Are vests super "uncool?"
Newer flyfisherman here. I have been using a modern Simms vest, but have noticed that all the cool guides seem to use packs. Do I look like a noob for wearing a vest?
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by exploitedworkerbee
flyguy
Loc: Lake Onalaska, Sunfish Capitol of the World!
FS Digest wrote:
Newer flyfisherman here. I have been using a modern Simms vest, but have noticed that all the cool guides seem to use packs. Do I look like a noob for wearing a vest?
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by exploitedworkerbee
Welcome to the Forum, I have been wearing a vest for 60 years now, my current one is about 25 y/o. Maybe I'm uncool, but do I care. Nope!
Able Man
Loc: North Coast (Cleveland, Ohio)
"Looking COOL" is the last thing I've worried about, while trying to kill seafood. ... Don't stress over it, would be my advice... Whatever works best for you, personally, is the way to "roll".
Me thinks it’s bout dem fish in da cooler - not bout fishin clothing!
Friend, if you wish to be cool and the Pack is your definition of cool, wear Pack. But the longer you fish and the more experience you are, the less you will find copying someone else will make any difference at all.
You go out and start catching fish, the less you care about cool and the more you catch, YOU will begin to set the trend of what is cool. Just Sayin...RJS
For awhile here in Oregon, everybody was shunning vests in favor of "guide lanyards". Lots of folks, me included, thought..yeah, that looks cool, I'll get one, even found a Dr. Slick one that included a small fly box.
Once you load up every thing you used to put in your vest, making accommodation for things that were never intended to be "hung", you realize....cool if you only need 3-4 things on it, its like wearing a floppy millstone otherwise.
Trends come and go....go with what works for you, we won't judge !
Wouldn’t reccomend wearing it on a date to a sports bar. You will definitely look like a tool
I’ve forgot I was wearing my PFD before and went to store. Not too cool
Anywhere near lake or river , you will be ok wearing a vest
Big dog
Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York
FS Digest wrote:
Newer flyfisherman here. I have been using a modern Simms vest, but have noticed that all the cool guides seem to use packs. Do I look like a noob for wearing a vest?
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by exploitedworkerbee
I guided for 25 years and I always used a vest. Pockets, it’s all about the pockets.
Seriously .?? This is what you are concerned about these days?
Reminds me of times at the confluence of the Russian and Kenai Rivers during a Red run. These folks would show up, we called ‘em “beaners” because they looked like they came right out of an LL Bean catalog. They would wade out and begin casting into the middle of the River. Over and over, never hooking up. Meanwhile the rest of us in our rubber hip waders did what was locally known as the Kenai Flip (essentially a roll cast) with maybe 10’ of line. The fish run next to the shore for the most part so no need for a graceful back cast.
Moral of the story, focus on technique and don’t worry what you look like.
A pack is good for a guide, because he/she usually carries more stuff than the average fly fisherman. I used a large back pack with plastic bag liner when wader fishing for salmon in Alaska. It carried lunch and fish while leaving my hands free. It was easy to drop, isolating myself and clients from the fish in a potential bear scenario. I like the chest pack because I forget which pocket I put things in. I use a chess pack designed for fly fishing and find it comfortable. I also use a fanny pack when I walk/hike into a lake or pond for bass as it holds my larger plastic lure containers. Fanny Pack, talk about totally uncool!!!
bapabear wrote:
A pack is good for a guide, because he/she usually carries more stuff than the average fly fisherman. I used a large back pack with plastic bag liner when wader fishing for salmon in Alaska. It carried lunch and fish while leaving my hands free. It was easy to drop, isolating myself and clients from the fish in a potential bear scenario. I like the chest pack because I forget which pocket I put things in. I use a chess pack designed for fly fishing and find it comfortable. I also use a fanny pack when I walk/hike into a lake or pond for bass as it holds my larger plastic lure containers. Fanny Pack, talk about totally uncool!!!
A pack is good for a guide, because he/she usually... (
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I forgot to mention: It's all about the hat!!!
As long as the hat's a Tilley.
FS Digest wrote:
Newer flyfisherman here. I have been using a modern Simms vest, but have noticed that all the cool guides seem to use packs. Do I look like a noob for wearing a vest?
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by exploitedworkerbee
I've always ran on the premise that fishing gives you a free pass to not worry about what you look like, scruffy beard from not shaving, goofy trapper's hats, scarves, ski pants, insulated boots...it's all good
True fishermen use what is needed for fishing that day, staying warm or cool, not getting sunburned, bug bit etc. and don’t give a damn about fashions. I use all of them now and then but a vest most. Sometimes a really not cool looking bug head net but boy am I glsd tp keep mosquitoes or black flies away!
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