I’m just getting my kit sorted ready for jetting off to the Keys next month and I must have a rave about my latest buy. But before I go any further, I’m going to rewind a few years...

Back in the days when I had time to shore fish more often, I had gone to fish a mark that I had never been to before. With tackle box (seat box) on back, rod bag under arm, bait bucket in hand and various other bits strapped to me, I parked my car and made the one and a half mile walk to the mark but when I got there something didn’t feel right? As I looked around me, the mark was nothing like the way it had been described. This mark, which supposedly only had room to fish two anglers, had enough space to fish perhaps four or five; and instead of deep water, the water was shallow. What further concerned me was that on the way down, I should have crossed two gates yet on my path there had been none! I had walked all the way to the wrong mark. As I looked along the coast, there, about another mile or so away, was the mark I should have been fishing from.

Being a bit of a smart arse, instead of back tracking and finding where I had gone wrong, I decided the laziest way would be to grab my gear and make my way to the correct mark as the crow flies -bad move! One and a half hours later, I was cut to shreds from brambles and exhausted and I wasn’t even half way there! As I sat on my seat box, whilst getting my breath back, I suddenly realised something...

Out of the three rods and reels I was carrying - I was only likely to use one, perhaps two! Out of the four litres of water I had with me - I would probably only boil enough for two or three cups of tea! And out of the monstrous amount of end tackle, leads and bait, I was carrying – everything that I would probably need, could be fitted into a lunch box! That was the day I took up light tackle fishing.

Whether it’s fishing from a boat or from the shore, its surprising how little tackle you actually use during an average session. From that day until now, I have always travelled light, and from that day until now, I have always been looking for the perfect light-tackle bag. And this week, I think I have finally found the solution.

I have been a great fan of Fishpond products www.fishpondusa.com ever since they were released. Currently, I have a Fishpond Open Range Tech Pack which I use for course fishing - for stalking, and I also have the Southern Cross Fishing Journal which to be honest is a really nice way to keep a record of your prized catches, but a little expensive.

For the last six months, I’ve been looking for a Bum Bag - Waist Pack if you’re posh, at the other end of the scale... Fanny Pack, if you’re American! The bum bag I wanted was primarily for my trips to the Keys, but if I picked the right one I thought I might be able to use it for my shore fishing here at home. All Fishpond’s kit is as top of the range as you can get and I wanted a pack that was built to last for years, so I finally settled on the Fishpond Waterdance Guide pack and last week, when it arrived, I was pleasantly surprised by just how big this Bum Bag is.

I had wanted a bum bag that was quite big with enough room to keep plenty of tackle, my tools, a camera, my IPod, a couple of drinks and some other bits and bobs to hand, and I wanted a bum bag that would be comfortable to carry all day long. The Fishpond Waterdance pack is deceiving. From the outside it appears to be a sensible size - not too big, not too small - but when you unzip the three main compartments, you’ll be gobsmacked just how big they are inside.

The large main compartment, nearest the back, is huge and would easily accommodate a plastic accessory box measuring 25 x 18 x5cm. It’s enormous inside pocket would cope with all the packet products, like hooks and swivels, that you’d ever need to carry. The middle compartment is again massive. This by it’s design, looks to have been dedicated to handy bits – it has two massive pockets that would easily home a wallet, IPod, small camera and some other stuff, a zipper compartment for loose change, a licence compartment and a key ring snap so you won’t lose your car keys. However, this compartment can still accept a further accessory box measuring 22 x 12 x 4cm.

As this waist pack has been primarily designed for Fly Fishing, the last compartment, on the front, is actually a drop down fly bench but don’t let this put you off if you don’t fly fish or have any use for the foam fly board - this can be removed as its fitted using Velcro for just this purpose. Once removed, the front compartment on the Waterdance Guide pack will happily take a third, or perhaps two smaller accessory boxes, with a maximum measurement of 15 x 12 x 3cm. Inside the fly bench compartment there is a further two slip pockets.

The outside of the Waterdance Guide pack is quite pleasing – especially if you’re a tackle tart with an addiction to good looking but purposeful tackle gadgets like myself. On the front there are two elasticised mesh pockets, which will be good for loose packets, scissors, snipers and the like. On the subject of snipers and scissors, on the front there are also two retractor stations, just for this job. On the top of the pack is a handle, if you want to carry it this way and on the sides are two D rings – these are for a neck/shoulder strap that comes with this pack making it supper functional - the belt folds away into a hidden compartment on the back, so it can be worn over the shoulder like a day bag. Using both the belt and the neck strap in conjunction, it can be worn as a chest pack. This changes the packs use from a rock hopping belt, into to a shoulder style day bag, and also into a chest pack perfect for the wading lure angler – I got a feeling this is going to become a big part of my bass fishing kit!

The waist belt on the Waterdance pack has a super tough, adjustable belt clip, which I have noted doesn’t slide. There can be nothing worse than wearing any pack, or rucksack for that matter, where the adjusters loosen and grow with movement. Where the belt and the pack join, there is an adjustable yoke system, to tighten the pack, depending on load, for comfort – this pack has been designed to wear all day long.

On the belt there are several loops for pliers and the like, but the final, and by far the best thing about the Waterdance Guide Pack is... that those clever Bods at Fishpond even thought to include two beer holders (!!!) Water bottles not included.

My Fishpond Waterdance Guide Pack I bought from Nick Hart’s online fishing shop www.hartflyshop.com info@hartflyshop.com

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