tied it off at that spot.

On the D-ring on the front of the vest, I have clipped a pair of stub nosed scissors and a pair of good nail clippers on a bungee type tether. I keep beads and swivels in a cylindrical tube with a cap in one of the bottom pockets (same type that salmon trolling flies come in). Same with floating jig heads and split shot. I keep egg sinkers in an old pill bottle. All this goes on the same side of the vest. On the other side I have all the tails that I use in one pocket, then my wallet in a Ziplock bag in another. You want to try to weight the vest evenly if you can...standing there for a long time with one side heavier than the other sucks.

I keep a small pocket knife for gill cutting in an upper chest pocket. I also keep a small filler spool of leader line in another chest pocket, with the tag end sticking out and the Velcro closed. This way you can just grab the line and pull it off and the little spool will spin inside the vest.

Only thing I wish it had was a large pocket in the back (like a game pouch) for a bottle of water.

BTW...buy the vest a size larger than you normally would buy. Think about it..you are going to be putting it over your jacket/coat and your waders.

 

Vest is the best way to go...........

 

my waders have the muffler for your hands and a velcro front pocket and i just use that. i have one of the tackle buddy things with 15 pre tied leaders and keep some weights in the front pocket so i can pick them up one by one and not have to worry about spills. if i break off more than 15 leaders in a spot, then the way i see it i deserve to take the walk of shame back to shore to tie a bunch of new ones! pliers and pocket knife also go in that front pocket. i carry a single plastic box with pink, chartruese, and white/red tails along with some extra weights and floaters. i prefer the trolling weights with the swivels in them already so i only keep a few swivels just in case i bring in a rig with a perfectly usable bullet weight. i clip my stringer on 1 of the D rings and put my wader strap through the cord on the handle of my net so it hangs beside me ready to net a fish when the time comes. as for filler line i like using a big reel for maumee simply because i dont have to respool every 2nd or 3rd trip! pretty sure it holds around 300 yards of 12lb line so it takes a little longer to drain it out. ive also noticed that i can cast a lot farther with a higher capacity reel than a smaller one, so reaching out to holes i couldn't reach before is also a big plus! theres my 2 cents worth.

 

a backpack is a nice way to go keeps everything dry and can hold as much as you want.

 

I have a Plano fanny-pack with three compartments...I keep all my tails in the left pocket, I have a small planno box in the middle where I carry my floaters, egg sinkers, swivels etc. and also have the tackle buddy in there with some pre-tied floters...in the right pocket, I carry my stringer so its out of the way but hooked up and ready to go, I hook it up on the belt of the fanny pack....I will probably invest in a vest sooner or later for other odds and ends, but the pack works great!!....my net, I just stick in the back of my waders

 

Maumee tackle has a Plano tackle belt that has a tray that folds down. It makes a nice neat little tray when folded down and opened up. I bought one last year and wonder how I ever managed without it. I do carry a small tackle bag with "extra's" just in case I need to re-stock my belt pack. It's the best $16 I ever spent.

 

a backpack is a nice way to go keeps everything dry and can hold as much as you want.

How do you get stuff out of a backpack when you are standing crotch deep in flowing water?

 

Thanks, BFG, I was going to ask the same question.

Does anyone recommend any particular vests - looking to go cheap if I get one.

 

Edit

 

A cheap vest will work. IMO you can't beat a vest. You may think this is silly but before I head out for the first trip I put my vest on and load my gear. You will find certain things go better in one pocket or the other. After a few trips down you will find what works best for you.

As far as a backpack....well....not really all that handy for getting stuff out of. If you head to shore to retie every time you break off don't be pissed when someone steps into your spot. Real estate is at a premimum, you move out someone is moving in. That WAS your spot.

 

How do you get stuff out of a backpack when you are standing crotch deep in flowing water?

You just wear it on the front of you

 

Real estate is at a premimum, you move out someone is moving in. That WAS your spot.

real estate at its premium and a lot of times courtesy can be at its minimum! regardless of vest, waders pocket, or backpack, everyone here will have different favorites that work for them, but find your favorite way to not have to go ashore to retie a rig if you value your spot you caught 3 quick fish in!

 

As far as a backpack....well....not really all that handy for getting stuff out of. If you head to shore to retie every time you break off don't be pissed when someone steps into your spot. Real estate is at a premimum, you move out someone is moving in. That WAS your spot.

Hey Swanny....a funny memory just came to mind...

Remember a couple years back one sunny, warm evening we were over at the island with 200 of our best friends...and out of the blue here comes Team L.L. Bean?

OMG....I swear that these two still had tags on everything. Matching vests, coats, hats, rods/reels, tackle purses that they put on shore...yellow Trilene...

These were the type that DID go to shore every time they broke off (um..and they did so only AFTER walking themselves all the way back to shore...) to re-tie.

They weren't catching jack...and I was done with my four. Finally "Chris" hooks up with a fish...I can tell it's snagged as it immediately rips off like 50' of line. Now here is the funny part...

His buddy.."Pat"...asks me..."would you mind backing up so my friend can fight his fish...it's a big one...and ask those other guys to move to..."

To which I replied..."what other guys....oh...you mean those 75 other guys down there....sure......HEY RANDY...THIS GUY WANTS YOU GUYS TO MOVE SO HE CAN LAND HIS SNAGGED CARP..."

Strangely...the line all of a sudden went slack...

"Oh Darn! I lost him!" said Chris...

Downtrodden and defeated...Team L.L. Bean retreated to the woods...together...

 

I do remember that I am not sure how his line went slack

 

Hey Swanny....a funny memory just came to mind...

Remember a couple years back one sunny, warm evening we were over at the island with 200 of our best friends...and out of the blue here comes Team L.L. Bean?

OMG....I swear that these two still had tags on everything. Matching vests, coats, hats, rods/reels, tackle purses that they put on shore...yellow Trilene...

These were the type that DID go to shore every time they broke off (um..and they did so only AFTER walking themselves all the way back to shore...) to re-tie.

They weren't catching jack...and I was done with my four. Finally "Chris" hooks up with a fish...I can tell it's snagged as it immediately rips off like 50' of line. Now here is the funny part...

His buddy.."Pat"...asks me..."would you mind backing up so my friend can fight his fish...it's a big one...and ask those other guys to move to..."

To which I replied..."what other guys....oh...you mean those 75 other guys down there....sure......HEY RANDY...THIS GUY WANTS YOU GUYS TO MOVE SO HE CAN LAND HIS SNAGGED CARP..."

Strangely...the line all of a sudden went slack...

"Oh Darn! I lost him!" said Chris...

Downtrodden and defeated...Team L.L. Bean retreated to the woods...together...

That's a funny story!

 

Hey guys i am new to this site n the area. i am out here for college. I enjoyed fishing back home in northeastern pa. I was wondering if the same lure colors n techniques r the same for fish out here in ohio. If i could have any help finding good fishing spots in the lima area for bass, walleye, and stripers. I am open for any suggestion. Thank You

 

Thanks, BFG, I was going to ask the same question.

Does anyone recommend any particular vests - looking to go cheap if I get one.

http://www.gandermountain.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=410128&pdesc=Gander_Mountain_Guide_Series_Premium_Convertible_Mesh_Back_Fly_Fishing_Vest&str=fishing+vest&merchID=4005

I bought this vest last year. It got great reviews and it carries all of the gear I ever need to take into battle. It also has two nice tool attachments that I connected a pair of hemostats and nail clippers to. Since they are attached to the vest I never have to worry about them falling into the drink. I also read somewhere in this thread that someone needed a way to carry water. I also have this issue. I have been thinking about buying a camelbak hydration system. Does anyone own one of these or have any other solutions for carrying water?

 

cabelas has one for 30 bucks in their bargain cave

 

I carry a water and a pop in a zippered bag that clips to my stringer. The bag says Dick's on it but I am not sure where I got them?? Must have been a giveaway item. It keeps your drink cold early season.

 

Good ideas, thanks!

 

if you tie jig head leaders what do you use to store them in your vest while you are wading? Or, do you just tie each jig head as you need?

 

Hey guys i am new to this site n the area. i am out here for college. I enjoyed fishing back home in northeastern pa. I was wondering if the same lure colors n techniques r the same for fish out here in ohio. If i could have any help finding good fishing spots in the lima area for bass, walleye, and stripers. I am open for any suggestion. Thank You

Try the reservoirs for crappie, some perch, bluegill, whie bass, catfish. There is usually a Lima fishing report thread in the spring keep an eye out for it. Not much walleye caught around here, some @ Bresslers trolling.

Jeremy

 

if you tie jig head leaders what do you use to store them in your vest while you are wading? Or, do you just tie each jig head as you need?

I use a tackle buddy. Like 5 bucks at most tackle shops.

 

just a reminder to everyone fishing the run this year...

make sure to take the time to pick up trash that you see. Its a shame to go to these places and see all the junk along the shores and in the water. Lets keep these places the way they should be.

 

I got a olive drab bag I got at a military surplus store a few years back....Sorta looks like a purse but hey, it works! Maybe those guys didn't have their heated LL beam underwear on so they had to go to the bank to warm up!! Can get pretty cold out there!!!