Review - Clear Creek Brush Creek Vest

Clear Creek Brush Creek Vest

You want Pockets? You've got pockets! All 19 of them! Then it also have various forceps and scissors holders and other useful nooks and crannies. For good luck it also includes two fly patches and two removable flap down fly boxes (which can be used on waders or even shorts for ultra light travel).

Build quality is fantastic and as soon as you open the bag the vest feel like quality. Its certainly as good as any of the usual names on the market and definitely better than some.

The obvious thing to look for on a UKSWFF test is something for salt water to eat. The pocket zips are metal but covered in a matte black coating that so far is holding up. The main zip is plastic with a chunky tag and should last a very long time if you rinse it after being in the briny. Apart from that the vest is sound except from only one area. The magnets that hold the fly boxes closed. I can see these corroding over time if left covered in the salty stuff (but you'd rinse them, right?)

D loop and rear pockets

There are several adjustment points on the vest and each has a method of keeping any spare strap out of the way of anything to prevent tangling. No flappy straps here. The (padded) shoulder straps are wide and comfortable and still remain comfortable even with every pocket stuffed to capacity. The sides of the vest are taken care of by adjustable straps too meaning it can be made to fit almost any frame. The inside of the vest is made of breathable mesh to keep you dry in the hotter months and has three front pockets, one of each that is zipped, inside the vest one each side.

The general layout is very well thought out and there are only a couple of the pockets that you can't reach with he vest on. These being on the back and inside the back, would be handy for something you're only going to need once in a day... Like lunch. Everything else is not only accessible but doubled up! The vest has a rod holder on each side so you don't suffer if left or right handed. It should also be possible (but we haven't yet tried it) to carry a spare rod on the left side in it's holder whilst using a rod on the right side. Just remember the rod is there if you try any fancy casting. The zips work with one hand so you don't have to use both to get a pocket open. Something other vests I've had do suffer from.

Between the two rear pockets the vest has a drinks holder and this is large enough to carry a standard size water bottle right up to a 1 litre stainless steel flash for the colder days. Balance of the jacket still remains good and if anything is actually improved by adding a bottle of drink. It evens up the weight of the stuff you have in the front pockets. On the bottom at the back there are two Velcro tabs for attaching quick release items such as a wading staff etc. Even with a large bottle of liquid in the back pocket, the jacket doesn't slide up when you bend over to release a fish.

The Front of the vest.

The foam the fly patches are made from stands up to fly hooking and removal surprisingly well. The pockets all suggest immediately what should go into them from their size from spools of tippet going into the top pockets to floatant and sinkants going in the pockets below. The larger pockets to the sides ideally suit a small priest or a mobile phone. (However, you might want to use one of the higher pockets on the inside for this.

At present, despite three weeks of use, neither of us can find an irritating fault with this vest. Quite unusual. At £79 we reckon it represents very good value for money especially considering you get two fly boxes included that are £20 each if bought separately!

All in, we can't find fault with this vest. Apart from maybe looking a little like a bullet proof vest to some..

The whole range (reviews coming soon) are available in the UKSWFF shop.

See you in the Forum
Tight loops.

Carl

Carl Hutchinson is a qualified instructor with the EFFA and FFFUSA and runs saltwater fly fishing Mullet with www.corporateflyfishing.com He is a member of the 55 yard club and current Roxtons International Saltwater Fly Casting Champion and has fished extensively in many saltwater locations and specialises in saltwater fly fishing for Salmon in Canada.