Unfortunately, the William Joseph Confluence chest pack has been discontinued. The closest substitute I have found is the Wychwood Gear Trap Vest. It looks just like the WJC chest pack except that the compartments are zippered rather than magnetized.
I started using the William Joseph Confluence chest pack, and it has changed how I fish. I learned about it after watching a video on what competitive fly fishermen tend to use (see up top).
I really like the WJC because:
- It’s a chest pack, and so, the weight is evenly distributed on my shoulders. My sling pack left my one shoulder achy and tweaked my back.
- The front pockets are magnetized. No need to fumble with zippers, and while I tie on or clip off flies, they can cling safely and securely on a pocket.
- I can pack a lot of gear efficiently.
It’s not cheap at $150 or so, but it’s been worth the investment for me. I cannot fish often, and so, will put in eight to ten hours straight on the water when I do go out.
If you’re interested, here are some reviews.
I think it’s very telling when very serious anglers start to use the same piece of gear. It means it’s good.
