On December 1 Abel is introducing a new series of reels and matching rods that are lower priced than their standard series. Called the X-Stream series, the kits are available in 4 different configurations (3 different rod/reel sizes: 5-weight, 7-9-weight and 10-12-weight -- the fourth option is a click-drag 5-weight reel rather than the standard cork drag). You can also purchase the items separately. For example, the 7-8-9-weight reel is $370, as compared to the Big Game 3N Ported, which is $470. Together with the 8-weight rod the total package is $545. The rods have a lifetime warranty.

Talking to Steve Abel about how the reels are different, he said there were only 3 essential differences: first, he was able to design a port configuration that eliminated the need for a counterweight; second, the wood handle is replaced with Delrin; and third, the reel doesn't go through the final polishing of the higher priced reel. All reels are made of the same high-quality aluminum stock as his other reels.

I've put several Abel reels through many years of hard use (abuse?), and I'm glad to see Abel come out with reels and rods that are more "in reach" for the average angler.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

John Randolph's stoic defense and Paul Schullery's clear-spun interpretations of catch-and-release in the September issue of Fly Fisherman magazine remind me again of the inscrutability of the sport, and to quote Mr. Randolph quoting Walton: "That's which is everybody's business is nobody's business." And then recent inductees to the IGFA Hall of Fame remember the controversy caused when Roland Martin released 2 bass on television in 1971.

Catch-and-release is a new concept, as is the reaction to it in the forms of animal rights protests and even the neo-don't-play-with-your-food movement. One wonders how we could have killed and eaten animals for tens of thousands of years without conscience. Of course we didn't. Mr. Schullery comes closest to the mark, in my mind, when he summarizes: "I cannot fully explain how I can do this, but I know I must." This whole debate -- particularly the puckered scientific theories about whether animals feel pain -- smacks of the modern human need to compartmentalize our lives into tidy, manageable packages. But after all, it's never tidy, and I don't believe it was meant to be.

When I was gathering support for the release of permit by guides -- a new concept in the early 80s -- old-time Key West harbor tarpon captain Bob West replied in front of the group, "It's up to each man's conscience." It rang true then, even when I knew I wanted to try to change guides' consciousness about what we were doing out there, and it still rings true, though it irks me less. I believe now that the day we all fish for the same reasons is the day it becomes less fun for all of us.

As much as fishing, and particularly fly fishing, makes a dandy soap box for proselytizing, I'm thankful that it's still a place where moralizing is eventually recognized for what it is -- bound more closely to our individual lives than to any ultimate truth.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Peter Kaminsky writes of October striped bass and albacore fishing off of Montauk Point on the northeastern tip of Long Island. Along with a description of preparing the fresh-caught bass at Daniel restaurant, in today's New York Times.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tom Mitzlaff of Mitzi Skiffs provides this very basic article on skiff poling (halfway down page). If you haven't done it, you may think it's about as hard as riding a bike for the first time. If you've been doing it forever, you start doing things that would've seemed impossible, on the order of extreme cyclists doing backflips off of ramps. This, of course, entirely changes your ideas of what a great skiff is ("How wet is it when you're holding position in a 30-knot wind, rain and 2-3 foot sees?", "Can I pole one-handed?", and "How quickly can I turn and chase fish?").

My favorite poling quote of all time came from Steve Huff. One day I saw him coming off a flat north of Key West after fishing had been particularly slow. He had just pushed across about 3 miles of flat and was headed off to do the same elsewhere. "Good day for poling," I said. "You know how it is," Steve replied. "Pole far enough and the fish will find you."

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

John Merwin writes an intriguing piece in Field & Stream about the role of Korean manufacturers in the budget-priced fly rod market. There's also an interesting comment from Rick Pope, president of Temple Fork, about the value of "Internet gossip" in keeping advertising costs low. And the startling fact that Cabela's sells over 200 different fly rods at less than $200, most of them assembled overseas.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston Manor, New York, inducted Ray Bergman, Stanley Bogdan, William "Catskill Bill" Kelly, and Nick Lyons into their Hall of Fame this year. This article in the Times-Herald Record offers short biographies on each.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's quite helpful that James Prosek posted many of the prints from his Trout: An Illustrated History on his Web site. If you want to know the distinctive markings of a Volcano Creek Golden Trout, this is the place to go.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

James Prosek writes a nice piece about how Peter Power, an Englishman, is singlehandedly saving three of the best Atlantic Salmon rivers in the world with -- what else? -- his own money. In today's New York Times.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Is it possible that there's a corner of the Bahamas that tourism hasn't touched? Somewhat out of reach, Mayaguana may still hold some magic. An information-rich article by Daniel Shaw in today's New York Times.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Steve and Tim Rajeff's four trout (the maximum number allowed) from Depuy's Spring Creek in the Paradise Valley south of Livingstion, MT, measured a total of 62 inches. They were caught on #22 Baetis and midge imitations using 7X tippet.

If you've ever fished this creek with tiny flies, you'll understand why the Rajeffs would fish it better than almost anyone: it's not unusual to have to fire a 70- or 80- foot cast and land the fly within inches of your target to get a grab. This is true only on certain sections, of course, but those certain sections seem to hold the most fish. I've watched another incredible caster, George Anderson -- owner of the Yellowstone Angler in Livingston -- pluck them out seemingly at will, but most other anglers don't even try.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My friend Simon Becker -- one of the finest guides working, in my opinion -- claims to have found something admirable in cormorants. When I dragged him out on a busman's holiday last spring, he remarked that their eyes are not green, but an iridescent purple. (Of course he had been fishing for many days in a row, and I didn't feel it appropriate to note my generally contrary sentiments about the bird.) Now Byron Stout claims that the double-crested cormorant has green eyes in his article "Birds Will Pay for Fish Pilfering." (He also notes that they are extremely clever and will even follow a boat churning up sea grass beds to round up fleeing pinfish; since they're creatures of habit, it proves just how common this type of idiotic boating is.)

But back to this incredibly important debate. I did extensive research to attempt to validate either Simon's or Byron's claim on the eye-color of Phalacrocorax Auritus. I reviewed dozens of photographs, several articles, and a few books and have come to this startling conclusion: cormorant eyes are neither purple nor green, but turquoise. In fact, they may appear greener in winter because the blue ring around the eyelid loses its color.

Out of respect for Simon's effort to find redemption for the cormorant, I probably won't mention this when I see him. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, especially if you've been guiding for too many days in a row.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Granted, to be weird in Manhattan, as in Key West, you need to extend yourself a little. But hang out a tackle shop? Apparently Capitol Fishing Tackle is a magnet for tackle junkies of all kinds. Jonathan Miles in Field and Stream on this hideaway Chelsea store.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 8:35 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I first saw a piece on this in a smaller newspaper about a month ago, but the Washington Times put out a story today on the planned auction of Trout Run, a secret, private fishery not far from Camp David in Maryland. The fact that no one has ante'd up the $100K to secure a right to bid on this historic land says a bundle about the state of fly fishing, or about the state of the presidency -- I'm not sure which.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 6:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Bob Salerno in the New Britain (Connecticut) Herald describes the techniques ("chuck and duck") and strategies ("first water") for fishing steelhead arriving out of Lake Ontario tributaries. A brief but comprehensive lesson.

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 5:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Zach Matthews put together a nice commentary on using stripping baskets on small waters. Why not?

Posted by Marshall Cutchin at 7:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)