FYI - fishing backpack

[crankbait2009]

hey guys

just thought id give anyone that bank fishes a little recommendation.

i do a lot of bank fishing as well as some wading from time to time.  i normally carry a soft tackle bag that has a shoulder strap.  as you all know this could get pretty annoying trying to keep the bag on your shoulder while trying to walk on rocks, or downstream let alone up stream.  its also nice to be able to have both hands free.

while at BPS yesterday i decided to splurge $55 and buy the XPS stalker bag.  this bag is actually a back pack with TONS of room for tackle cases and tons of pockets to store things.  it has two pockets for holding your spools of line.  it even has opening to spool your reel while the bag is on your back.  quite a few little perks on this bag.  very cool!!

i went out saturday night with it and was walking up and down rock banks as well as just standing on hard shore, bag was very comfortable on my shoulders and it held every bit of my tackle.  i have room for more as well!!! it has a rain cover for the bag, a hard sunglass keeper, cleaning towel, etc......

cabelas also has one which has a rod keeper but it does cost more and you have less storage space.  i believe that one is $70 heres the link for this bag:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?id=0075021125063a&navCount=1&podId=0075021&parentId=cat20327&masterpathid=&navAction=jump&cmCat=MainCatcat20166-cat20327&catalogCode=9IS&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20327&hasJS=true

anyways, just thought id send this little bit of information out for ya.  i really have no regrets buying this bag!!!!!  made my bank fishing alot easier!!!!

heres the link.  oh one more thing.  BPS sells out of these very fast.  its one of there hottest items, so it may be easier to order online or call ahead of time and have the store hold it for you.  i calle din the night before, they had 3 in stock.  by the time i got there at opening the next day, the one on hold for me was the only one left.  blew me away!!

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_10200527_999043014_100000000_999043012?cmCat=CROSSSELL_THUMBNAIL

:D :D

[BassThumb]

I used this $20 Watermark fanny pack, and others like it for years for river wading. It had more room than I needed for carrying tackle and water, and it was light, so no back strain on long trips. It took up very little space so it rarely snagged on anything. You can sling a fanny pack over your shoulder if you're crossing a deep area where it would otherwise get wet.  A fanny pack will be a lot cooler on a hot day than any backpack, and with a vented shirt, you'll be very comfortable.

http://www.amazon.com/Watermark-Hopper-Fanny-Pack/dp/B000R41S6Y

[bassbum85]

I too have the xps stalker and love it. I take it on the boat as well when I get an opportunity. It really is awesome

[Pikesnogle]

I use one of these, something really similar to it.

http://www.amazon.com/adidas-Elite-Team-Sackpack-Screen-Printed/dp/B000KK3M8M/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1280853000&sr=8-9

I am able to fit 3 medium sized clear plano tackle boxes in it. I can put approximately 12-15 stick/crank baits, or 8-10 different types of soft plastics in each box. I can carry a schmorgusboard of tackle with me at all times. I am aslo able to fit a few extra bags of senkos, a can of bug spray and a scale. If I want to carry a water I have to take a few things out and rearrange.

This thing was a great buy, and for $15 it's hard to argue with it. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.

Snogle.

[Grey Wolf]

A fishing vest is the way to go when you're bank fishing. JMHO

[guitarkid]

The best thing to do in my opinion, is to go to an army navy store and get one of the old standard issue ruck sacks. The things could hold probably 5 370 sized boxes in the main compartment.

  -gk

[Owasco]

I just received my xps stalker bag in the mail yesterday.  So naturally I transferred all my tackle over to it.  There are two sets of straps on the backside of the bag that I assumed were for strapping down your rods (at least that's what I used them for yesterday).  The bag is worth every cent.  Go out and get one now! 

The only regret that I have is that I could have saved 15 bucks by ordering it from the catalog as opposed to online.  In the catalog they will include 4 370s or 7 360s for 10 dollars extra.  I bought 5 370s at 5 bucks apiece. 

[crankbait2009]

as for the straps for the "rod holder", are you talking about the ones that actually sit on your back while you have tha pcak on?  i wasnt sure what those straps were for.  i fifgured it would be uncomfortable having your rods digging into your back.  am i wrong?

good to save money...........i had $20 in rewards points so i used that towards the bag and walked out with it fir about $35.  had to buy one case for it since i already had the rest.  so after all said and done id say it was close to $40!!

[Scorcher214]

You got it? Nice!

[Jepu]

I use a cabelas XPG.  Its fairly pricey but well worth it in my mind. It works great for bank fishing, co-angler tournies, and in my boat. Lots of storage, and easy to organize.

[Owasco]

as for the straps for the "rod holder", are you talking about the ones that actually sit on your back while you have tha pcak on? i wasnt sure what those straps were for. i fifgured it would be uncomfortable having your rods digging into your back. am i wrong?

good to save money...........i had $20 in rewards points so i used that towards the bag and walked out with it fir about $35. had to buy one case for it since i already had the rest. so after all said and done id say it was close to $40!!

Yes, the straps that I am talking about are at the top of the four pouches on the sides of the bag.  When it is on your back you can feel the rods at times but they do sit away from your back most of the time.  I will recomend positioning your rods higher on the pack so they don't poke you in the back of your legs.

Theey seem to work perfectly for me.  I does help that I have 2-piece rods.