WATERMARK Midge Chest Pack

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Jan 23, 2010
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SO I was walking around in Dick's Sporting Goods and I spy this cool looking tackle pack thing. I pick it up and it's a chest rig. Look at it more and I am like wow this is cool. I walk the banks and fish and I canoe and kayak fish and I could really see how this would work well. Especially since I lost about $300 worth of lures and gear last year when the canoe tipped and my tackle bag sank out of sight. Wouldn't have happened if my gear was strapped to my chest.

I am a big man 6' - 300lbs and this fits me easily so smaller folks could even wear it over a life preserver (vest kayaking kind not the big old orange ones)

I have a big plastic tackle box and a couple of tackle bagsthey all hold the plano style clear boxes like this:

http://www.eburch.biz/plano_prolatch_stowaways-1.htm

So I had a bunch of different sized ones I could try out in the pockets of the chest pack. These are what will fit in there:

Large back pocket up to a 11" x 8" x 2 1/4"

small back pocket a 7" x 4" x 1 1/2" fits in there but you could go another 1" long and 1" tall

Larger front pocket easily holds a 9" x 4 1/2" x 1 3/8" and there is room to go another 1" wide and a couple inches taller. Two of the 7" x 4" x 1 1/2" fit perfect side by side.

Medium front pocket has kind of a zip out workstation thing with a hard plastic insert to give it rigidity so I wouldn't put a box in there but tools and leaders ect. maybe but it's only a little smaller than the big pocket so you could fit the 9" x 4 1/2" x 1 3/8" in there with room to spare.

The small front pocket can hold a 7" x 3" x 1" or so box.

There are loops on the sides of the front to clip knives or tools to and straps hanging off the back that you could roll up a jacket or a poncho and like sleeping bag straps on a back pack they would hold it.
 
Really an amazing piece of kit, you can really carry a lot of fishing gear in it. Or any gear. Those looking for chest pack options for day hikes I see no reason why this wouldn't work for that too. Very lightweight and comfortable even with gear in it. It has the breathy type mesh like a back pack where it touches you. And a really cool part is inside the large pocket the are adjustment straps that adjust the length of the shoulder straps so you can wear it high up on you chest or lower down on your stomach or anywhere in between.

Here's the kicker. Had no price tag on it so I had the girl at the register scan it thinking it's gonna cost like $80 - $120. She scans it - $29.99! I was floored they had crappy tackle bags that weren't half as well constructed let alone thought out for way more than that. It was the last one they had in the store too so I bought it and ran away laughing like a little school girl I was so happy!

They had a larger version there that was more backpacky in the back with split pockets in front it was called the WATERMARK Caddis Fishing Chest Pack. Judging by prices online I would guess it was $35 at Dick's.

All I can say is if you hike to fishing spots or fish in a float tube, kayak, or canoe or in waders or are looking for a nice chest rig or for a day pack for hiking run don't walk to Dick's and see if they have one cuz for $30 it's an insane steal. If it was double the price I still woulda thought it was a steal.

I am actually gonna load all my gear in it and just take it with me even if I don't have to wear it.

Seems they are sold out in a lot of places as I was looking online for pictures so if you see one snag it.

FEATURES:
Waterproof, light-weight, high-tenacity nylon construction
Breathable suspension that will keep you cool and dry
Fully sealed and taped seams, which will guarantee you years of trouble free performance
Complete work stations making it easy to access all your flies and gear
Sleek design, which will not snag your fly lines

SPECIFICATIONS:
Material: High-Tenacity Nylon
Measurements: n/a
Weight: 24oz 1.5 lb
 
Pics:

Front
Back
Front Open
 

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Looks like a very nice, useful piece of gear especially if you are fishing out of a kayak or canoe.
 
I've been using that rig for about a year now. I definitely prefer it over the traditional fishing vest. It is definitely inexpensive compared to most things of this type. I have found, though that equal weight distribution between front and rear is crucial for all-day fishing comfort. Otherwise, it wants to shift up and down as I wade. My only other complaint is that the straps that hang from the rear section don't expand enough for me to fit my primary rainy weather fishing jacket (which is always good to have handy, just in case). It will accomodate a packable-type jacket though.

I am trying to locate some type of small hydro bladder to fit in the rear compartment. That would make it a very handy setup, since accessing any gear in the rear pockets means taking it off, which is not easily done in the middle of the stream. Better to have libations inside then I suspect.

Nice review, BTW
 
The other one I talked about the WATERMARK Caddis Fishing Chest Pack will hold a 100oz bladder and I guess wader guys dig it because of the divided pockets in front lets them still get at the pockets on their waders. Seems to be only $5 more than the Midge. The couple they had at Dick's were grey colored.
 

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So I condensed down my 3 tackle boxes/bags of gear into the chest pack. I used a D ring on one of the loops to attach the lanyards of my nippers, eyebuster and hook sharpener to. I got a box of plastics, a box of hard baits and a box of hooks weights spinnerbaits ect. My rapala fish grabber (don't know the technical term) but it keeps hooks outta my hands. My floating pliers attach in it's sheath to a loop on front. I used another D-ring to hook the zippers together front and back and it makes a kind of handle and makes it easy to carry like a tackle bag for when I am not wearing it.

Still not done gotta get a couple smaller boxes to shove in there as well as bug repellent and sunscreen.
 

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Looks interesting, thanks for posting it. I'll have to check it out. I feel your pain on the lost tackle, same thing happened to be one time when I flipped a canoe in whitewater. I tether mine to a kids life vest now
 
It was in whitewater. I was pissed cuz I was told "easy float down" ended up like deliverance. We flipped like 12 times, late may in Maine, not fun. After like 5 flips I was afraid of losing my gear so I put it in someone elses boat. Then they flipped and lost it.

Looks interesting, thanks for posting it. I'll have to check it out. I feel your pain on the lost tackle, same thing happened to be one time when I flipped a canoe in whitewater. I tether mine to a kids life vest now
 
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