William Joseph Packs
- This topic has 7 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated Mar 17, 2006 at 8:40 pm by
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This is somewhat of a product review. I own a couple of William Joseph packs, my first is a Mini Chest Pack. It is just the right size to carry two standard size fly boxes, a few spools of tippet, a leader wallet/extra leaders, has two pig-tail retractors for tools, and it is comfortable to wear. It doesn’t get in the way of casting–even while sitting in a float tube or PAC.
The other is their Coastal Pack (Mike A I think I noticed you wearing one in one of Zach’s pictures). Multiply the Mini by two then throw in a rear pouch for a hydration system/extra storage, and a few more pockets and slots. This is a large pack–bulkier, in my opinion, than a vest, but better at load bearing. I use this pack when traveling and when I want to make sure I’m prepared for just about anything.
My gripes are these. The tippet keeper is an absolute waste of research time and marketing dollars. Tippet management was never much of a concern for me until I got a system that was supposed to do it for me. Now that I have it I expect it to work and it just pisses me off that I still have to reach into a pocket, sort through spools, and dispense the material myself because my keeper will only let me have four inches at a time–if any at all.
The next concern is that while the main compartments are large enough to accomdate two boxes, the elastic webbing intended to keep them secure isn’t wide enough to contain both. I typically have to leave one box free and worry about it not falling out when unzipping the pockets/work trays.
Finally, there are a couple of small elastic cords on the back of the Coastal Pack that I can’t figure out. There isn’t anything in the features material about them, and when I asked one of the guys at a local shop he said the reps had never explained them either. They are too long and positioned too low to attach a net. Does anyone know what their purpose is?
I’m not exactly displeased with either pack, nor am I completely satisfied. But, I’m not in the market for replacements either.
I hear ya splitshot those darned tippet dispensers are worthless. The Costal is a great pack with a fair amount of room. Here is what I carry in mine, four C&F boxes a streamer box, and a wide range of toys, tippet, and leaders.
Fishing packs are an interesting discussion, and I think that we are all searching for the perfect blend of chest pack and vest.
I have the WJ Creel (the older model without the tippet dispenser) and I do like it but I’m not as impressed with it as I thought I would be.
The only time I do that is when I’m checking in a motel on an overnighter with the guys. You shoud see the looks we get at the hotel in rural Celina TN. :-*
;D
The only time I do that is when I’m checking in a motel on an overnighter with the guys. You shoud see the looks we get at the hotel in rural Celina TN. :-*
;D
A few years ago I drove up to Kansas with my father and brother for a pheasant hunting trip, and my girlfriend (who is now my wife) put a pink silk nightgown in my duffel bag as a joke.
Unfortunately, on the way up, we stopped at a hotel out in the boonies in Missouri, and apparently the nightgown fell out of my bag and got left behind. So on the return trip, I had to go back by the hotel and pick up the nightgown at the front desk.
I think the hotel folks remembered that three men had stayed in the room, because they looked at me awfully funny.
bd
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