Review: Trico Pack (improved)

If you are like me, you probably picked-up Tenkara because of it’s simplicity compared to other styles of fishing or fly fishing. This approach to simplicity will probably also trickle down to your equipment. I remember the days when I started fly fishing and carrying a vest with 20lbs worth of fly boxes and any thinkable (and unthinkable) accessories. Those days are definitively over for me.

Now with Tenkara, I would like to limit the amount of “stuff” I am carrying to what I really might need and rethinking what vessel is most suitable.

Jason Klass of “Backpackflyfishing.com” is a fellow Tenkara enthusiast that started developing his own equipment and offering it for sale on his web site. Some of you might already be familiar with the Ebira Rod Quiver, the Trico Pack and other equipment.

A little while ago, Jason and I met over a few drinks talking shop about Tenkara, our experiences, equipment, ideas etc. Jason asked if I would want to test and review some of his products. I thought that would be a great idea and an honor to provide feedback that might find its way into products available to other Tenkara enthusiasts (I was of course completely unselfish).

That being said, Jason was looking into improving the Trico Pack and gave me the prototype of what he will be offering this Spring on his website.

The Trico Pack is definitively a minimalist approach to how to carry your Tenkara accessories. It is big enough for what you really need and at the same time small enough to keep things simple.

The first improvement made by Jason is converting the floatant “cage” with a new, more versatile elastic/stretch pocket that can hold a small bottle of floatant, nippers, sun screen/chap stick or similar without the risk it slipping through the cage.

The second improvement is an additional inside pocket/compartment that can hold your fly lines, a tippet spool, line holder, credit card, fishing license or something that is similarly flat separate from the main compartment where you would keep your fly box and other items.

The 3^rd improvement will be (and that was decided by Jason after I got the Trico Pack for review) a foam patch that can be attached to the velcro strip on the front of the pack (sorry no picture).

The rest of the Trico Pack remains unchanged with the following features:

- lightweight lanyard to carry the pack around your neck

 - belt loop to attach to your belt (or wading belt) and velcro straps to attach to a backpack shoulder strap

- front quick access pouch (will hold tippet, line holder etc.)

- velcro patch that will keep hold some of your flies that might want to fish or are done fishing with

- daisy chain loops under the velcro patch

- loops on each corner of the front where you can attach tools or clip on your forceps

This pack is exactly what I was missing last year hiking and fishing Rocky Mountain National Park. When fishing in the “Park”, I always carry a small backpack with hiking essentials such as rain jacket, first aid kit, snacks, water, flash light, additional clothing layers etc. Basically stuff you might need up in the high country if conditions get worse or something unexpected happens (which happens often). On those trips, I had all my Tenkara fishing stuff in the backpack so when I needed to another line, tippet, different fly etc. I kept taking off the backpack, unpack, find what I was looking for, pack and put the backpack back on. I wish I had some sort of smaller pack up-front around my neck or on the backpack strap where I could easily retrieve what I needed. The Trico Pack fits exactly that niche, holding a small fly box, tippet, fly line, nippers, forceps and even a Swiss army knife.

Trico Pack:

Dimensions: 4.5” x 4” x 1.5”

Weight: 0.8oz

Material: “stealthy” gray ripstop nylon

Made in the USA

More Pictures:

Disclaimer:

I am not affiliated with Backpackflyfishing.com nor did I receive any compensation to review the Trico Pack, however, I received the Trico Pack free of charge for testing & reviewing.