How do you carry your stuff when fishing?

Have you ever picked up your tackle box only to find that you did not latch it properly and all your stuff is laying on the ground (or in the water or between rocks)? Well, unless I'm in a boat, I never use a tackle box!

I have a vest, and have used them quite a bit, but lately, I've been using a tackle bag with a shoulder strap. I've been very happy with it.

I tend to fish on the move, hitting a fishy spot for a few minutes, then moving on to the next one. And I like to wade in the water and cross to the other side when possible. A shoulder bag or a vest is the best option I've found for this.

I have also started using a chest pack. Especially when fly fishing and when I plan on wading deeper than usual. I also use it only if I'm sticking to one kind of technique for the day (like spinners/spoons or jig/bobber, or drift fishing, ect - but not combining any of these together).

When fishing for salmon and steelhead, I find that I'm changing tactics often. I like to bring plugs, spinners, spoons, bait, floats, and jigs for example. I've found that the shoulder bag works great because you can hold a lot of stuff, and you have easy access to it.

I have small clear plastic tackle containers for each type of gear: 1 for plugs, 1 for spoons, 1 for spinners, 1 for jigs, 1 for weights and swivels, ect. This allows me to carry many diffent things, without making a mess in the bag. I use the pockets for leader, knife, camera, and other things that are always needed on a given trip.

OK - so this isn't as an exciting topic as C&R or Bankie vs Boater, but it is fishing related (:

So what works for you?

What is up with those retired monikers?


FJ...out.

[ 12-28-2001: Message edited by: Fish Jesus ]

I like to carry a little of everything so I have converted to a fanny pack. It is less cumbersome then carring a bag and it feels a lot better then those 20+lb vest with every pocket filled with stuff. There are a lot of fanny packs out in the market for fishermen but I like 3 brands.
1. The JW fanny pack. It has padding and plenty of room plus pockets and it is one of the most comfortable packs I have yet to use. When you need something, just turn it in front and get what you need and then return to your backside.
2. LL Bean modular packs are roomy for just about evrything you can need to carry and the chest or waist conversion is nice.
3.IMD System(Interchangeable Modular design).
A lot like the JW packs but you can buy different bags and components to customize what you wanna carry. It has locking mechinism that clips to the main belt and you can take off or add on different pouches. Waterbottle holder, Waterproof camera bag, from large to small or vice versa bags. You name it it will have an interchangeable pouck or holder for it.

All these fanny packs will not bankrupt you either.

I carry all my crap in a Sage Guide Line Backpack. They have enough room for all the crap I like to carry and then some. Plus the balance very well on my back so I can walk 100's of yards without knowing I'm carring 50 pounds of my fishing [Bleeeeep!].

When I am fishing a run I just throw it down on the bank. And because I wear a Simms Guide Jacket which has lots of pockets, I jsut throw some lead and cinches and pliers and such in the pockets and I can fish a run without having to walk back to my backpack.

It is by far the best way I have found to carry all my gear while I am fishing!!!

FJ - thanks for asking.

I started out as "chadk" when I was just checking out the site from work one day, and did not plan on sticking around long.
Then, when I was trying to access the site from home one day, I forgot my password (I didn't know at the time that I could change it to an easy one - so I kept the one the site admins gave me). Since I didn't have access at the time to my work email that had the password, I just created a new login. So for a while, when at work, I was Chadk, and at home, I was FishnBudee.

Now that I'm addicted to this site, I want to stick with one moniker going forward - so I wanted anyone interested to know that I'm not trying to be deceitful - I just wanted a more fun name...

Sorry for any confusion!