[smallie]

i was wanting to know if anyone can suggest a good fishing vest for me to get? it will be for wading and i already use a tackle storage waist belt. it has to have lots of BIG pockets for the plastic tackle containers, and room to store a spare spinning reel with extra spool. any help is appreciated.

smallie.


GO TAMPA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Flatheadmaniac]

vests

I looked into a lot of brands and found that the Columbia vest is the one for me.
I do a ton of wading and carry way too much stuff( i like to go over-board on all my fishing, so its ok). These vests have a very comfortable neoprene collar, which is great for loaded down vests..saves and the wear and tear on your neck trust me.
Now another choice, i just bought a sweet chest pack that will hold just as much stuff, but puts only the important stuff right in front where i need it. To get things out of the back pockets of a vest, you have to take it off..not so with a chest pack..just unbuckle it and spin it around..when your done, just spin it back around and buckle up and go.
Most chest packs come with a place to hold a drink too which is great for long summer wades.
Good luck and i hope you find one to fit your needs.

 

[Flatheadmaniac]

a few links to look at

Chest packs:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=9&parentId=cat20431&parentType=category&rid=

The chest packs that would be perfect are the Cabelas Advanced anglers chest pack & Cabelas Fly-Fishing chest pack.

Vests:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=9&parentId=cat20451&parentType=category&rid=

The vest i have is the Columbia Henry's Fork II.

 

[Flatheadmaniac]

More wading gear to consider...

Up til about 1 yrs ago i always just used old tennis shoes for wading, i never liked wearing leather wading boots as after a short while of lots of use they got hard as rocks and seemed to shrink up a lot. Plus they were so heavy after they got water logged.
I bought me a nice pair of neopene wading boots(also called flats boots..lol see the connection?) any way the pair i got are made by Orvis, they are AWSOME..keeps out all the little rocks and gravel that used to bug me before..they fit snug and have a zipper on the side for easy on and off, plus mine have a pcs of velcro at the top for extra security to keep rocks out.

A few of my buddys went and bought the Cabelas brand, which look just like my Orvis boots, but cost a lot less.

If you like wading long distances and fish nice clean streams as i do that contain small rocks and gravel and have a problem getting them in your shoes..check out the "Flats" boots...you can get them in either felt sole or regular rubber soles.

"Flats" boots:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/t...=9&parentId=cat20431&parentType=category&rid=

http://www.basspro-shops.com/servle...=500&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=7&hvarSubCode=3

Gander Mountain has a few nice pairs to look into also, for a good price too.

Wading is a lot of fun and if your comfortable its even better, nothing i hate worse than fighting with gear or having to stop and empty out my shoes all the time!

 

[smallie]

flatheadmaniac

thanx for the info flathead. i certainly will look up those links. i am planning to map and follow the hoga from the erie mouth to wherever it ends. we will take gps along and coordinate good spots wherever we find em. and since alot of it will be wading , i'll need a good vest.

 

[Flatheadmaniac]

your welcome

and hope you find some great smallies this year,
Scott