Vest week. #1: The Retractor

This week we are going to review what you need on your fishing vest, if you wear one. Your vest is like you, and we are all different, there is the “Worried” who is going to carry everything he might need, from toilet paper, to all the tippets availables, a thermometer, all the gadgets he can buy from a fly shop (don’t laugh, we all did it at the beginning) and the “Light fisherman”, who probably only has a nippet and a 5X tippet. In between those two, there are all those little things we need, they are compulsory to your fishing gear! Without them, you can’t really fish. Of course that selection is for fresh water. So here’s what you need on your vest to be a real fley fisher!

The Retractor! At least you need one, it’s the start for all the fishing gear you are going to wear. There are several ones, you can go with the basic, this zinger for instance is a good price, but that’s not what I would buy. It will surely do the job but would I be confident with it? It’s okay if you don’t want to spend much.

Than there is this Fishpond Retractor, it’s sturdy, made out of metal, you can attach it to a shirt with the screwing pin, to your vest. Personnaly I wore it several years, I found it was a little too big and maybe also noisy (I hated the clinking sound it made when hitting my forceps or nippets) but it is a very good one, tough and light at the same time. Than there is another kind, which is the one I use, but some anglers might feel they do’nt like the plastic it’s made from.

The Simms retractor, personnaly I love it, it’s light, strong, silent (no more clinking). Off course you can find plenty of other ones, and everyone will find the one he likes according to their taste. But we strongly suggest you get a non shiny one and strongly built, get two ! You’ll always need them.