Tell us about your wading bags!

[Scuba Steve]

What brand of bag do you use? What are its pros and cons?

 

Do you prefer a vest, or a waist/chest/hip pack? 

 

What all do you carry in it for an outing? 

[JWall14]

I use a small osprey backpack with a bag of plastics and small box of lures and hooks. It’s not made for fishing but it does the job. Any ideas on one for fly fishing?

[Scott F]

I prefer sling packs that go over one shoulder. You swing it around to the front to get in it, then swing it to your back to get it out of the way while fishing. I carry a small clamshell box for my hooks and a few weighted hooks, a couple packs of senkos, some pre-rigged Ned rigs, and another bag or two of other plastics. I'll also carry a small utility box with a couple topwaters, and maybe spinnerbait. In the pack is a camera, a measuring tape, a hook sharpener, a Leatherman tooI and a small, waterproof box with my fishing license and a couple of band aids.  I have a hemostat that clamps to my shirt to remove hooks, a boomerang cutter is also clipped to the pocket flap on the shirt and a towel that clips to the pack for wiping my hands off

[jakkbauer]

1 hour ago, Scott F said:

I prefer sling packs that go over one shoulder. You swing it around to the front to get in it, then swing it to your back to get it out of the way while fishing. I carry a small clamshell box for my hooks and a few weighted hooks, a couple packs of senkos, some pre-rigged Ned rigs, and another bag or two of other plastics. I'll also carry a small utility box with a couple topwaters, and maybe spinnerbait. In the pack is a camera, a measuring tape, a hook sharpener, a Leatherman tooI and a small, waterproof box with my fishing license and a couple of band aids.  I have a hemostat that clamps to my shirt to remove hooks, a boomerang cutter is also clipped to the pocket flap on the shirt and a towel that clips to the pack for wiping my hands off

this guy has it figured out perfectly

[fishwizzard]

I use a small hiking pack for longer days and a FishPond Summit sling for shorter ones.  The sling is way more convenient but the pack carries the same weight with far far more comfort.  

 

For both I carry a small dry bag for all my first-aid/comfort/personal items.  I don’t take a spill very often but I feel really smart when it does save me.  

[Scuba Steve]

I’ve always liked waist packs, but I recently switched to a simms sling.

It’s got a bit more room but still lets me pack light.

 

Here’s what I carry...

 

1) One small plano box with assorted lures, hooks, and bullet weights.

 

2) A few individual bags of plastics.

 

3) Two line spools (one main line, one leader)

 

4) Small spring scale, pliers, and nipper.

 

5) Waterproof plano box for my wallet, license, first aid.

 

6) Small net on the pack on two magnets and a lanyard.

 

7) Face mask and sun gloves.

 

My phone stays in my front wader pocket in a waterproof pouch for easy pics.

 

[FishinBuck07]

I wear a fly vest while wading, I tried a backpack, a waist belt, and a sling pack and all hurt my back after a long day.  The vest doesn't seem to put unnecessary weight on my back and it forces me to not carry as much tackle!

[Scuba Steve]

15 minutes ago, FishinBuck07 said:

I wear a fly vest while wading, I tried a backpack, a waist belt, and a sling pack and all hurt my back after a long day.  The vest doesn't seem to put unnecessary weight on my back and it forces me to not carry as much tackle!

I tried the vest for the weight distribution aspect of it and just couldn't dig it. I usually just take 5-10 minutes of wearing it on the other shoulder if I get sore. 

[Scuba Steve]

14 hours ago, Scott F said:

and a towel that clips to the pack for wiping my hands off

Can’t tell you how many times I have forgotten to add this to my stuff ?

[Scott F]

I buy cheap towels at WalMart then add a grommet so I can use a shower curtain ring to hang them from my belt when I’m in a boat or from my pack when I’m not. 

[Scuba Steve]

3 hours ago, Scott F said:

I buy cheap towels at WalMart then add a grommet so I can use a shower curtain ring to hang them from my belt when I’m in a boat or from my pack when I’m not. 

Thats some dedication. I think id just poke a hole and stick a carabiner in it. Either way, I neeeed to remember the darn towel. 

[flyfisher]

I use a chest pack when I am fly fishing but when i am using conventional gear I prefer one of my timbuk2 messenger style bags.  I can adjust it to ride higher on my back, it is pretty waterproof (assuming you don't dunk it) and can hold whatever I need.  I usually only take a box or two, my pliers which have line cutters and fish grips in case i get into some toothy critters.  My bag is also large enough to carry a water bottle or two but if i am going out for a longer day, I just use my camelbak bladder.

[Steveo-1969]

I use an "over one shoulder" bag for wading like @Scott F. Specifically I use a Plano crappie print fishouflauge bag. It's pretty small (14" x 7" x 6") but holds everything I need. Besides the baits/weights/hooks/jigheads, etc. it also carries sunscreen, fishing license, cell phone, car keys, needle nose pliers, Spike-It dye, a tube of Megastrike, hook sharpener, line cutters, a spool of line for leaders and a can of Smokey Mountain tobacco-free snuff.

 

I use this same bag if I'm shore fishing.

[Scuba Steve]

1 hour ago, Steveo-1969 said:

I use an "over one shoulder" bag for wading like @Scott F. Specifically I use a Plano crappie print fishouflauge bag. It's pretty small (14" x 7" x 6") but holds everything I need. Besides the baits/weights/hooks/jigheads, etc. it also carries sunscreen, fishing license, cell phone, car keys, needle nose pliers, Spike-It dye, a tube of Megastrike, hook sharpener, line cutters, a spool of line for leaders and a can of Smokey Mountain tobacco-free snuff.

 

I use this same bag if I'm shore fishing.

That was the bag I used last summer! The cool part about that bag is the two velcro straps in the back can hang on your wading belt, taking some weight off your shoulder. 

[Tizi]

I use one of these in my kayak and am pretty happy with it.

 

 

 

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[BassinCNY]

On 7/13/2019 at 11:16 PM, JWall14 said:

I use a small osprey backpack with a bag of plastics and small box of lures and hooks. It’s not made for fishing but it does the job. Any ideas on one for fly fishing?

For fly fishing I use a waist bag that I found in my closet when I took up fly fishing. It is actually my wife's but I commandeered it. It has several compartments and works well. I have no idea where it came from. I lengthen it and use it like a sling pack when I get in deeper water. I don't usually bring a towel but it seems like a golf towel would work well.

[Crankin4Bass]

I use a small Simms sling back. It's been great and forces me not to take too much.

[Scuba Steve]

7 hours ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I use a small Simms sling back. It's been great and forces me not to take too much.

Which one do you have? I have been loving mine!

[Crankin4Bass]

12 hours ago, Scuba Steve said:

Which one do you have? I have been loving mine!

I have a small Simms Headwaters Sling Pack. I bought it 4 years ago. Unfortunately, they don’t make it anymore. I haven’t seen the new model which is called the Freestone. Orvis makes a similar pack called the Safe Passage. I bought the Simms over the Orvis pack because I liked that the water bottle holder was inside. Other than that my Simms model and Orvis one are very similar.

 

Since I bought my Simms pack sling packs have become more popular and there are some good cheaper options. Two other good options I’ve seen at Dick’s are an Ugly Stick pack for $30 and a Spiderwire pack for $40. 

 

I carry a couple packs of plastics, 1 small 5 compartment Plano box with lures, 1 small open fly box with hooks in their packages, bug spray, sunscreen, first aid kit, Dr Slicks forceps with scissors, side cutter, and a towel with grommet hooked to the pack. I also keep fish grips in a sheath on my belt with a coiled lanyard. The fish grips are great when I use trebles or if i catch a fish with teeth. 

 

Which model do you have?

[Scuba Steve]

3 minutes ago, Crankin4Bass said:

I have a small Simms Headwaters Sling Pack. I bought it 4 years ago. Unfortunately, they don’t make it anymore. I haven’t seen the new model which is called the Freestone. Orvis makes a similar pack called the Safe Passage. I bought the Simms over the Orvis pack because I liked that the water bottle holder was inside. Other than that my Simms model and Orvis one are very similar.

 

Since I bought my Simms pack sling packs have become more popular and there are some good cheaper options. Two other good options I’ve seen at Dick’s are an Ugly Stick pack for $30 and a Spiderwire pack for $40. 

 

I carry a couple packs of plastics, 1 small 5 compartment Plano box with lures, 1 small open fly box with hooks in their packages, bug spray, sunscreen, first aid kit, Dr Slicks forceps with scissors, side cutter, and a towel with grommet hooked to the pack. I also keep fish grips in a sheath on my belt with a coiled lanyard. The fish grips are great when I use trebles or if i catch a fish with teeth. 

 

Which model do you have?

Good stuff! The 2019 freestone is the one I just got. It's the one between the tactical and backpack versions for $139. Little more than I thought I'd pay but the tax man was great to me this year. I love it so far.