My Fishing Vest is Soaked...or Not.

[rseas]

As I was reading thru the “Good Light Weight Rain Parka” topic I got to thinking. Are people wearing their fishing vest over or under their rain gear? Personally when wading and drift fishing I try to leave the raingear at home, figuring that my waders will keep me more or less dry. If it is really raining I wear my vest over my rain gear but have always thought that I should by a rain jacket sized large enough to wear over my vest. Anyway what are your thoughts?

[G-Man]

I can't ever remember seeing anyone wearing their fishing vest underneath anything let alone a rain jacket. To do so sort of defeats the purpose of having a vest with all your gear at the ready if you need to unzip/undress and fish around under your jacket for stuff. A well organized vest allows you to stay in the water while re-rigging so that you don't loose your spot and helps get your line back out there quickly to maximize your time fishing. Most vests are made of materials that don't hold a lot of water and therefore dry out quickly. Things that I carry in my vests that I want to keep dry are put in a heavy duty zip lock type bag first. My old school cotton vests have mini metal grommets in the pockets to allow water to drain out of them. The more modern vests have mesh lined pockets and/or re-enforced drain holes sewn into them.

[Mike Carey]

...so that you don't lose your spot ...

Sounds like a veteran of combat fisheries. :-)

wear em on the outside. The vest I have is 50% mesh material and works great in wet conditions. Dries right up. I just posted a video for Rachel and Rampart lakes where I go over my Alpine lakes hiking gear, including the vest.

Rachel and Rampart Lakes

[Marc Martyn]

I wear a light weight rain jacket over my vest. My vest when wet actually adds a couple of pound to my shoulders. After a few hours, I can really tell I'm packiing around the extra weight.

[Mike Carey]

just posted a video with a small vest review in it:

Rachel and Ramprt Lakes

[kzoo]

I always wear my vest over my rain jacket. After getting soaked, it does feel 10lbs heavier, but will dry off quickly. They should make a rain jacket with a fishing vest features! They'd make millions!

[Bodofish]

I always wear my vest over my rain jacket. After getting soaked, it does feel 10lbs heavier, but will dry off quickly. They should make a rain jacket with a fishing vest features! They'd make millions!

They do, it's called a wading jacket.