I love the fly fishing vests I’ve had over the year and really feel they are a necessary part of my fly fishing gear, I could see me carrying all the stuff I carry with just a jacket on.

With the different styles of fishing such as dry fly and wet fly, carrying the equipment for each style required can become quite a load. A quality fly fishing vest should keep all your tools and extras organised and within easy reach, and in doing so make each outing an enjoyable and hopefully memorable experience.

As an illustration a days outing on a far-flung river requires that you carry certain supplies. The fishing could change from fishing fast water where you are fishing with a heavy nymph, or to clear deep pools using a sinking line and streamer fly. You may also come across areas that you could use a dry fly or tiny nymphs such as back washes and incoming creeks. All of these conditions require varying lines and fishing flies. Nothing is worse than to be caught out by finding the trout suddenly coming on to a dry fly and all you have is nymping gear with you.

Dependent on the amount of time you have you may also want to something to sustain you. When I spend a day on the river I usually take lunch, a small billy and gas cooker if the area to be fished was in a fire restricted area. Also foul weather gear and spare clothing in the way of light weight but warm polypropelene shirt, socks and leggings. All of this gear requires a serious, good quality fishing vest.

Not only is the fly fishing vest a great way to keep organized, but also ensures that you have everything you need. With a well set up fly vest you can leave all your gear inside ensuring that the next time you venture out everything is where it should be. Get used to keeping the same things in each pocket so you can unconciously locate whatever it is you desire. The majority of vests these days have a host of pockets and compartments for whatever it is you need. Cell phone and camera pockets, pouches for torches,glasses, the list goes on.

Most fishermen will have need for different fly vests. For myself I have 2, one I use for fishing from a boat, canoe or where i know what to expect such as local lakes rivers and streams. This is a lighter vest for basic gear such as fly boxes, leaders, a spare spool, and perhaps an extra reel. On the other side is a full day pack / vest that can house various reels, lines and apparatus for a long day hike.

Obviously the fishing vest you choose will suit your style of fishing, be prepared to spend a little extra and opt for quallity fly fishing vests such as a simms fishing vest, Like the rest of your fly equipment good quality will give years of enjoyment and fond memories.

Quality of a fly fishing vest can be one of the crucial items in fly fishing. When looking at fly fishing vest you have a lot of options and you must select carefully. It is crucial that the vest you select meets your needs so consider your alternatives before settling on one of them. Almost all of fly fishing vests come with variety of pockets in different sizes and shapes. You must have a vest that comes with enough pockets to hold your fishing gear. And what type of fasteners do the pockets have like buttons, zips, Velcro or press studs are also be considerable. Because cheap vest with low quality zipper can be corroded after time, some cheap fly vest that have a small amount of Velcro is hardly secures the pocket and some press studs can rust. It is so sad to see your precious fly box splashes into deep cold water or much worse you find a vest pocket undone and your favorite fly box missing when you get back to the vehicle after a long hike because you choose the wrong vest.

When wearing vest make sure it is comfortable and do not overload the vest with dozens of items and fly boxes. The neck and shoulders areas of the vest should be padded and made by comfortable material which can evenly distribute the weight of the vest. The very important matter you should be aware of is a vest with lower quality can rub your neck and cut into your shoulder after several hours of fishing. When choosing a fly fishing vest you also need to consider the size carefully. You must make sure you still can move freely and the movement of your casting should not be inhibited even when you wear several layers underneath especially if you often do cold water fishing.

When you do fishing a lot in the hot conditions, a mesh vest that will be well ventilated and keep you cool in the summer heat will be considers. Usually whistles and bells hanging on vest are too many and your fly line can easily get caught on anything sticking out from it.

Most of vests come in varieties of colors. You can pick vests in orange or blue but a neutral brown preferred by many fly fishers. In the years to come, junior and female fly vests will be much trendier and more colorful. But blending into the environment is very important and you don’t have to scare the fish away in the process.

You may be wading in water so the vest should have a short waist mainly. If you don’t want it to get wet then having a vest short without compromising the amount of pockets is needed because some vests come with a built in life preserver. If you will be fishing in rough waters with strong currents this can be a great help. You may have easy rescue at hand with these built in floatation devices because you never know when accident may took place.

Fly fishing vests come in varieties price ranges from to 0 for a very basic vest. Mostly the cheaper vest can deteriorate and rip quicker while a better quality with higher prices will last years.

Besides having you fly fishing rod, fly fishing reel, and fly fishing line, there are other beginner fly fishing gear that you should get before you can start fly fishing. This guide describes the essential fly fishing gear and tools required for the beginner angler.

Fly Fishing Flies

An essential part of fly fishing – you won’t catch any fish with the wrong fly fishing flies. The flies you buy must be suited to the type of fish species you intending catching. When starting out, a fly selection package is a cost-effective way of building up your fly collection. A fly selection package is a selection of flies packaged for a specific region or fish species. A fly box is essential to keep all your fly fishing flies safe and sound. A fly box consists of various compartments so that you can organize you fly collection.

Leader and Tippet Spool

A leader is a length of tapered nylon line that sits between the fly line and the tippet. A leader separates the fly line from the fly, and does not create a disturbance in the water near the fly when the fly line is cast. As the leader is made from clear see-through material, it is invisible to the fish. A leader tapers, and the thick end is tied to the fly fishing line. Leader line has varying breaking strengths, and is available in different lengths (lengths between 7 and 9 feet are common). You normally buy leader line to match the size and species of fish you want to catch.

A tippet is tied onto the leader, and is used so that whenever you replace a fly on your line, you don’t have to cut your leader line down. Tippet line is available in different breaking strengths and different diameters to match the size and species of fish you intend to catch. You normally use between 1 to 3 foot of tippet, and your fly is tied onto the end of this tippet. The thinnest (tippet end) diameter of your leader line must match the diameter of your tippet line. For example, you will need a 5X tippet line if your leader has a 5x tippet diameter.

Fly Fishing Waders

Waders are waterproof gear that allow anglers to stand in deep water without getting wet. You get hip-height, waist-height, and chest-height waders depending on the depth of water you are fishing in. When fishing in warmer climates, where you do not mind getting wet, waders are not really essential. Fishing in colder climates will normally require that you wear waders. Stockingfoot and bootfoot are the two main types of fly fishing waders. Bootfoot waders come with the boot built into the wader, and stockingfoot will require that you buy separate wading boots or sandals. The breathable Simms waders are reputed to be the best waders available today.

Fly Fishing Accessories

There are essential fly fishing accessories that all anglers should have. To be able to cut your fishing line, a pair of clippers is essential – you can also use nail clippers. In order to get a hook out of a fish’s mouth (and to mash down the barbs on a fishing hook), a pair of fishing pliers, or a hemostat will prove to be very useful. In order to keep your hooks sharp, another useful item to have is a hook file.

Sun Protection

You will be in the sun for extended periods, so its essential to wear a hat and sunglasses to reduce the glare you get off the water. Polarized sunglasses will help you see what is happening above and below the water.

Fly Fishing Vest

A fly fishing vest is recommended, and is extremely useful to keep all your fly fishing accessories and tools organized without losing items. Vests can also be used to keep you warm and dry. Here is a guide to help you choose the best fly fishing vest to suit your requirements.

That covers the essential beginner fly fishing gear that you will require in order to get started with fly fishing.

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