Baron wrote:
Hey Bam,
how 'bout some photos. Or is your Patent Lawyer prohibiting that?
The biggest thing I came away with is to avoid the potential for tangles, a sorest, I'm constantly tangled in the boat and will work on that as years go by.
Helpful explanations, thanks.
No photos needed and no patents, at least none of my patents...;-)
I am using readily available MOLLE pouches attached to PALS webbing on a duty belt. This is the same gear & attachment system used by law enforcement, the military, shooters, hunters and soft air & paintball enthusiasts.
There are literally 1000's of pouch options out there in all sizes and configurations, hundreds of belt options (even vests) and you can find a pouch to carry anything, you just have to use your imagination, think it through and do your homework.
I never liked the idea of a single pouch for everything and I never liked the fly-fishing specific pouches/bags that have purpose made pockets/compartments/loops/hooks for specific items which force you to store things where they THINK you want you to, NOT where YOU want to. I also avoid elastic on any pouch like the plague because it ALWAYS loses its stretch and it's effectiveness to hold things over time. (Fly fishing specific pouches seem to be loaded with stretchy pockets).
So I am using three small identical MOLLE pouches (with NO elastic pockets) on the belt at all times with stuff stored where I want it depending on how often I need it. I also have other pouches for rain gear & stuff that I can add to the belt when needed so I only carry what I need, when I need it.
The biggest reason I went this route was my old belt (which I also made) had pouches that could slide around the belt. The sliding pouches while convenient, always seemed to slide around to the front of the belt when hiking which was annoying, something you have to experience to understand, just like the tangle issues.
The MOLLE/PALS system, secures the pouch to the place it is attached to so it DOESN'T move, BUT you can configure it like a simple belt loop so it slides IF you want. That plus a couple of other benefits with the belt I chose and the incredible flexibility with all of the pouch options made it perfect for me.
I wouldn't say overall it ends up cheaper than some fancy-schmancy fly fishing rig, but I didn't shop based on price. I based my buying decisions on what would solve the problems I had with my old belt, flexibility and comfort.
I will go on record as saying while my belt works fantastically for me, I only use this system when fly fishing for trout when I need a lot of fly choices because I DON'T carry fly boxes, I use a Richardson chest box. That doesn't meant I couldn't have a larger pouch for fly boxes, I just don't like using fly boxes for trout fishing except when I use my shoulder bag on small streams and in that I only have one fly box.
Also my preferences for gear carrying for warmwater fly & conventional fishing are completely different, I carry WAY less and I use fly boxes and carry lures for that kind of angling so I never even considered using my "trout belt" for those situations so it isn't one size fits all for sure.
Again, the reason why thinking things through is SO important.
Good luck with your search & problem solving!!
