Sling Packs & Nets

jaredoconnor

jaredoconnor

Peabrain Chub
Has anyone made a sling pack that isn’t total dog shit for using a net, yet?

I would like to start taking my camera with me. Time to hang up my vest. I’m leaning towards the Fishpond chest pack, but I’m willing to give a sling pack another try.
 
Giving this one a shot this month.
www.ebay.com

Sling BackPack Tackle Storage Chest Pack Shoulder Bag for Saltwater Fishing | eBay

Lightweight and Durable:Made of high high-quality polyester fabric ,only 12 oz weight. Do not hesitate, get this functional and fashionable bag as a thoughtful gift to anyone you want! Mutifunction Tackle Bag:The size of 15” x 10” x 5.1”is big enough for you to keep daily fishing gears.
www.ebay.com
 
I have a simms dry creek sling pack and like using it when on my float tube because it's waterproof but it's not my favorite to use for wading. I have the fishpond thunderhead and the fishpond cross current chest packs and much prefer those for wading.
 
I have a magnetic release on my sling, that sits between my shoulder blades when the sling is in position. If you're a jam-it-behind-the-pack bro then slings aren't quite right for that.
 
I don't think they've cracked the code on that yet. I've magnetically attached a net next to my sling pack before but it tends to pull the sling pack down and gets uncomfortable after a while. I use a chest pack with magnet net in the back, balances out really well.

Another method is to hook your net on your belt with one of these, I have it and it works well.
www.broderflyfishing.com

Products

Broder Fly Fishing, the makers of the patent pending Broder Net Clip. Unlike any other fly fishing net holder, the Broder Net Clip uses both mechanical and magnetic connection to keep your net securely attached yet out of the way until you need it.
www.broderflyfishing.com www.broderflyfishing.com
 
I use a fanny pack but can relate. My solution is to clip my net to the belt with a cheap carabiner for walking and attach with a magnetic release when fishing.
 
I’ve finally settled in a system I like:

Orvis bug out backpack for days far from the car and a mystery ranch (non specific fishing) Fanny pack for close to the car. The backpack has an angled net slot and I just shove my net in between my back and the Fanny pack. The key for making this work is a longer handled net. I think I have the fish pond mid length net. The short handled net doesn’t work in either situation. I’ve tried just about all pack options and this is the best (so far) for me.
 
I use a chest pack but just slip the net handle under my wading belt. Easy to get to and out of the way. Putting it in the net holder on the pack makes it too high and behind my head for my liking.
SF
 
The Fishpond Thunderhead sling has a sleeve for a net. I haven’t tried mine yet but it looks like it will accept Fishpond nets or any other handle that is smooth. My Measure Net would not work. One would have to reach over your shoulder or head to retrieve the net.
 
I went to a fly shop and tried out various packs. The slings that have a net sleeve are by far the most comfortable to wear. However, you cannot get the net back in without spinning the bag around first. I’m like totally ridic good at fly fishing and just non stop catching fish and babes, so it’s not a practical system for me.

What really shocked me is how, in 2024, half the slings have literally no net solution. Who is buying that crap?

Anywho. I guess I’m just going to have to buy a chest pack and eat shit sometimes, because I can’t see my feet while I’m wading. C’est la vie.
 
I have an Orvis Guide Sling, and it's pretty comfortable with a diagonal net slot. It works great with a long handled net (I have a Fishpond Nomad mid-length). Not sure it would do so well with a short handled net.
 
I have a fishpond flathead sling and use a long handles Snake River Co wooden net. Personally I found the net slots difficult to access behind my back. Also found the net to be in the way when I needed to pull the sling around to m chest to access flies, etc. I ended up with the net handle either tucked behind my wader belt or most often attached to my wader belt at my side with a magnet. Again it was just personal preference.
 
jaredoconnor said:
I would like to start taking my camera with me
Click to expand...
I've come to the conclusion that if I have a real camera with me, I need a real backpack. Slings are great for light loads. But not for anything with some weight to it.
 
@jaredoconnor What about the Umpqua Rock chest pack with the backpack add on?
It's the smaller size, so you can still see most of your feet?

I have one (the older version--maybe 3 years?), if you cover shipping I can send it to you to try out if you want.
 
mcswny said:
@jaredoconnor What about the Umpqua Rock chest pack with the backpack add on?
It's the smaller size, so you can still see most of your feet?

I have one (the older version--maybe 3 years?), if you cover shipping I can send it to you to try out if you want.
Click to expand...

I already found and purchased one of the discontinued ones. Thanks for the offer though!
 
Hope that one works for you!
I have always just clipped it to my old William Joseph chest pack. The strap doubles as a wader belt of sorts, but is thinner than a wader belt so easy to clip & unclip. My bigger steelhead net can be tucked handle first like most setups. And easier to get out. No pulled back muscles just trying to get the damn thing out or back in.
The fact it can sling, but still have a strap around my waist has been very handy. Not sure why there aren't more like that. This is a slightly newer model than mine. Not sure what happened to their business. Maybe they just made their stuff too good. Mine has lasted 20 years!
WIlliam Joseph chest pack.jpg

For an even more minimal approach, I'm excited to try my 4L Tomtoc cross body bag I purchased for a Europe vacation. It should work well for carp. It has a rugged loop for snapping on a carabiner for water bottles, but should also work well with the net.
I got the one with the water resistant fabric. We got dumped on in London so I can confirm everything inside stayed dry. Not sure how long that will last, but it's very beefy.
I've already confirmed a regular 3x6" MFC fly box, 3 tippets, pliers, sunblock, nippers and phone all fit.

Tomtoc 4L bag
 
_WW_ said:
Giving this one a shot this month.
www.ebay.com

Sling BackPack Tackle Storage Chest Pack Shoulder Bag for Saltwater Fishing | eBay

Lightweight and Durable:Made of high high-quality polyester fabric ,only 12 oz weight. Do not hesitate, get this functional and fashionable bag as a thoughtful gift to anyone you want! Mutifunction Tackle Bag:The size of 15” x 10” x 5.1”is big enough for you to keep daily fishing gears.
www.ebay.com
Click to expand...
Wayne - what's your feeling on this sling pack? Used it? Durable? Comfortable? Ups? Downs?

Often when I wade fish I use my fanny pack and a small cheap back pack, I keep water and lunch and other necessary items in the backpack and a couple fly boxes in the fanny pack. It works okay for me. Yesterday I wet waded a nearby lake using just the old Orvis fanny pack (that has two bottle pockets that bottles fall out of). It was just too hot for a backpack and fanny pack. I started wondering if a sling pack might not work better for me. This thread seems more oriented to sling packs and net storage. I don't carry a net when carping (carping = fishing for carp) but maybe I should when I look back at the 29+ pounder Chief caught this year.

Without concern for net storage, any thoughts on sling packs (I don't need waterproof)?
 
I used it in Montana this year and I think it's a keeper. Tomorrow I'll show you a tip for keeping the bottle in its pocket - look for the picture in the am
 
The bottle pocket on this one is deeper than the one on my old William Joseph sling. This one fits over the right shoulder which took some getting used to after twenty years of going the other side. The waist strap is nice. My other one didn't have one. The pockets are ample for carrying a lunch and several fly boxes. Lots of attachment points for dangling things from which I don't use but others might. And it has a net pocket.

At $30 it's a good buy.
 
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