Here are some more things to think about, when buying a fly fishing bag. When you buy a bag, you do not want something that will break after a month’s use. You also want something that will be comfortable. Here’s a few more pointers to look at:

Good quality straps.

This is an important feature that is often overlooked when looking at these bags. Make sure that the straps are strong, and that they are attached to the bag in a durable, strong way. The last thing you want, is a broken strap while you are enjoying a day’s fishing, while standing waist deep in the water at your favorite fishing spot! The straps are also directly in contact with your body, so it is a good idea to make sure that they have proper padding at the right places. Also make sure that the stitch work on them are good. This is usually the first place where fraying and failure starts.

Good quality clasp fasteners or zips.

Yet another thing that can ruin the usability of your bag! Make sure that the zips and clasp fasteners are of good quality. An open bag with all your equipment landing up in the river, is of no use to you. Make sure the clasps are sturdy, yet easy enough to open in wet and cold conditions. The same applies to zips. After long exposure to wet conditions, poor quality zips tend to seize up, and then it can become a pain to try and open them up!

Comfort.

Make sure the bag will be comfortable when you carry it. You will need to look at the bag as a whole, when thinking about the comfort level the bag will provide you. Again thinking back to the straps. Will they be comfortable? Will it provide pads for the places where the straps will have pressure points against your body? Will the position of the strap or straps provide a comfortable carrying experience? The bag itself needs to be comfortable as well. This brings me back to the point where I talked about having two bags. Big fishing bags are not always designed to be carried around the whole day. So maybe it is a good idea to get a separate, smaller bag to carry around all day, while you are at water’s edge.

Branding and cost.

This should be the last thing to look at, when searching for the right fly fishing bag. I think the best thing is to make sure about the amount of money you would be able to spend on this item, before starting to look around for the right bag. It is the same, as with most products these days. Sure you can go for the cheapest products, but in the end, you will end up buying new bags over and over again, because of the quality compromise you settled for, when making that decision. Rather go for the best quality you can afford.

I will say this AGAIN .. Do NOT compromise on anything. You need something that will last, something that is comfortable, and something that will protect your fly fishing gear.

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