Fly Fishing Vest

When you’re fly fishing, it feels like there’s only you and the fish in the stream. On the other hand, many things have to be brought on a fishing trip.

From retractable clippers, leaders, and flies to rain gear, wallets, and cell phones, to packed lunch. Ask around your fellow fly fishing enthusiasts, and you will find that many of them can carry gear weighing up to 15 pounds!

Check Out This Article: Top Fishing Accessories

While you can place these things in a conventional backpack, you will find that it’s an inconvenient container. Instead, you should use a fly fishing vest!

Things To Look For In A Fly Fishing Vest

Remember that the best fly fishing vest isn’t just a piece of clothing placed over your regular fly fishing clothes. It’s a specially-designed vest for holding most, if not all, of the myriad of big and small things you will need for a day of fly fishing.

For this reason, it should have plenty of pockets! But not too many that you won’t be able to identify which pocket holds what items, and you can’t access these items quickly.

You may spend more minutes than necessary on finding, say, a fly instead of casting it toward rising trout because you can’t find it in the jumble of pockets.

Also, you will be tempted to pack more things than needed when you have a vest with many pockets. In this case, it becomes a burden, no thanks to its unnecessary weight, and it contributes to your discomfort and fatigue.

We suggest looking for a vest with 10 to 20 pockets, give or take a few small ones. You should have plenty of room to hold the essentials, get easy access to them, and keep them organized.

Be sure to consider the size of the pockets, too. The best fly fishing vest has small, medium, and large pockets that can hold nearly every size of essentials except the proverbial kitchen sink.

We suggest getting a vest with more large-sized and medium-sized pockets than small-sized ones. You will need the former for your wallet, car keys, and phone, while the latter is for fly boxes and leaders, among other things.

You can leave the other non-essential things in your car so your vest doesn’t feel too heavy or wieldy.

The next factor for consideration is the type of material used, and there are two types to choose from.

First, the mesh fly fishing vest is made from fabric with air holes for better air circulation, a great feature when you’re fishing in warmer weather or you want a lightweight vest. But it has its drawbacks, too, foremost of which is its durability.

The mesh material can become quickly torn in high-friction areas, such as in the armpits and sides of the arms, especially with the casting motions. Even putting it on and off can cause tiny tears and, in time, to its non-usable state.

Second, the non-mesh flying vests are made from canvas and are thick, heavy, and non-porous material. These are more rugged and durable than mesh fly fishing vests because of their material and stitching quality.

Many can last for several years of regular use, even lend themselves well to countless mending.

But these are also bulkier and heavier, and significantly hotter than the mesh fly fishing vests. Then again, if you live in a colder climate, you will like them for their extra protection from the cold and their durability in a more rugged environment.

Finally, consider the comfort of the vest because it’s arguably the most crucial factor. You will be on the water nearly all day, so your comfort is vital in actually enjoying it. You don’t want a vest that feels too heavy or bulky, tight, large, or too hot under the collar.

Find a vest in your size, but be sure to consider the layers of clothing you will be wearing over. If you’re wearing two shirts underneath for warmth, you may want to buy a vest a size or two larger than your clothing size.

If you’re planning on wearing a winter coat or a rain jacket over it, you should also consider the vest’s material and size.

Reasons To Get The Best Fly Fishing Vest

The design of a fly fishing vest keeps its weight, including the myriad of things packed in it on your shoulders. Also, if your fishing gear is packed well in the front and back, its load is well-distributed around your body, so there’s less strain on your shoulders.

In contrast, chest packs and sling bags are designed such that the neck carries most of the load, not the shoulders. A few hours of use causes sore muscles, discomfort, and fatigue, not to mention that these can get in the way of the casting action.

Men’s Fly Fishing Vest

Of course, don’t just get any fly fishing vest! It would help if you seriously considered this Men’s Fly Fishing Vest because it meets the criteria for a practical vest that every enthusiast looks for.

It’s made of a water-resistant, breathable, and durable polyester material with mesh lining for added comfort. It comes in a one-size-fits-all design, but it’s a good thing, too, since you don’t have to worry about getting the wrong size.

It can be adjusted based on your body size, thanks to its adjustable shoulder and waist belt.

You can store most of your essentials for fly fishing in its numerous pockets, and there are several sizes for this purpose, too.

It even has a few D rings in the back where you can carry a fishing net! It’s large enough for getting your gear wherever you want to take them on your fishing expedition but small enough not to get in the way, too.

Conclusion

A fly fishing vest is a must-have for every enthusiast because it’s a convenient way of getting all of your essentials in one place.

You must then invest in it because it can mean the difference between getting your stuff together or leaving some of it behind. Your choice, too, will contribute to your enjoyment of the sport, so choose one that fits your fly fishing preferences.