Fishpond

Fishpond packs, nets and travel bags

Fishpond is a family-owned company out of Colorado. Johnny Le Coq started it more than 25 years ago in Summit County, and today it makes chest packs, slings, Nomad nets and submersible duffels. We carry it from a $6 fly puck up to a $450 rolling duffel.

Fishpond designs its gear in Colorado and builds most of it at factories around the world, chosen product by product. Two small pieces are made in Colorado itself: the Arrowhead Retractor and the Confluence Net Release.

A lot of the fabric is Cyclepond, a nylon woven from worn-out commercial fishing nets, including the “ghost nets” that get cut loose and left in the ocean. Fishpond says making it uses 27% less natural resources and puts out 28% less greenhouse gas. The company is also a certified B Corporation.

Our team has carried Fishpond from Texas bass lakes to the bonefish flats of Belize. If you’re deciding between two packs, call the shop or book a private outfitting appointment in Dallas and bring your fly boxes with you. Seeing what actually fits is faster than guessing.

Which Fishpond pack should you carry?

Start with how wet your gear gets. If you wade to your knees and fish from the bank, a standard pack will do. If you fish from a raft or a skiff, or you wade to your waist, look at the Thunderhead line. It is made from 900-denier TPU-coated fabric with a waterproof TRU Zip, and it is built to be dunked.

Chest packs

A chest pack keeps your fly boxes in front of you, where you can see them. The San Juan Vertical ($50) is the simplest way in, a slim pack with a zip-down fly bench. The Stormshadow Chest ($200) has a magnetic front pocket that holds several fly boxes. The Thunderhead Chest ($190) is the waterproof one, with a holster for a long or short-handled net.

Slings and hip packs

A sling swings around to your chest without coming off your shoulder. We stock the Thunderhead Submersible Sling and the Stormshadow Sling, both $270. A hip pack moves the weight off your shoulders entirely: the Thunderhead Submersible Lumbar ($250, or $200 in the small) and the Waterdance Pro Guide Pack ($160).

Backpacks

For a long walk in, the Ridgeline ($140) is the light one, with room for a hydration bladder and a slot for your net. The Wind River Roll-Top ($230) holds 38 liters and has a hip belt, and Fishpond calls it a favorite among its friends in Alaska. The Thunderhead Submersible Backpack ($300) is fully waterproof.

Pro Tip: Waterproof zips need a little care. Rinse the sand and salt off after each trip and run a TruZip lubricant wipe ($6) along the zip now and then. A dry, gritty zip is harder to close, and a zip that won’t close all the way won’t keep water out.

Which Fishpond net should you buy?

Every Nomad net has a carbon fiber and fiberglass frame. It is light, it is waterproof, and it floats, so a net you drop in the current stays on top.

The Nomad Emerger 2.0 ($190) is the one to buy if you only want one net. It is slim enough to ride in the net slot of a hip pack, sling or vest without catching on brush. The Nomad Native 2.0 ($146) is the grab-and-go option, with a lanyard for your vest or belt and a TPU net bag that stretches further before it tears. We also stock the Canyon ($160) and the Yampa Hand Net 2.0 ($170).

To carry one, add a Confluence Net Release 2.0 ($35). It is an 11-pound magnet on a coil that stretches from 12 to 96 inches, and it is handcrafted in Colorado. The $5 Nomad End Cap protects the butt of the handle, which is where a net shows wear first.

The nets carry a one-year guarantee, not the lifetime cover Fishpond gives its packs, and the rubber net bag isn’t covered at all. Check the bag at the start of each season.

Packing Fishpond for a fishing trip

Plenty of lodge trips include a boat ride with your luggage on board. The trip to The Palometa Club includes an hour-long water taxi through Boca Paila Lagoon, and boat spray is part of the ride. That is the trip the Thunderhead Grande Submersible Duffel ($400) is made for: 100 liters, 4.8 pounds, fully waterproof, with backpack straps that tuck away.

If your trip is more terminals than boats, the Stormshadow rolling duffels (Medium $400, Large $450) and Rolling Carry-On ($330) are easier to handle. For rods, the Dakota Carry On Rod & Reel Case ($200) keeps your rods and reels together. The Jackalope Rod Tube ($100) costs half as much.

Pack a Burrito Wader Bag ($60) for the last morning. It has a roll-out changing mat and keeps wet waders and boots away from everything else in your duffel.

Pro Tip: Photograph your bags when you check them. Fishpond’s guarantee does not cover damage done by an airline, so any claim goes to the airline.

Heading to the flats? See Abaco Lodge or Turneffe Flats. For a fly-out trip, Alaska Rainbow Lodge. Our travel desk can tell you what each lodge supplies, so you only pack what you need.

Fishpond’s guarantee, and how to make your gear last

Packs, bags, vests and accessories carry a lifetime guarantee. If one fails because of a defect in materials or workmanship, Fishpond repairs or replaces it free. Nomad nets and other hard goods are covered for one year, with a one-time replacement. Neither covers accidents, neglect, saltwater corrosion, normal wear, or damage done by an airline.

To start a claim, contact Fishpond’s customer service. If you bought it from us, call the shop and we’ll help you get it started.

Since saltwater corrosion is excluded, the rinse matters. After every trip, and every day on a saltwater trip, rinse your pack with fresh water and hang it to dry in the shade. For a deeper clean, use mild soap and a soft brush. Skip harsh detergents and keep it away from direct heat.

Fishpond questions we get asked