10 Essential Items for Your Fishing Vest

A fishing vest helps the angler to spend more time on the water by providing quick access to the tools and tackle that he uses most often.  The problem is that there are so many kinds of tools and gadgets available today that before you know it your vest can weigh twenty pounds.  What I'm going to show you here is what I consider to be the bare necessities needed to maximize your quality time on the stream.

* I am not endorsing any of the brands shown in these photos.

1 - Extra Leaders 

I go through leaders like crazy.  I keep a pocket full in the sizes I anticipate using.  For most trout fishing scenarios sizes 4X through 6X will suffice but if you need to tie on dry flies smaller than #20 you will need to carry some 7X and 8X.

2 - Extra Tippets

The only thing I use more than leaders are tippets.  Like the leaders you need to keep relevant sizes for your day on the water. 

3 - Line Clippers

 Line clippers are essential for trimming extra line when tying knots and threading flies.  They usually cost about five dollars but you can get fancier ones with lights and other gizmos incorporated into them that will set you back twenty or more dollars.

4 - Leader Straightener

When you keep your leader and tippet on the reel spool for more than a few days it will coil crazily.  If you pull it through one of these simple little tools it will straighten out again.  These usually are made of vinyl and rubber and cost about three dollars.

5 - Floatants

Fly floatants keep your dry flies floating on the surface where they belong.  I use a gel and a dry powder.  The gel goes on the fly before the first cast and I use the powder after the fly becomes waterlogged.  Each one will set you back about seven dollars. 

6 - Split Shot

Split shot is used to get nymphs and other subsurface flies to sink.  Although lead is the traditional material used for split shot, more ecologically sound alternatives have become available.  The container seen to the left will set you back about six dollars. 

7- Strike Indicators

 If your fishing subsurface flies then you need to know when you get a bite.  Attach one of these to your leader and let it rip.

8 - Hemostats

Hemostats are one of those tools that are used for tons of little tasks including removing hooks from fish mouths, flattening barbs and bending hooks. 

9 - Sun Gloves

If you have a light complexion like me then wearing a wide-brimmed hat and long sleeved shirts are a prerequisite to getting on the water.  I learned the hard way that the hands can get burned just as easily when on the water.  These gloves come in varying levels of protection rated by UPF.   

10 - Water Proof Pocket

Nothing will ruin your day quicker than a game warden asking to see your fishing license and you pull out a wad of wet mush because you forgot to protect it from the water.  These little wonders are usually available from fly and tackle shops for about two dollars.