Ribz Front Pack Product Review

     A few months back I decided I would start this blog and try to foster a community of people that believe that their collection of hobbies was a passion, and looked for meaning in bringing them full circle.  Several weeks into this venture I was approached to review some outdoor products...of course I agreed!  The first product was on my doorstep in days and it was the Ribz Front Pack. 
    I'm not paid to write my blog, nor do I choose at this point to allow advertising on my blog and I promised myself I would be honest in any product review that I posted on my blog, so you can take the following information as the absolute truth (at least from my point of view).  I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!   I have not got to put it to use specifically as it is advertised...but I assure you that I have put it through its paces.   A quick fact about me, I'm a full time nursing student, full time nurses aid, full time father of an amazing 19 month old son, and a full time husband...busy is an understatement.  The Ribz Front pack was my extra hands under my turkey vest to keep my valuables (keys , camera, phone, water bottle, snacks, etc...) close and secure.  And at the zoo Ribz managed to keep me organized enough to leave the diaper bag in the car while giving me the freedom to carry, walk, run, and play with my son without having my pants pockets bulging.  I've even gone as far as to wearing it around the house to get a feel for how the product would adjust to various activities and fit over different layering of clothes.  Did I say I LOVE THIS PACK yet?
     All joking aside, after reading other reviews of this product and researching the company's ideas on what this product is supposed to do, I have come to several of my own conclusions.  The idea is that it will help shift weight forward of your center of gravity while wearing a backpack and keep necessities close at hand.  The weight shifting idea, well that may be a stretch.  I don't believe that the pockets of this pack are large enough to hold enough gear to make a weight shift idea valid, unless you are packing bags of buckshot.  but that is what the hip belt on a backpack is for anyway (putting the weight of your pack on your hips and off your back/shoulders).  The ability to keep some frequently used items at quick reach is more than enough to make the Ribz Front Pack a wonderful addition to any outdoor enthusiasts gear list.  This is a terrifically convenient piece of equipment that alone weighs virtually nothing, it adjusts to fit your body perfectly, and its uses are only limited by the users imagination and desire to organize the products that may need to be at your fingertips.  But don't take my word for it, here is the company website, I encourage you to read up and make up your own mind.

http://www.ribzwear.com/


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Ribz Front Pack for free from Ribz Wear as coordinated by [Deep Creek Public Relations] http://deepcreekpr.com/

1st Turkey!!

PA Spring Turkey opening day

Opening Day of Spring turkey has come and gone, and I am writing this post without pictures to attach.  Is that due to the lack of a camera in the field, from my inexperience as a turkey hunter, or is it my guide’s fault (he’s not really a guide, just a hunting buddy I enjoy picking on)?  Whatever the case might be I did get to see some Toms put on a great show that morning and feel that I got to earn some stripes sitting 7 hours motionless holding up a massive tree.  BUT! The spring season isn’t over yet and I plan on going out again in the next few days, so hopefully the next installment to this blog will be merely a picture of me with my 45# (inside joke) Tom.  If any of you guys have pictures or stories you would like to share please post them in the comments section or you can email them to me at finandfeatherfiles@gmail.com   and I will post them for you.

Unwinding after a test

Cross Creek PA

So we got out the other day and cleaned some duck boxes; it was a great opportunity for me to scout a local lake that I had only been to once, briefly (I should also mention that I was skunked on that outing).  Cross Creek in Washington county PA was the location... and the temperature, well it was cold.  I had chosen that day as the maiden voyage of my "new to me" fishing vessel.  Picture this, not that it was absurd, but we were definitely pushing the limits,  3 grown men in a 15' square back canoe with a cute little 2.5 HP motor chugging (putting) along.  The water line was very near the gunnels and my buddy in the front appeared to me to be doing his best impression of Leonardo DiCaprio in Titanic "I'm the king of the world!" as the white capping water broke over the bow of this visually unimpressive ship.  As you can probably guess we all survived without incident, but the experience was worthy of being committed to at least my memories, because the sketchy moments were pretty abundant.  We did see a decent population of ducks and geese, mostly Mallards, and at least one Woodie Hen in one of the  boxes.  As we cruised the waters of Cross Creek we traveled down several of the sloughs and around the points; both appeared to have a decent amount of coverage along the shore for some great looking panfish habitat.  Not to mention the corner of the parking lot that was stacked full of retired Christmas trees awaiting their final resting place.  I didn't have an opportunity that day to get near the dam to check it out, but do know from word of mouth that the waters in the main channel and up to the dam are relatively deep (50+ feet).  On the opposite side of the dam is the feeder stream Cross Creek; the waters on this particular day were up so the pass through the Cattails was easy to navigate, and from my perspective is going to be an exciting location to pursue my finned friends.  Word of mouth has lead me to believe that this is a productive water to fish, as I said earlier it has not proved itself to me quite yet, but that's not saying too much.  I hope that those of you that get the opportunity to get your line wet in this lake and have a wonderful and productive day! Oh yeah, one other piece of information, If you intend on getting a boat out on Cross Creek you need a Washington County launch sticker which can be obtained from the Washington County Sheriffs office ( phone number 724-228-6867) for $10.00 per year; a receipt will be provided until you receive your launch sticker.

Streamside Gear Needs

What’s in your vest?  No wait, do you even wear a vest?  I stated in earlier posts that I spend much of my time during the winter tying and when I’m finished tying I spend a bit of time organizing my fly boxes (not really sure why, the organization only lasts a few hours on the water) but either way, my boxes are full and organized.   I then move to organizing and packing my vest, then taking everything out of my vest and placing it in a hip pack I’ve had laying around that I don’t use very often, then at the last minute before my day on the water I hastily remove a few trusty items from the ol’ hip pack and tell myself “today we are going to use this chest pack that never gets to see any action”.  Two guesses what I say while I’m on the water.  If you guessed “Man I really wish I had my vest!”  well, then you were absolutely right! I truly enjoy entertaining the idea that I am a minimalist, but then the left hand smacks the right hand for allowing me to flat out lie to myself.  So here’s my plea for help; I want to change.  I realize I have a problem.  And from what I've heard, those are the first two steps…and the third is reaching out.  So what kind of fishing apparel organization platform do you utilize (vest, chest pack, strap vest, fanny pack...lol), and what’s in it?  How many boxes, how are they organized?   What tools do you carry?   Leader wallet, tippet spools etc…?  HELP!

E.T. (Exciting Terrestrials)

Spring has sprung, and with these warmer temps we get birds a’ singin’, bugs a' buzzin’,   and fish a' risen’!  In my excitement for the statewide opening of trout season fast approaching I start planning the first day on the water.  In my mind the spring means the thrill of top water fish strikes with dry flies and terrestrials.  And yes, I am aware that my last post was links to fly patterns, but I love to share great patterns and hope that my readers will share some innovative or tried-and-true ideas with me and the others that choose to numb their mind with my rambling.  Many of the waters we fish receive pressure from other anglers…so what we need to do is find ways to present flies more realistically than others and present patterns that those seasoned fish haven’t seen.  This is what separates us from hooking up with fish, and hooking up with the monsters that lurk in the shadows we dream about.

Tom Rosenbauers ideas on terrestrials and great patterns:
http://www.orvis.com/intro.aspx?subject=364

Beetle patterns:
http://www.riverhouseflyco.com/patterns/fat-head-beetle/  (hi-viz pattern)
 
http://www.flyflinger.com/beetle.php  (pistachio shell beetle)