Frequently Asked Questions

Questions? Here are answers to our most commonly asked questions. Feel free to contact us if you have any others. 

Why are our bags right or left specific?

While our bags are designed to be ambidextrous, our Creel Strap is left and right specific.

The creel strap has a chest strap that wraps from behind, goes under your arm and attaches to the D ring on your chest. This chest strap is riveted to the D ring on your back according to which side a customer wants their bag should hang on.

What side should I choose for my side bag?

Our bags are meant to hang like a messenger bag, with the strap going across your body. So choosing "right" means your bag will sit on your right side with the strap on your left shoulder and vice versa if you choose "left". Choose whichever side is most comfortable. Your side bag can be pushed completely behind you if you wish and therefore has no impact on your casting, regardless of which side you choose or which arm you cast with.

Our advice is to think through the mechanics of how you fish. How do you fight and land a fish? When you are tying on a new fly or rig, how to you hold your fly rod? What arm do you tuck your rod under? What hand do you use to access the inside of your current bag or gear? These questions best help inform which side you might find to be the most comfortable and convenient for you.

Why use traditional materials?

1. Time tested. Our materials have been in use for centuries. History is on their side and they have had hundreds of years to prove that they work. Even today, with so many innovations in technical fabrics, traditional materials continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with them and prove that they are as tough or tougher than anything on the market.
2. Their attributes are renewable. Waxed canvas can continue to be rewaxed by the user in order to renew its water repellent and abrasion resistant properties. Leather can be continually cleaned and treated and conditioned to ensure it stays soft to the touch and tough to the elements.
3. Waxed canvas, leather and brass look better over time. There is something about having a bag that looks better, the harder it is used. These materials will take on a look that is shaped by how you use them. Each unique to the individual. Both waxed canvas and leather will patina over time and waxed canvas will actually begin to look like leather in the spots that it receives the most wear. Brass will also patina and age remarkably well. 
4. A bonus to all of these attributes is that you have a piece of gear that looks as amazing as it is tough. We love the aesthetic of these materials and we hope that you do as well.

Are your bags waterproof?

Our bags are water-resistant, but not waterproof.

Waxed canvas and other similar products, like oil cloth, are not simply coated with wax. Instead, the fabric is impregnated with wax or oil down to the core of every fibre. The result is a fabric that is actually bonded to wax all the way through, and not simply treated on the surface. This makes it highly water repellent, but not waterproof. Rain will bead up and run right off of waxed canvas, snow will sit and eventually melt. Occasionally under extremely heavy rain or snow conditions, or hours of prolonged exposure to rain or snow, some moisture can soak into the canvas, but this is minimal.

You can wade into deeper spots and have the bottom of the bag sitting in the water and it will take a bit of time for water to begin to soak through. Most anglers will cinch up their straps to raise their bags a bit higher if they plan on spending extended amounts of time standing in deep water. But you can feel confident that your bag will keep water out as you wade across deeper sections.

Our zippers are the biggest area for water to enter our bags. We use heavy duty YKK brass zippers. They are tough, and because they are brass, they do not rust or corrode from exposure to water. But the teeth are not tight enough to keep water out. In heavy rain or snow, you may notice a bit of moisture get into the bag, but this is minimal. However, if you dunk your bag over the zippers, water will get into your bag. This is the most common reason for water getting into a bag.

We tell angers that you can feel confident that the interior of your bag should remain mostly dry. However, as always if you are wading with anything that you don’t want to get wet (phones, cameras, etc) these should be in a water proof case or pouch. Regardless of water repellency or waterproofness in a product, this is a good practice to protect your gear when on the water.

Do you accept custom orders?

Yes, we do accept custom orders. The cost and time it takes to fulfill a custom order varies depending on what your needs are, materials needed and how busy we are with our standard products. Email us your idea. We’d love to work with you. 

Are our products made in the USA?

All of our products are designed and assembled in the United States. Much of our materials are made in the United States, but not all. We take pride in being able to do all of our production in the US and are committed to continuing this as we grow. But we are are also committed to quality. If we can find the highest quality materials here in the United States, we will use them. But if a product requires a quality that can only be found in materials made outside of the US, we will source from there under the condition that it comes from a place where, to the best of our knowledge, fair labor and wages practices are observed.

What is your return policy and warranty policy?

Please see our Guarantee here.