Love to fly fish? I do, so I’m always on the lookout for packable pipe set ups. One that can easily fit in with my gear because the best fishing water is just beyond where most people stop which translates into a lengthy hike. There’s no slipping back to the Jeep for a quick smoke, you either have it with you or you don’t get that smoke. I think I’ve finally found the right set up. It fits easily into the side pocket of most fishing packs, it has everything you need all in one package and it’s rugged and water repellant.
It starts with the roll up. The one I use is made by Bradley Mountain (http://www.bradleymountain.com/collections/our-products/products/pipe-roll-brush-brown) and sells for $44. It’s made of heavy weight waxed canvas and has pockets for your pipe(s), a tobacco pouch, lighter, pipe tool and rolls up to about the size of a large fly wallet.
To go with the roll you need a small pipe. Now by small I mean compact not little. I like a pipe with a decent sized tobacco chamber and one that is comfortable to clench when you’re changing flies or performing some other task that calls for both hands. Chris Morgan has recently come out with a line of just that kind of pipe. They feature a good sized bowl but are short, compact and rugged. The finish is black sandblast so they aren’t easily marred by life in the outdoors. I picked the Pit Bull which is also a reverse calabash design. It’s short enough to fit into your shirt pocket with nothing sticking out to catch on things or to have things catch on it. (http://www.morganpipes.com/store/c2/BlackJack_pipes.html). Before finding these new Chris Morgan pipes I used GBD French Made Bent Rhodesians (9438). They are about a half inch longer but have that same rugged construction and configuration. The GBD Rhodies have always been one of my favorite pipes but for this application the Black Jack series are hard to beat.
For tobacco I use a nylon tri-fold. It simple, sturdy and inexpensive but does the job well. It will hold enough tobacco to last all day. Leather is classy and nice to the touch but in the damp environments of the stream I think the nylon works better. It repels moisture rather than absorb it and if it does get wet it will dry quickly. Throw in a good lighter and a pipe tool and you’ve got it all. For the outdoors, a Zippo Pipe lighter is hard to beat and Czech tool and a few pipe cleaners covers about any need you might have. Best of all, everything is in one place, no searching for anything. I’ve tried a lot of things over the years and never really been satisfied with any of them. I put this package together several years ago for a trip to Alaska and it’s been part of my gear ever since. Works for me, hope it will work for you too.
Ps. The second pipe pictured is a Larrysson I found on line. It’s almost the same dimensions as the Morgan and the two store well when slid into the pocket one stem up and one down. It’s nice to have that second pipe when you’re going to be out for a couple of days.
It starts with the roll up. The one I use is made by Bradley Mountain (http://www.bradleymountain.com/collections/our-products/products/pipe-roll-brush-brown) and sells for $44. It’s made of heavy weight waxed canvas and has pockets for your pipe(s), a tobacco pouch, lighter, pipe tool and rolls up to about the size of a large fly wallet.
To go with the roll you need a small pipe. Now by small I mean compact not little. I like a pipe with a decent sized tobacco chamber and one that is comfortable to clench when you’re changing flies or performing some other task that calls for both hands. Chris Morgan has recently come out with a line of just that kind of pipe. They feature a good sized bowl but are short, compact and rugged. The finish is black sandblast so they aren’t easily marred by life in the outdoors. I picked the Pit Bull which is also a reverse calabash design. It’s short enough to fit into your shirt pocket with nothing sticking out to catch on things or to have things catch on it. (http://www.morganpipes.com/store/c2/BlackJack_pipes.html). Before finding these new Chris Morgan pipes I used GBD French Made Bent Rhodesians (9438). They are about a half inch longer but have that same rugged construction and configuration. The GBD Rhodies have always been one of my favorite pipes but for this application the Black Jack series are hard to beat.
For tobacco I use a nylon tri-fold. It simple, sturdy and inexpensive but does the job well. It will hold enough tobacco to last all day. Leather is classy and nice to the touch but in the damp environments of the stream I think the nylon works better. It repels moisture rather than absorb it and if it does get wet it will dry quickly. Throw in a good lighter and a pipe tool and you’ve got it all. For the outdoors, a Zippo Pipe lighter is hard to beat and Czech tool and a few pipe cleaners covers about any need you might have. Best of all, everything is in one place, no searching for anything. I’ve tried a lot of things over the years and never really been satisfied with any of them. I put this package together several years ago for a trip to Alaska and it’s been part of my gear ever since. Works for me, hope it will work for you too.
Ps. The second pipe pictured is a Larrysson I found on line. It’s almost the same dimensions as the Morgan and the two store well when slid into the pocket one stem up and one down. It’s nice to have that second pipe when you’re going to be out for a couple of days.
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