Obi 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2012 Hi Everybody! I was looking for a lanyard for carrying the few essential things you need when fly fishing. I came across Joe Goertzen's handmade lanyards in the Internet, and particularly liked the "box-type" one. Here is a link: Goertzen Lanyards Anybody using the Goertzen Lanyards? What is your opinion about them? Thanks, Obi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crackaig 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2012 Just last week I made my own from a length of strimmer cord, some wooden beads and a pack of snap link swivels. Total cost less than $5. Even better is that you get to customise it to suit your own needs. Some of the fly boxes offered here have loops on the outside so you can attach them to a lanyard. If you are making (or buying) one you need a weak link in it, so that if it gets caught you can get out of it before it drowns you. It has happened! Cheers, C. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2012 I bought a couple from steeldrifter this year and since have made a couple more for friends Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
perchjerker 0 Report post Posted July 17, 2012 As others have previously noted, I made mine out of beads bought at either Hobby Lobby or Michael's, some Polypro heavy line, Swivel Snaps, a Spec Cord, and some Bead Chain fittings. The attached photos show one of the completed lanyards and the other shows the Bead Chain fittings that allow the cord to roll on itself (they form a swivel of sorts),and provide a 'quick-release mechanism', as the large Bead Chain connectors fit very snugly inside the rubber(?) ends of the Spec Cords. The materials list for the Bead Chain connectors is (based on two connectors for one lanyard: 2 eyelet connectors; 4 standard connectors; 4 2-bead pairs of bead chain. Simply connect 2 of the standard connectors together with one pair of bead-chain beads, and then connect an eyelet connector to one of the two standard connectors with another pair of bead-chain beads. Repeat for the other swivel connector. I have enough of the wooden beads left over to make at least 6 more lanyards. The real expense is the Spec Cord; but I highly recommend them as they make wearing the lanyard around your neck all day tolerable. Also, they have a take-up bead for easy placement over the head/removal. Cheers! Frank Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2012 Before you part with any money I would recommend trying fishing with something round your neck/hanging down your front first. I thought the lanyard idea was great but couldn't get on with the tools being loose and they swing forward when you bend down and just generally did my head in. If you tuck the tools into a pocket or similar you lose the point of a lanyard IMO. I have found for fishing light, a slim fly box with 2 dozen flies and forceps clipped onto a pocket flap with a tippet spool in a pocket is just as light and easy to carry about. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Steeldrifter 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2012 couldn't get on with the tools being loose and they swing forward when you bend down and just generally did my head in I don't have any of the ones I sell on hand right now, but the ones I make I found a way to eliminate that problem of bending over and swinging forward. On the ones I made I bought some clip on ID badges like you would wear working at a large company. then I cut the clips off of them and I used that as an anti-swing clip at the very bottom of the lanyard. With that clipped onto your shirt you can bend over and the lanyard does not swing out forward. Here's a pic of the ones I make with the clip, it's at the very bottom of the lanyard. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Piker20 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2012 For me personally I just find the hassel of access to my forceps too much to persist with the lanyard idea. I have even stopped using the zingers in my coat now cause I found them too restrictive. (still hang my gink and scissors on zinger) Probably just me being weird. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Obi 0 Report post Posted July 18, 2012 Dear all, thank you very much for your input so far. Your points are well taken. Of course DIY-Lanyards are way cheap, and you sure brought up some great ideas. And - frankly speaking - you made me re-think. I will choose the DIY-Option as long as I can figure out what to do with my fly-boxes. I really like the idea of a box-pouch, since I hold several fly-boxes (dryflies, nymphs, terrestrials & large dries & streamers). I want to avoid re-packing my fly-box over and over again - which I would have to do if I attached the box permanently to the lanyard. As far as safety, however - I am not sure if this is actually an issue or not. I would assume that the carabiners used for connecting the strings to the leather-pouch have only a limited breaking-strength? Cheers, Obi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
troutguy 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2012 Call me old school, I like a vest. I won a really nice one and couldn't get used to crap hanging around my neck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
perchjerker 0 Report post Posted July 19, 2012 I have several nice bass/bluegill ponds within a 10 minute drive from my house. To put a vest on, when it is 80+ degrees outside, to fish these ponds would be ridiculous. Especially when all one needs is a spool of tippet, a small box of flies, haemostats, nippers, a fly patch, and maybe some dry fly floatant. Lanyards are ideal for this type of fishing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Obi 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2012 Hi everybody! Perchjerker is right, IMO. There are fishing situations were a lanyard works great. I for instance go for long walks along the river bank, and I carry most of my stuff in a backpack - including food and water. In summer I won't wear my wading-jacket (where I typically store the things you need all the time). So backpack & lanyard would work great for me........ Cheers, Obi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2012 Obi after looking at the lanyards you posted I made one its not that hard just cut a piece of leather and sew a pocket on it made of canvas then add a couple of eyelets and use barrel swivels to connect the string to the leather Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nick Williams 0 Report post Posted July 20, 2012 couldn't get on with the tools being loose and they swing forward when you bend down and just generally did my head in I don't have any of the ones I sell on hand right now, but the ones I make I found a way to eliminate that problem of bending over and swinging forward. On the ones I made I bought some clip on ID badges like you would wear working at a large company. then I cut the clips off of them and I used that as an anti-swing clip at the very bottom of the lanyard. With that clipped onto your shirt you can bend over and the lanyard does not swing out forward. Here's a pic of the ones I make with the clip, it's at the very bottom of the lanyard. Steeldrifter, what did you use for the piece you put the tipper spools on? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Obi 0 Report post Posted July 24, 2012 Hi everybody! @riversteelheadslyer: Would you mind posting some pictures? I am pretty curious how made your lanyard. The thing is - I don't have the required raw materials and tools at hand. Wouldn't you nees a sewing-machine for sweing leather and canvas? Cheers, Obi Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riffleriversteelheadslayer 0 Report post Posted July 24, 2012 I will try to get some pics up but you don't need a sewing machine to sew leather a large needle a pair of pliers and some strong thread is all that I used Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
