Which do you prefer... a chest pack or the more traditional fishing vest?
I have seen many a debate upon which anglers have tried to extol the virtues of one over the other. In essence it's down to nothing more than mere personal preference, the need to feel comfortable versus the need to carry much of the anglers paraphernalia we so often use... or don't use as the case may be. Here's mine as requested...
The Confluence from William Joseph
I have used this as well as a number of other packs within their range now for the last seven or so years and see no reason to be changing any time soon.
So firstly lets look at some techy stuff...
- Colour: SAGEBLUE
- Dimensions: 20" x 12.5" x 8"
- Weight: 6lb 4oz ... "Crikey that's heavy I hear you say"... that's fully loaded with all I need, there's no point telling you how light it is empty, when is it likely ever to be that?
- Storage: There are 3 largish pockets at the rear and 2 on the front, I nearly said 3 but to be honest the little mesh one I avoid using for anything meaningful that doesn't otherwise want to fall out. Together they have plenty of room to accommodate any sustenance you may want for a days fishing as well as carrying some essential tackle spares and the odd extra fly box.
- Where as my previous Confluence pack had zips all round, this updated version bares the latest Hi-Tech Magnetic securing feature in the front 2 pockets. They work superbly for ease of access, closing and for keeping out the rain.
- There's also a further 2 useful tool/gadget storage pockets located on either side of the integrated zingers as pictured above.
- The TCS (Tippet Control System)... spool tender to you and me is located in the front pocket, I actually use it and store 6 x 50mtr spools of leader material with ease.
- Other notables: There's a whole myriad of retainers and hooking points to satisfy the most anxious of anglers who feel the need to dangle all their wares for others to see, so fear not.
I'm out on the water a lot as you would expect being a full time guide & instructor... like you I've been down that road and survived that well known fly fishers disease 'tackle-tart-eritus'. I have therefore but a few simple requirements when it comes to spending Sarahs my hard earned money... it has to be practical, fit for purpose and I need to look really good in it (See left), apart from the last point this pack for me ticks all the boxes.
Think of the Confluence as saddle bags if you will and how you can distribute weight evenly. Weight which is pretty much always central to you and your trunk so to speak so I don't feel an urge to have to counter balance anything weighty I've otherwise stored in the back. All I need is within reach and easily accessed, getting to the rear pockets is as simple as undoing the side straps and spinning it round without the need to take it off.
I can also vouch for it's longevity, if I ever bothered to clean it I'm sure it would look almost brand new, nothing has ripped, jammed or failed as yet. All told it makes for the most practical and comfortable pack I've used out on the water to date.
So here's to the next 7 years with the added hope that WJ slow down with the innovation, I'm running out of excuses when explaining to Sarah why I should have the latest 'Willy J'.
Here's William Joseph's website if you'd like to look in on them, they're not heavily supported yet in the UK so you may need to look a bit further a field until then.
I'm enjoying putting the Coastal Pack through its paces for perhaps another review towards the back end of this year.
Jim is our ESF in house fly casting contributor and AAPGAI Master level instructor teaching full time in the Cotswold, Wiltshire & Hampshire area... visit his website