More than one person has labeled fly fishers as stubborn. I think there may be some truth to that. We do tend to become “stuck” in our ways and habitual about our ways of fishing…
Many years ago, I bought a metal Richardson Chest Fly Box. They are quite pricey. Anyway, I never got around to actually using it as I kept relying on my old, steady Filson Fly Vest. Ultimately sold the Richardson…
For my trip this last June, I purchased a plastic Downstream Products chest fly box with a small mesh net shoulder harness. I was committed to trying the fly box out on that trip. I loaded it with flies to ensure I would use it.
My conclusion after using it all day for about 18 days: I believe I will always use it!
The lightweight little shoulder harness has a D-Ring on the upper back…to which I attached my magnet net holder and net. I then, for all practical purposes, had everything I need out on the water, without a vest. Of course, you could wear it IN ADDITION to a vest, but I went without the vest.
Picture of the chest fly box with net attached to shoulder strap:
[
W](http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/byhaugh/media/IMG_2692_zpslmyazyd4.jpg.html)hen you wear the chest box, this is what you see when you look down…In my unit’s case, it is a 3 box rig. I believe you can add more “drawers” if you wish.
[
W](http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/byhaugh/media/IMG_2693_zpsxzhiyfbg.jpg.html)hen you “un-latch” the drawer you want, it folds out flat with a cover. If you note the lower right hand cover has a little tab which allows you to quickly open that drawer by lifting the little cover up.
A](http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/byhaugh/media/IMG_2694_zpsbnoujhzh.jpg.html)fter lifting the cover leaf, it exposes one of the multi-pocketed fly bins which holds a great number of flies.
[
T](http://s1101.photobucket.com/user/byhaugh/media/IMG_2695_zpspyywbs34.jpg.html)he last of the three “drawers” is just an empty bin with no dividers. In this drawer, I put leaders, tippet material, and a set of clippers.
The nicest thing about this box, other than the utility of it, is that it cost a little less than $100 and is very light.
Please don’t be stubborn as I have been, you may find this is the most useful method of carrying and changing flies out on the water…It sort of gives you a stable little “platform”. I just nip the fly off and let it fall in the appropriate bin and then select my new fly to tie on…
