Decades ago, when I decided to take that next giant leap into the world of fly fishing for trout, I knew one thing for certain. In order to be the complete flyfisher I wanted to be, I was going to need a fly fishing vest. Those who knew much more than I wore them. Photos in books and magazines had anglers in waders, sometimes strange hats, pipes permanently attached to their faces, and, at least if they were fishing for trout, a vest. There was just no way I could possibly move forward with any success without one. Soon thereafter, the first was bought, and for a couple of decades, I never fished without one. 

Like many others, once that vest was purchased, you quickly realized your first dilemma. All those pockets of various sizes that must be filled. I started with fly boxes, at least four. Spools of tippet, again, at least four. Extra leaders, a pack of three. It’s funny now looking back, in 45 years of fishing, I’ve never once replaced a whole leader while fishing. Fly floatant and a piece of rubber for straightening out leaders. Split shot in various sizes. A tape measure, knife, and hook file. Insect repellent, sunglasses, band-aids, a stream thermometer, and, at one time, a stomach pump. A small aquarium net for collecting hatching insects. That big pocket in the back of the vest, a perfect place for a rain jacket in the summer or extra gloves and a scarf for the winter season. You get the idea. To be honest, most days I wasn’t sure what was where. The other drawback was the accumulated weight of all those necessities. I soon noticed that after five or six days of fishing, standing slightly bent over at the waist in order to be somewhat sneaky, I would develop a kink in my back, neck, and shoulders. A problem only solved by taking a couple of days off from fishing. Not wanting to miss any time on the water, something had to change. It was time to simplify. Time to eliminate unnecessary items. Time to lighten up the load. It seemed as if at the same time, almost overnight, something changed, and the fishing vest disappeared from the local fly fishing scene. 

Over the next couple of decades, I developed a much leaner approach to my days on the water. The arrival of the new style of fishing shirts with the two large breast pockets was the beginning. I carried one medium-sized fly box, changing patterns within that box as the season progressed. The other pocket held two spools of material, fly floatant, and a small container of split shot. Forceps were pinched somewhere on the shirt, and nippers hung from around the neck. Rain jacket, extra winter gear, bug dope all left in the vehicle. Did I occasionally regret leaving something in the car? Yes, but not all that often. Things went well for many years, but eventually, as I got older, the need for things started to creep back in. I just found different ways of dealing with it. I wasn’t alone. 

In the past few years, I’ve noticed a trend, and yes, I’ve been there, done that. The large breast pocket shirt still has its place, but it was not always practical when it was covered by a rain jacket or several layers of warmer clothing. Searching for that needed item felt like an expedition. Two zippers later, in which one was bound to jam, finally arriving at the pocket of said item felt like a hassle, and quite the undertaking, especially during those colder months of the early season when your fingers already felt like frozen chunks of wood. So, like many others, I tried hip and shoulder packs but never got used to them. They just always felt in the way of my actual fishing and I found myself always repositioning them after maneuvering them to the front of me for access. The newest trend I’ve noticed, one that I’ve never understood or done, is the wearing of backpacks to hold our essential gear. To watch someone, in the middle of a hatch, stop fishing, head to the bank to take off their backpack, dig out whatever they need, and then put it back on and then wade back out just seems like too much work. But we don’t stop there. Most chest waders have a chest pouch; no sense in leaving that empty. So we load that up as well. iPhones, insect repellent, a snack, those sunglasses, etc., Being that most of us use a wading belt, we might as well dangle something off that, a holster for a water bottle, maybe that 8” hunting knife for that wild boar that might attack, a net holster, or that fancy rod holder. I’ve seen it all, and I’m guilty on some accounts. 

No more! At least for the beginning of the new season. I’m going back in time. I’m going back to the vest. I no longer feel the need to fill every pocket. My essential gear will all be in the front pockets. Within easy, quick access. That large back pouch will hold extra gloves for the winter season. Best of all, it will be my outer layer. No more searching for items under layers of outer clothing. I think it’s going to work great. Maybe I’ll continue to wear it throughout the season. After all, I’m going to need a flashlight for those late summer nights. We’ll see how it goes.