Paul Arden | Tuesday, 1 February 2022
This last trip into Sungai Tiang I realised that I’m not truly organised for stream fishing nowadays. Of course that’s not surprising perhaps, since I’ve been lake fishing for the past 8 years. I’m organised for that of course and have most of my gear in a big plastic waterproof box, with the gear I need more frequently, clipped to a bar across the middle of the boat.
And then of course the age old problem returned, which is how to carry the gear around? I honestly don’t think that this has ever truly been properly solved. The best system I had was a William Joseph chest pack. It was an excellent system and you could spread the weight between front and back evenly, meaning that it was comfortable and not pulling on one shoulder or your neck. And then someone broke into my truck and stole it! I replaced it a few years later but the soft front on the pack had been replaced by a hard front and I couldn’t see my feet, which was dangerous when boulder hopping — that’s insane, right?
I bought a Fishpond Vest afterwards, but the pockets would get in the way of double hauling — who designs these things?! And then I really didn’t think too much more about it, because I moved to the jungle lake.
What is actually required is a shoulder pack; two pouches high at the front of each shoulder and a waterproof pouch along the back of the upper shoulders to balance the weight. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any gear below the nipple-line. I often wet-wade to this depth when crossing rivers, and sometimes I have to swim. I also want something I can still wear while wearing a rucksack.
Anyway this doesn’t exist, so I’m going to have to make it myself!! (I will use canvas, thread, fishing line, duck tape and superglue). I also need to get my fly box sorted out. Unbelievably, all those years ago when my chest pack was stolen, that was the last time I had a “complete” stream box. It takes me around 3 months to fill a box and I just haven’t made the time (I prefer fishing to tying!). And so nstead, I’ve been tying only as required. But the time has come again to get the core stream box back. And this is another problem, because the perfect fly box hasn’t been invented yet either…. howver that’s for another FP :)))
The New HT5 blanks are being rolled and we plan to start building soon. We have lots of orders coming in for these. If you want yours before the start of April, then drop me a line and order yours today!! I had a very enjoyable week fishing mine for Mahseer in Sungai Tiang.
Today’s POD is the HT5 and a Tiger Footprint. Here it’s Chinese New Year; Year of the Tiger! How appropriate! I wish you all Gong Xi Fa Cai, Happy Chinese New Year, Year of the Tiger and The HT5!!
Email me on paul@sexyloops.com for more info.
Cheers, Paul