Georgia Fly Fishing Blog

Posted By Kent Klewein on January 6, 2010

Its been quite a while since I’ve done a product review on the blog and my followers always seem to appreciate me showcasing gear I use on the water. You can bet I’ve been tough on the gear and if I’m still wearing it you know it’s two things, functional and durable.  This gear review I’ll talk about why I’ve grown to love William & Joseph gear and why I think it’s going to become big thing in the future.

Hardcore Gear for the Hardcore Angler

“Hardcore gear for the hardcore angler”, was the words out of Paul Swint’s mouth from William & Joseph (WJ).  From the conversation that I had WJ’s long-term vision is to design and develop fly fishing gear for the hardcore angler that’s the most innovative, functional, and durable in the industry, bottom-line.  The last two seasons I’ve exclusively used WJ packs and waders and they’ve made my guiding and fishing in plain Jane terms, very enjoyable. I’ve beat my WJ gear up from the west coast back to the east coast, bush-wacked through impenetrable rhododendron, and thrown it in the back of the pick-up for the long rides back to civilization.  The gear has definitely proven worthy and capable to handle what the hardcore fisherman brings to the table.

In this post I’ll review some of my favorite WJ gear picks.  The Confluence Chest Pack, Surge Waist Pack, and V-2 Waders.

Confluence Chest Pack

Confluence Chest Pack

I’d say it has been five years now since I’ve worn a traditional fly fishing vest on the water.  I’ve never been very good at remembering to keep all those vest pockets zipped-up after rooting around in them, and I’ve lost some fly boxes and other terminal gear in the process because of it.  What can I say, I’ve got a heavy case of A.D.D.  Those that know me well, know that I pack anything that has even a small chance of being used during the day, especially when I’m guiding. That translates into quite a bit of gear and I’ve found the traditional fly fishing vests just get too heavy and fatigue the back.  The fundamental problem with fly fishing vests is that you load up all that heavy gear on one side of you, the front.  This is where the back fatigue comes into play, when your out all day fishing.

I’ve since found Chest Packs due a much better job of eliminating back fatigue because they distribute the weight on both your front and back side.  They also keep pockets to a minimum but still offer plenty of room for gear storage.  The Confluence chest pack offers everything for the hardcore fly fisherman. Multiple zingers for nippers and hemostats, padded back and shoulder harnesses for comfortable wear, and a pocket system layout that will carry your gear organized and secure.  I like that the color palette is in natural earth tones unlike many bright colored packs on the market that can alert spooky trout.

William & Joseph head to toe - Photo By: Louis Cahill

Easy access to the rear of the pack is achieved quickly by un-clipping the two clips on the sides and swinging the pack around.  With the roomy back storage on the pack I’m able to fit my bulky camera, three fly boxes, extra tippet, and a couple power bars with ease.  There’s even a nice cable on the back to secure your magnetic clip and net out of the way.  The pack isn’t waterproof but I’ve treated mine with a can of spray Scotch Guard and it has worked great keeping my gear dry.  So far to date, I have not found a more versatile and durable chest pack that I enjoy fishing with more on the water.

Magnetic Series - Surge Waist Pack

Magnetic Series – Surge Waist Pack

For years zippers on waist packs have constantly caught my fly line and leaders on the water. It absolutely drives me crazy.  Not anymore though, thanks to WJ’s new magnetic series packs. Instead of zippers they open and close with an innovative magnetic system and it’s the first of its kind in the industry. It’s absolutely a genius idea in my eyes. You can open your pack and grab a fly box without taking your eyes off the water to find the zippers.  And believe it or not the pockets are water tight.  The Surge waist pack is completely covered with magnetic pockets to store all your gear.  There’s also straps and clips to secure a rain jacket if needed on the bottom of the pack.  Swing your waist pack around to your back and it will stay out of your way while fishing.  Also available is a shoulder strap that will keep your pack from sliding down during heavy wading or hiking.  Overall I give this waist pack high marks for its functionality and innovative features.

Below are some shots of the other magnetic series packs in the in the WJ line.

V-2 Waders

You name the brand of wader and chances are I’ve owned the pair at some point over the years.  The amount of time I spend on the water each year, I demand a durable and breathable wader. The WJ V-2 waders have really withstood the beat down I’ve given them.  It’s the only pair of waders I’ve owned that’s lasted longer than one season, and that is flat out impressive.  The cost is mid-range in the industry and I love the fleece lined pockets to keep my hands warm on cold days.  The adjustable waterproof zip-down front works great for sizing my clients with their proud beer guts.  I also like the built in gravel guards that keep my boots free of sand and gravel.  Overall, the V-2 waders are my first pick among the dozen in my garage day in and day out on the water.

V-2 Waders - Photo By: Louis Cahill

For more information and a list of dealers in your area please visit the William Joseph website at www.williamjoseph.net.  For anglers in my area you can purchase the WJ products at the following fly shops in GA and NC that support my efforts.

The Fish Hawk – www.thefishhawk.com (Atlanta, Georgia)

Appalachian Outfitters – www.appalachianoutfittersnc.com (Murphy, NC)

Davidson River Outfitters – www.davidsonflyfishing.com (Pisgah Forest, NC)

Keep it Reel,

Categories: Gear Reviews
Tags: Confluence Chest Pack, Fly Fihsing Blog, Kent Klewein, Reel Job Fishing, Surge Waist Pack, V-2 Waders, William Joseph Gear Review