Prior to moving to New England I didn’t use canoes or kayaks very much. It was a matter of priorities and necessity. When I was outdoors I went fishing or hiking. Neither really required a vessel. Every now and then I would float a river for fun, but paddling and angling never really mingled. Ten years ago that changed. Fishing in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine, I found that a small watercraft was often necessary. Lake shorelines are often densely wooded, privately owned, or both. Rivers are remarkably swampy. To fish, I had to get in a kayak. Quickly, I began to enjoy getting in kayaks.
I am still a novice paddler. Although I enjoy being in small vessels, they’re still means to an end. With my schedule and interests, being on the water is all about fly fishing. My gear choices reflect this reality. High end rods and reels are serviced by packs loaded with the best flies, tools, and miscellany that I can afford. But paddles, anchors, and PFDs? It is whatever I’ve been able to scrounge up or borrow. The PFD, in particular, is usually the weakest link in the chain. Safety is important, but virtually everything I’ve used has lead to a few problems:
- Fly line gets tangled on it as I cast, strip, or mend
- The bulk of it makes wearing any sort of pack or lanyard prohibitive
- They’re all incredibly uncomfortable
Recently, I’ve been wearing the Astral Sturgeon. And none of those apply.
I first discovered Astral when I bought a pair of shoes. They quickly became my go-to wet wading and summer footwear. The quality of the shoes put the non-fly fishing company on my radar, and I’ve kept tabs on what they’ve been working on via social media. The Sturgeon, along with a few other angling-inclined pieces of paddling gear, piqued my interest.
The first thing that I noticed about the Sturgeon is how comfortable it is. As it is a Type III PFD, it is substantial enough. But the mesh panels, lightweight nylon shell, and active cut lead to a relatively a inconspicuous accessory. This matters while wearing it. It also is important for casting. Nothing about the PFD is obstructive while casting. This is true when seated flush in a kayak, on a canoe seat, or standing in the river.
The design of the front of the Sturgeon is also ideal for casting. Overall, it is very streamlined. There are D-rings, lash points, and straps – but they hardly protrude and/or orient downwards. A pliers holster and slip pockets keep essential gear handy and out of the way. Casting, stripping, and mending: loops of line on my lap didn’t get hung up at all.
Prior to using the Sturgeon, I’d keep all my gear in a dry bag on deck of the canoe or kayak. Reaching for forceps, tippet, or another fly wasn’t inconvenient. It was, however, a noticeable extra step when compared to wading with a sling pack. The Sturgeon’s clamshell front doesn’t have a huge capacity, but it allows for all the essentials. I’ve got tippet spools, tools, leaders, and a fly wallet in the front of my PFD. In my opinion, a fly wallet is perfect for this application. Something that isn’t rigid will fit into a pocket designed to be narrow and unobtrusive. Unless you only use a few flies or lures, you’ll still need another box somewhere at your feet.
The bottom line is that this is a piece of gear that allows me to just fish from a canoe or kayak. And I can do so safely.
After using the Sturgeon it struck me that there are so many pieces of fly fishing gear that I have purchased or upgraded in the same time that I have been using sub-par PFDs. A lot of it gets used a lot less than a PFD. This is an upgrade that is making a noticeable difference for me and my fishing. If you fly fish or use conventional gear from a small vessel, I think it is an upgrade that will do the same for you.
I’d encourage you to head to the Astral website to check out the Sturgeon, along with the rest of their catalog. Paddlers and fly fishers share a lot of space, both on the river and in worldview. Astral uses environmentally friendly materials, and is friendly towards anglers who want to use their gear!