Typical size rucksack for river fishing, used with a separate bait container
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Whatever you want a rucksack for, short river trips or longer stillwater sessions, there are some things to look out for that always apply.
It must have a good carrying harness that is adjustable so that the weight of the rucksack sits comfortably on your back, not too high and not too low. Ensure that all the harness straps adjust so that it sits firmly and securely, ie, it doesn't tend to move about on your back while you're on the move. A waist strap is essential for larger rucksacks. Those straps must be easily released if you happen to fall. The straps should be wide and well padded, with no tendency to dig into your shoulders. Or have a well padded carrying handle if you opt for a carryall type. Make sure there are no hard edges that will dig into your shoulders or back.
The type of rucksack you need for river fishing is of course dependent on the type of fishing you do and the intended length of stay.
Some roving river anglers prefer the carryall type and a separate bait bucket
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If you're going to stay on the river for an all night session or even longer, and want to cook food during that stay, then you're going to need a bigger rucksack than what would normally be used for river fishing. So for the purpose of this guide we are assuming that you're river fishing for no longer than the usual day, or part day leading perhaps into a few hours of darkness.
Okay, so the first thing to do is think about what kind of river fishing you usually do.
For many it's roving. You fish a swim and then move on to another swim, and then another one, and so on. If you fish roving style then one of your priorities is to cut down on the weight you carry, and the less tackle you carry the smaller the rucksack you need.
With that in mind, in your garage or on the lawn, your best bet is to spread out the tackle that you're likely to carry in the rucksack, including flasks, sandwiches, etc, and get some idea about the size of rucksack you need. And then add a bit, because there will always be something extra you want to carry no matter how you try to keep it to a bare minimum! Remember that there will be some cold and/or wet days when you need to carry extra clothes.
Is the bulk of your tackle made up of lots of small boxes, or one or two larger boxes? You need to keep that in mind when choosing a rucker as a rucksack with lots of smaller pockets is obviously best suited to the lots of smaller boxes option.
A decent fly fishing shoulder bag is fine for short roving sessions
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If you're one of those anglers who likes to brave the elements and therefore doesn't carry any kind of shelter, then a rucksack that has a compartment where a built-in waterproof cover is stored makes a lot of sense. If not, then pay extra for a rucker made from a good waterproof, or at least showerproof, material. This has the advantage of not soaking up the rain and making the rucksack weigh a lot more even when its empty.
There are some anglers who are happy enough with a fly fishing type shoulder bag for short river fishing sessions, or a match angler's seatbox. The fly fishing shoulder bag is good for short roving sessions and the seatbox is ideal for float fishing sessions when you will probably be fishing the whole session in one swim.
Ruckboxes, large or small, could suit you best
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A number of roving anglers don't use a conventional rucksack at all, but instead use what's become known as a carryall and carry that around like a shopping bag. Try both if you can before you commit to one or the other, and see which suits you best. With either of these options you can carry a separate bait bucket, perhaps a collapsible canvas one that will stow away when you've emptied it. Or a thermal one if you're a pike angler carrying deadbaits.
It's not the usual thing with most river anglers but there are some who like to be as comfortable as possible while they're there and take a bait table. A better answer though, could be the hybrid type ruckbox, which is a cross between a rucksack and a seatbox. The ruckbox has a frame built into it and stands upright, giving easy access to its contents and allows for a panel to cover the top of the frame to make it either a table or a seat. Beware though, ruckboxes, as they're known, weigh considerably more than a conventional rucksack of similar proportions, so what you're saving on carrying a seat you lose by carrying the heavier ruckbox.
Whatever you choose, as long as it does the job you want it to then that's all that matters. But be careful, just give some thought to the type of fishing you usually do and then buy accordingly.
Jim Gibbinson
