Recently in Fly Fishing Equipment Category

New on MidCurrent this week is Robert Morselli's review of Ross Essence FC fly rods, a line which Ross Worldwide recently expanded to include more models. Morselli, who is research director of the popular "How It's Made" TV series, notes that the Essence FC is a great example of how much value can be built into an under-$200 rod.

Excerpt: "The FCs will handily cast flies in far to mid to short distances. And just five years ago, few would have thought of taking a 3-weight to any place but a trout stream with smallish fish. This just isn't the case anymore with the better-made mid-price rods. The FC is responsive and delivers the strong sense that you can land an unexpectedly large fish if you have to."

As part of their energetic move into North American markets, Hardy just announced that their 15,000-square-foot warehouse, distribution center and showroom in Lancaster, Pennsylvania was officially opened on October 22. As we noted in our annual review of new fly fishing gear, Hardy is bringing several new fly rods and reels to the U.S. market this year as well as beginning distribution of products that have a devoted following in Europe. Their reintroduced "Perfect" fly reel also won a MidCurrent Best of Show award at the recent Fly Fishing Retailer Show in Denver.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

Gamakatsu has come up with a new way of attaching droppers to leaders using a preformed plastic bead that slides onto the leader just above the tippet and holds the dropper line perpendicular to the leader. "The Dropper Bead is a clear plastic oval bead with a hole running length wise through the center that the leader goes through and a second hole underneath it running perpendicular to the other one to attach a dropper line to."

Before the arrival of spinning reels, fly rod owners were mighty inventive when it came to figuring out how to use a fly rod in non-classic ways. Gordon Wickstrom writes about spinners, swivels and artificials of all shapes and sizes that were once hung on the end of a fly line. "There was one thing, for sure, that we could do with this rig, which was to fling fly rod spinners around all up and down our streams. The interbellum period was the great age of the 'fly rod spinner,' and no trout fisherman worthy of his rod would be caught on the water without a few of these distinctly American lures." In the Boulder Daily Camera.

The next time someone tells you that fly shops are a thing of the past, suggest that they read this story about Santa Cruz, California retailer Ernie Kinzli, whose customers are planning to wear black arm bands as they mourn Kinzli's decision to do more fishing. "Kinzli, a native Santa Cruzan, began fly fishing with his father along the San Lorenzo River when he was in the third grade. Back then, Kinzli said, anglers would line up shoulder to shoulder under the railroad trestle at the river mouth during steelhead season. The fish were so thick the river often looked black." Leo Maxam in the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

While other companies moan over the lack of product orders occasioned by the slow economy, G.Loomis seems to be refocusing on what really matters: customer service. As a U.S. west-coast company, Loomis found that they weren't able to provide the same level of service to all time zones by keeping normal hours. So beginning November 3, they extended their hours to 6 AM to 4:30 PM (9-7:30 EST) to accomodate service requests from the east coast. Hmm, wonder if the mega-banks and phone companies might learn something from this.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

We've long been believers in keeping our skin under wraps while spending time on the water. Fingerless gloves are preferred by many fly fishers, but they also take an absolute beating. Between putting them on and taking them off, rowing a drift boat or poling a skiff all day, casting to and handling fish, gloves can hardly be expected to last forever. We're left to find a pair that is well constructed, doesn't lose shape after two wearings, and lasts for more than a single season. We recently put Glacier Glove's Lycra Sun Glove with synthetic palm (Model 007GY, $14.99) through the saltwater ringer and were quite pleased with the results. On of the big problems with "sun gloves" is that they typically don't have durable palms. In fact we discussed the issue with a couple of manufacturers at this year's Fly Fishing Retailer show. Interestingly, both thought that synthetic leather might hold the answer -- natural leather isn't durable when wet and becomes uncomfortably stiff after drying.

After a handful of trips through the tropics and extensive use on the water we're pleased to report that the synthetic material in the 007GYs is holding up quite well. Besides dealing with the abrasion from regular poling, the glove has maintained it's original shape and size despite being dunked repeatedly in saltwater and then dried. The other feature that stood out in this glove, which has a sun protection rating of 50+, is the extended cuff that amply covers the wrist and leaves no gap between shirt and glove. The cuff material is also doubled or "two-ply" and stitched very well, which seems to us to be a critical area in the construction of any sun glove that's going to be given a serious workout.

You can find out more about Glacier Glove and their Dr. Shade sun protection products at the Glacier Glove Web site.

Guide John Berry's experiences with ethanol should raise some eyebrows for those who might think that when it comes to outboard fuel, all gas is the same. "It attracts water. Since outboard motors do not have sealed fuel systems they can take on water if ethanol is used. Water and gasoline don't mix. The water settles to the bottom of the tank where it enters the intake tube and goes into the motor. You can imagine the results. Ethanol is also a powerful solvent. As we walked through Floyd's shop, he showed me several fuel lines that had been put out of commission by the use of ethanol." In the Baxter, Arkansas Bulletin.

Berry's observations remind me of what the lead engineer at OMC told me many years ago about how to extend the life of outboards (admittedly, all two-stroke at the time): "Use the best fuel you can buy," he said, "and run them constantly."

Buff Headwear will be providing dozens of custom Save Wild Steelhead UV Buff head and neckwear to the Save Wild Steelhead Festival on November 5, 2008 at the Emerson Cultural Center in Bozeman, Montana. The Festival will benefit Trout Unlimited and the Wild Steelhead Coalition and is a fundraising event "focused on uniting anglers, filmmakers, photographers and conservation groups to bolster awareness and education around influential issues regarding wild steelhead."

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

RIO's reformulated Bonefish fly line is catching a lot of attention for its unique taper design, high-tech coatings, and contrasting head- and running-line colors. MidCurrent gave it our "Best of Show" award for 2009 products, and we learned yesterday that American Angler magazine gave it their "Gear of the Year" award. RIO's new bonefish lines are available in sizes WF6F to WF9F and cost $74.95.

As RIO says in a new press release: "RIO's new bonefish fly line features a unique taper design that allows a rod to load at close range, a medium-length front taper for great turnover and a long back taper to smooth out the casting loop and keep the line stable on long shots. A hard, saltwater coating over a medium stiff core results in a fly line that will not wilt in most tropical conditions, while RIO's dirt-repelling XS Technology keeps the line ultra slick for fast, long casts."

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

Pick up any of the latest small-stream fly rods and you might wonder why on the good green earth anyone would want a fly rod that weighs even less. But new advances in nanotechnology will likely make it possible to build rods that weight not 7/8 of an ounce, but perhaps 1/10 of an ounce. (No doubt the reel will have to weigh less than a feather too, but we'll let the engineers figure that one out.)

It seems that a new type of carbon "paper" is in development at various universities around the U.S., including Florida State University. The paper uses layers of carbon nanotubes that are 50,000 times thinner than a human hair. These so called "buckytubes" derive their name from Buckminsterfullerenes, named after architect Richard Buckminster Fuller, whose geodesic domes matched the appearance of the the buckyball, the first discovered form of molecules composed entirely of carbon.

Outcast Sporting Gear, a maker of pontoon boats, float tubes and rafts for anglers, recently announced five new "add-ons" to make life better for fly fishers: an affordable new inflator (under $100), a 36 Quart Cooler with a removable inner liner and integrated attachment points, a new 24-inch "landing pad," a redesigned float tube bag, and a new device to keep oar blades in the proper position while rowing. We looked closely at the BladeRite at the FFR show in Denver and they do indeed look like a clever idea. "The BladeRite is uniquely designed to increase the range of motion by 12 degrees or 30 percent. Available in two sizes, the Small will fit 1 3/8" diameter oar shafts while the Large fits 1 7/8" diameter oars."

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

According to their Web site, Teton Fly Reels has suspended production while they look for a buyer for their company.

American Angler magazine spent the entire FFR show in Denver shooting interviews with top fly fishing manufacturers, and late last week they posted the results on their Web site. Here's K.C. Walsh talking about the new 360-degree lug Vibram sole that is part of Simms's aggressive move into felt-free soles for wading boots and shoes. From that link you can also see a variety of other videos covering the new product lines of Ross, Renzetti, Patagonia, Orvis, Flambeau, Sage, Winston, K-Pump, Mustad, G.Loomis, St. Croix, Hardy and Grey's and lots of others.

Once a year at MidCurrent we're swamped with new product info. It almost always happens in September, because that's about the time of the annual Fly Fishing Retailer show, when shop owners are enticed to order all the goodies they'll need for spring. Sorting through it takes effort: a trip to Denver, uncountable emails and calls, and perhaps most challenging of all, getting manufacturers to explain exactly what they mean by words like "fishability" and "stump-pulling power." The result, though, is that we end up with a guide that even we refer to for the next nine months or so, until the cycle begins again. We hope you'll also find something of value in our annual new gear review, "Four Feet of Anything."

Fishing with terrestrials for fall trout in Wisconsin's Driftless Area elicits a wry comment from Steve Engelbert. "'If you are landing a beaver, you're fishing too stout,' says Engelbert." Maybe that will help us set the upper limit for performance on the new stump-puller-style short fly rods. In the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.

Abel has two new special edition reels available online. The slate-colored Super 7 and Super 10 are engraved with a Western Rivers Conservancy (www.westernrivers.org) logo, and Abel will donate a portion of the sales to the non-profit group, which buys land alongside important western U.S. rivers in order to protect critical habitat.

Curious about what manufacturers mean when they throw around terms like 'mandrel,' 'scrim,' 'pre-preg,' 'resin,' and 'modulus?' Here's a quick overview of the basic techniques used in the manufacture of a modern carbon graphite fly rod. New on MidCurrent.

New on MidCurrent, Jim Lepage and I tackle the classic question of "Which fly rod is right for me?" Sure, there's plenty of subjectivity involved -- and, we hope, some test casting -- but here are the keys to picking the rod that best suites your style of fly fishing.

Excerpt: "LET'S ASSUME the rod is built to handle the right fly line exactly. It casts well in close, and it has the backbone to cast well at long distances. This rod is said to have the right "load" characteristics for the specified line. A rod manufacturer can then customize this rod's design by deciding where they want the rod to bend the most or the least. Making the rod flex or bend in the tip, mid-, or butt section of the rod can be used to further define the rod for the caster, either to match individual casting styles, or to match the needs of specific fishing situations."

In the Boulder Daily Camera, Ed Engle says the most interesting new fly fishing product trend is the return to rubber-soled shoes. "The movement to rubber-soled wading shoes actually completes a circle that began when all of us used waders or hip boots with rubber soles because nothing else was available. Those rubber soles were slippery when you waded, so some fly-fishers began gluing carpet to them because it gripped the slimy river rocks better."

In addition to plans to consolidate the Big Game series into the Super Series, the news from Abel for 2009 is their engineering of a rock-solid quick-change mechanism for their reels. For years, Abel fanatics didn't have an easy way of making spool changes (you had to screw off a tiny knob, which tended to get lost). The new mechanism allows you to remove a spool by simply pressing in on the center cap and turning it. I tested it at the FFR show and it worked like a charm. The Quick Change (QC) option adds $50 to the price of a reel or spool, and will available first for the 7/8 Super Series reels in November, with the 9/10 and 11/12 to follow early next year.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

Dan Carpenter fashions a fly rod out of a willow branch, paper clips and duct tape, and learns that while catching fish is possible with the lowest of tech, it's not quite as fun as graphite. "I was actually able to get the 7-weight line out there," he said. "The line slipped the guides pretty well. I could even mend with it. "There was a hatch, and I tied on a Quill Gordon, ginger, No. 12. "I got it laid down and the fly was floating nice when a big body came right up and scooped it." Rich Landers in The Olympian.

After the FFR show ended last Tuesday, we had a beer with our source at L.L. Bean, who fished some secret plans out of his pocket and placed them on the table between us. "You can't talk about these," were his first words. What he showed us were drawings for an inventive way of cutting material for fly fishing waders that may end the arguments over seam placement once and for all. "Well, when can we talk about them?" I asked. "Probably after the New Year," he said. "They will come to market in the spring."

So, sorry to offer only the tease, but we were pretty impressed by the ideas on that paper, especially since they come from a "catalog company." In fact it got me thinking about fly fishing innovations in general, and how the trend seems to be that many of the more clever ideas in recent years are coming from engineers in the larger companies. Without suggesting whether that is good or bad, it does say that the bean counters still see value in cool new products for fly fishers -- even when fly fishing is only a small part of their overall business.

Take Moore's Law (computing power doubles every two years), apply it to photo search and ad personalization, and you have a rather scary picture of how marketers might use your kids' Facebook pictures to sell them a fly rod -- and everything else -- in the not-to-distant future: "An oddly appealing woman is fly-fishing. She seems so familiar, like you know her from somewhere. The ad focuses in on the graphite rod she's using, just like the one you were shopping for online last week but didn't buy. You keep watching because the woman in the ad has such a nostalgic appeal to you. It's almost as if she were a combination of three women you dated in college. And in truth, she is." Eric Picard on ClickZ.com.

Some of the more appealing products we saw at this week's FFR show were in William Joseph's new line of magnetic-closure packs. The MAG Series features one-hand-openable pockets, lids, and panels that use a very large natural magnet to create what the William Joseph folks claim is a "water-tight" seal. While everyone else is fumbling with zippers, you can be deftly retrieving fly boxes, leaders, and refreshment and then know that none of it will go tumbling back into the river because you forgot to close your pack completely. Or so the theory goes. We played with the system on a variety of new packs -- the gear bag, Current, Surge, and Amp -- and have to say it seems to make a lot of sense. Everything is easy to close and open, but you get the sense that even if you turn the packs up side down and shake them, nothing will fall out.

I asked the William Joseph rep if the magnets would erase digital camera chips, and he said it was pretty much impossible. "You don't want to wear these if you use a defibrillator, though," he quickly added.

Another interesting anecdote: Zebco, the company's new owner (see last week's story), apparently first got into the reel business while making oil drilling "bombs" ('Zebco' came from "Zero Bombs," as they were called). One of the engineers was fooling around with some string in a can and got the idea to cut a hole in the bottom and pull the string out. And so was born the close-faced reel. Seems Zebco made so much money selling fishing reels that they promptly forgot about blasting oil wells.

At the Fly Fishing Retailer show on Tuesday Simms announced that its 2009 lineup (the one announced at the show) would be the last to include any felt soles on wading boots. Instead, the super-sticky Vibram® Streamtread™ soles they will be using this year on six boots, a sandal and shoe -- or one like it -- will replace felt soles in their 2010 line.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

Listen to interviews with company executives and product designers from Cortland, Sage, Ross Reels, Redington, Orvis, G. Loomis, and Costa Del Mar.

Podcast Highlights

• Neill Webb of Cortland Line Company talks about the new Cortland Crystal PE Plus Fly Line ($74.95), which is a highly durable, crystal-clear mono-core fly line. The line's proprietary polyethylene copolymer coating aims to solve the "sticky-line" problem for hot-weather, monofilament core lines.
• Paul Johnson of Sage describes all of Sage's new products, including the new Flight series and 8 brand new families of reels and with 23 models to match Sage rods.
• Brad Befus of Ross Reels announces two new reels for '09: the Vexsis Series reel and the new Fly Rise Series, as well as an expanded Essence fly rod series and the new Journey youth rods.
• Mark Andresen of Redington talks about two new pairs of waders and two new wading boots, two new reels and new fly rods.
• Steve Hempkins from Orvis talks about the new larger Helios rods with convertible fighting butts, the Helios Ion model rods for small stream and wild trout enthusiasts, redesigned waders and the new Pack and Travel Sonic wader, comes in a stuff sack that packs down to the size of a dop kit.
• Chas MacDonald, president of Costa Del Mar, describes their two new product improvements: 580 silver-mirrored copper-based glass lens and co-molded hydrolight material that helps grip the frames comfortably to the face.
• And finally Gary Schaefer of G.Loomis talks about the company's new, shorter Shorestalker rods for freshwater fly applications, as well as 3 new models of switch rods.

Wading deeper into the concrete corridors of the Denver Convention Center brought us closer, yesterday, to the exhibitors who didn't bet on a front-row position to sell their '09 product. Among them: Hardy and Grey's, who in their first year of handling their own distribution in the U.S. brought a staff of 10 or more to man a very active booth lined with dozens (hundreds?) of different rods and reels ranging in price from $200 to $10,000. A third British invasion (if you remember the Beatles)? May be. The first good news for fans of fly fishing gear with a long pedigree and deserved reputation is that Hardy will make the "Perfect" fly fishing reel again, using the exact same specifications used in 1923 (sans brass foot). Pick one of these little beauties up, and I challenge you not to want one.

At the other end of the hall, Ross touted a new, lighter Momentum fly reel for salmon and saltwater, as well as a higher-end expansion to their Ross Worldwide line, machined overseas, and the smart-looking new Vexsis, which has distinctive and very appealing double-convex shape (imagine two shallow bowls, one inside the other). In the middle, we had a chance to spend time with Hatch Reels, whose products are very impressive feats of engineering (8-layer drag systems -- really) and an up-and-coming favorite of the other product reviewers we spoke to.

But the day was full of little surprises too. Tight Line Enterprises, who last year won the Ka'Ching award (retailers' favorite) for the magnetic rod and fly holders, showed us a very clever little plastic device that makes threading tippets through tiny flies a breeze. A magnet holds the hook eye in a small groove; slide the tippet end down the groove and, voila.

Of course we'll cover all the week's discoveries in our extended show coverage (be sure to listen to last night's podcast if you haven't already), but I did want to mention one other interesting bit of news. At the end of yesterday's show we had a chance to visit with the engineers at the Scientific Anglers booth. Seems there has been a bit of a "dust-up" over just how abrasive the new Sharkskin coatings have been to fly rod guides. Well, SA wanted to find out exactly how abrasive they are as well, so they put all the top fly lines from all the manufacturers through a 800,000-cycle test of tip-top wear. If you trust the measurements of a $750,000 Interferometer machine, turns out Sharkskin is among the least abrasive fly line coatings.

Listen to Zach Matthews's interviews with company executives and product designers from Patagonia, RIO, FishPond, Temple Fork, and Cloudveil.

Podcast Highlights

• Dave Thompson talks about FishPond's updated vest/chest pack products with waterproof breathable fabrics, the Dakota Rod and Reel Travel Bag, which holds four or five rods plus half a dozen reels, the Overland Trail Rod Tube Case, and the PIO Pod, a micro trash container with attachment ring.
• Ned Hutchinson from Cloudveil talks about their new Hellroaring Wading Pant with 5-layer fabric and the new Hellroaring Jacket -- a softshell with handwarmer and zippered back pocket, for $200.
• Rod designer Bob Meiser describes the new 11-foot switch rods from Temple Fork Outfitters.
• Simon Gawesworth from RIO says their emphasis in 2009 products is on new saltwater line developments, including changed cores, coatings, colors and tapers. A bonefish line with a radically different taper and a new redfish line are joining some new drift-boat lines in the lineup.
• Bill Klyn of Patagonia describes their new '09 Guidewater waders with merino-wool lined neoprene foot designs, new hip-high waders, the recyclable SST Jacket, and new Guidewater shirts, pants and shorts. They are also working with Merrill and Vibram on enviro-friendly soles for their new protected-toe sandals.

The first day of the FFR show started with sharing a van ride to the Denver Convention Center with three super-sized South Dakotans on their way to shop for Broncos paraphernalia prior to watching the "big game," and ended with our returning from yet another overstuffed theater with slow beer service (2 bartenders serving 300-400 thirsty and well-tatooed fly anglers) with, you guessed it, the same three South Dakotans. "The game was great," they said. "All you could ask for."

I thought to myself, "Well, that's exactly what our day was like too." Fact is, if you don't mind walking miles on concrete floors to get a real taste of how the industry perceives the near future of fly fishing, Denver was the only place to be yesterday. To be sure, there were at least a handful of manufacturers who told us they were flying a holding pattern this season -- one inflatable boat manufacturer said "We have no new products. We're just trying to survive."

But the booths of all the major vendors were packed with buyers. I had to wait for a couple of dozen curious retailers (including the 9-man Leland Outfitters crew) to exit the Fishpond exhibit before I could begin my walk-through. And it was pointless trying to wedge yourself into the Ross, Scientific Anglers, Sage, Simms, Orvis or Patagonia spaces without an appointment.

The top manufacturers apparently spent little time this year wondering how a recession might play with their bottom line. Many of the new designs seem momentum-driven (e.g. the move toward enviro-friendly gadgets, the collective adoption of sealed drag systems, and the introduction of shorter "stump-puller" bass rods), but several designs seem downright inspired. William Joseph's invention of a "water-tight" magnetic seal system on their new packs and Simms's new super-sticky Vibram rubbers sole patterns come to mind.

Other eye-catching items from Day One included Outcast's new $90 electric pump for inflatable craft, Flambeau's moderately priced waterproof fly boxes with smartly designed slit foam systems, Abel's new quick-release spool for their Super Series, and Dr. Slick's split shot clamps. We also learned that Oakley will be bringing out new amber lenses exclusively for fly fishers (and that a BB makes a pretty good splash when hits a glass lens going 150-feet per second).

There's plenty more that we don't have time to write about this morning. But if you need more first-day scoop, be sure to listen to Zach Matthews's excellent podcast interviews which were posted last night.

Each day during this week's Fly Fishing Retailer show in Denver, we're posting same-day podcasts of new-product announcements from the top manufacturers. Today, Zach Matthews interviews company executives and product designers from Simms, Scientific Anglers, Scott Rods, Dr. Slick, and Tibor Reels.

Podcast Highlights

• Diane Bristol of Simms talks about the company's work with Vibram to develop a high-performance rubber alternative to felt soles that addresses aquatic nuisance species. New Simms '09 boots will feature a 360-degree tread design that grips "as good if not better than felt." She also mentions new technology in sportswear fabric -- high UPF, anti-odor, high-wicking -- and a waist-high version of Simms's G3 waders.
• Jeff Wieringa from Scientific Anglers says they have tweaked the whole Ultra 4 line -- adding loops and AST coatings -- and renamed it "Supra." Air Cell Supreme is going to be replaced their new "Pro" line of fly lines. They are also introducing a new double-taper trout line, a GPX and a shooting line using Sharkskin technology, as well as a eight new waterproof fly boxes.
• Rod designer Jim Bartschi describes Scott Rods's expansion of the S4 series, with the addition of a full line of 10-footers and a 9-foot 9-weight. There's also another new series -- the A3 -- which replaces the A2.
• Dr. Slick's Steve Fournier tells us about the company's new braid scissor, new improved knot-tying nipper, upgraded pliers and the new split-shot and twisted-loop clamps.
• Marianne Papa of Tibor Reels talks about their new Tibor "Spey" reel, designed solely for steelhead and salmon fishing. She describes the new "witness marks" on the Spey model that enable anglers to keep track of drag settings.

For those unfamiliar with the Fly Fishing Retailer Show in the U.S., it's the one-time-a-year fall event that brings fly fishing manufacturers together to display new products to retailers and distributors. As we have for the past two years, MidCurrent will be at the showing testing and evaluating the new offerings and blogging on items of interest as well as writing a full review of new products that will appear next week on our site. This year we'll also be posting daily podcast interviews with company executives and product designers at the end of each day, so be sure to check those out.

What is there to look forward to this year? So far manufacturers have mostly kept their promise to retailers that they will be the first to know about new products, but we've heard lots of exciting rumors, among them:

• Abel has a brand new reel design, and Tibor is introducing a reel just for spey casters. Ross, Loop and Ari Hart also will show new reels at the show, and Sage is showing off a new line of six reels to match their updated rod lines.
• Orvis has taken Helios technology and applied it to both larger saltwater rods and some specialty trout rods. Sage is replacing their FLi series of rods with a similarly priced "Flight" series. G.Loomis, Scott and others are introducing new shorter, stouter rods for warmwater, bass and shoreline-saltwater applications (seems to be the trend this year).
• Scientific Anglers is giving a bunch of their new lines a Sharkskin coating, while Cortland is entering the clear-line fray with a new crystal-clear line. RIO is turning their eyes to saltwater with some brand new tapers.
• In waders and boots, the themes this year are hard to miss: grippier, non-felt soles are either ready or in the works for Simms, Patagonia, Cloudveil and others; Patagonia has a new patent-pending merino-wool booty; and utility-focused waders arrive from Patagonia and Orvis, along with everyone seeming to recognize the need for waders that don't require a solid lining with $100 bills to stay waterproof.

When the show opens in a couple of hours we'll begin taking detailed notes on all new products, so be sure to check back regularly during the next three days.

Timing is everything, it seems, even when it comes to fly fishing conservation. Yesterday, just two days before the opening of the Fly Fishing Retailer Show in Denver, Trout Unlimited issued a press release asking manufacturers to cease production of felt-sole waders and boots by 2011. While several manufacturers have already begun the shift, it'll be very interesting to see whether felt soles disappear almost completely next year, given the weight of TU's support.

Read the full press release.

"Zebco Brands, a W.C. Bradley company, has acquired privately-held Vortex Outdoors, joining the longtime fishing category leader with a relatively young but fast-growing marketer of backpacks and gear for hunters, fly fishermen and avid outdoors enthusiasts. The purchased brands include William Joseph premier fly fishing gear, Badlands hunting equipment, Vortex backpacks, Black Ridge packs and Watermark fly fishing packs. Purchase price and additional terms of the sale were not disclosed."

G. Loomis describes the new Shorestalker fly rods as "fly rod of choice for exact casting to bass, muskies and anything that lives along the shoreline and amongst the logs or lilly pads." The slightly shorter rods are designed to cast 20 to 45 feet for precise placement of large poppers and streamers. The series includes the 8' FR965-4, and the 8'6" FR1026-4, FR1047-4, FR1048-4 and FR1049-4 (4-piece 5-, 6-, 7-, 8-, and 9-weights). The rods' MSRPs range from $320 to $350.

With all the success Sharkskin has brought Scientific Anglers this year, it's not surprising that they are answering fly fishers' requests by adding Sharkskin versions of some new and old tapers for 2009. SA will continue to expand its Sharkskin series with new Steelhead Taper, Magnum Taper, GPX General Presentation Taper, and Double Taper lines now offered in the original Ultimate Trout lines. Sharkskin Steelhead lines will be offered in WF6 -10; Magnum lines for big flies and fast rods are available in WF4 -10; GPX lines come in WF3 - 8, and the Trout Double Taper lines include DT3 - 6. The MSRP on all Sharkskin fly lines continues at $99.95.

They call it "highly water resistant," but I'd challenge just about anyone to get water inside of one of Patagonia's Divider storage designs. I've kept a Great Divider in my skiff for years, and it's been the home of expensive video and camera gear. The only problem I've ever had with the Great Divider is that it didn't always fit in tight compartments without some squeezing, so I was very happy to hear that Patagonia is coming out with a half-size version of the product call the "Sub Divider." They've also dropped the double side handles in favor of a single, adjustable, removable, padded shoulder strap. And they've rounded the corners so that it is no longer a struggle to zip the lid shut.

If you absolutely have to have total waterproofness and think a few hundred bucks is a small price to pay for something that will keep your gear dry when it goes over some giant Amazon waterfall, be sure to check out Patagonia's redesigned Stormfront Pack. The new version features a new, easy-to-use waterproof zipper, a completely redesigned pod-to-harness attachment system, and an internal, padded, custom-fit gear case.

The Light Foundation, which provides money for children's medical and educational programs, will be the beneficiary of an auction of a fly-fishing cabinet made from reclaimed wood by the Pro Bowler Matt Light and Stephen Staples. "Staples says the cabinet is worth $5,800, but hopes it will bring in more, given the work that went into it. 'It will fit in any home, no matter what the decor,' he said. 'It is a real piece of history.'" Benjamin Bell and John Wilcox in the Boston Herald.

"A $4,950 fishing rod might sound expensive to some, but there are plenty of trout-savoring fishermen who will pay this whale of a price for one of Per Brandin's custom-made split-cane bamboo fishing rods." On Boston.com, Cindy Atoji Keene interviews master bamboo rod craftsman Per Brandin, who answers a question about graphite rod casters with a question of his own: "Are they nuts?"

If you're a split cane craftsman yourself, you might appreciate Brandin's observations on the advantages of four- versus six-strip rods.

When I began looking for a better alternative to a bandanna for sun protection in 1987, I didn't really think there was much hope. I thought the fishing market was too small to excite manufacturers to make a product that was breathable, comfortable in hot weather (and cold), and capable of providing near-total protection from the sun. So I used the best-available alternative: a lightweight mountaineer's balaclava. Alpinists knew something about protecting the face, I figured.

Some of my Keys fly fishing clients found the mask disconcerting at first. And I endured the snickers of more than a few fellow guides. But meanwhile I saved my skin from a lot of sun damage, enjoyed the benefits of not coating my skin with chemicals four times a day, and -- an unexpected benefit -- protected my ears from wind and engine noise that would have had me wearing a hearing aid ten years too early. A couple of years later other Keys guides started wearing facemasks, and now it's considered essential gear for most of the younger saltwater fly fishing guides and worn all over the U.S. by anglers and guides fishing in extreme conditions. (Lest I sound like a politician claiming to have invented the Internet, many guides before me had recognized the value of fabric face protection.)

Part of the reason for the rapid adoption is that companies like Buff Headwear (and Patagonia, Simms and others) keep experimenting with fabrics and designs that make facemasks even more versatile. As a great example, in January 2009 Buff will be bringing out a line of facemasks with "Insect Shield technology." According to the company, "The Insect Shield lasts over 70 washings and is made from a natural insect repellent found in certain chrysanthemum plants, such as the African Daisy." If you fish buggy places, you know biting insects have an uncanny knack for finding chinks in your armor. You also know that there aren't many alternatives to smearing your face with potent chemicals for protection.

I'm guessing a lot of fishermen who've made the switch to covering up for sun protection will also be very curious about what bug protection can be delivered in a facemask, especially if they've been fishing in the Everglades or Newfoundland on a midsummer day. Buff's also been the leader in putting snazzy designs on their facemask fabric, so if style is an issue, take a look at their impressive variety of fish scale, camo and retro bandanna styles.

Available this fall, a $159 rod and reel case designed for carrying essential gear on-board your next flight will join FishPond's extensive line of packs and luggage for fly fishers. The case measures 31" by 9" by 5," and FishPond says it is capable of holding up to four rods, along with room for reels and fly boxes.

Patagonia may not have invented recyclable fishing gear (hard to compete with the indigenous Aleuts' seal-gut parkas), but it's been a part of their product-design mantra since long before "green" became synonymous with lower carbon emissions and oil consumption. And they are still among the first to put their foot into the water when a new recycling or low-energy-use concept presents itself. The venerable SST Jacket -- a product in which Yvon Chouinard has always taken a personal interest -- will have yet further improvements along the lines of eco-friendliness and utility in 2009.

As product line director Steve Stracqualursi told us in an interview this week: "We wanted to incorporate non-corrosive waterproof zipper technology into the new design, so the pockets that were once completely open behind the large bellows pockets in front are now about an inch and a half to the side of the large front pockets and completely waterproof when closed. We're using Riri zippers, which are far superior to the reverse-coil coated zippers that you see on a lot of 'waterproof' gear these days. We've also moved to double-rip-stop Nylon 6 fabric, in part because of its abrasion resistance and because it doesn't wet out as fast as the stretch fabric, but also because Nylon 6 is completely recyclable. And of course one of our goals is to have recyclable fabric in everything we make by 2010." The new SST also has new cuff designs and a single-pull hood that works from the back of the head (something from their alpine design team). Reading between the lines, what we heard from Steve and from Patagonia's Bill Klyn is that what serious deep-wading anglers wanted was a beefier jacket, while Patagonia wanted a jacket that was easily recycled into new product. Looks like they've got it. The 2009 SST Jacket will retail for $425.

In an interview with Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis yesterday we learned that the company is actually beginning production of the 11- and 12-weight Helios rods -- one of the highlights of their new 2009 product line -- this week. Why now? Turns out that Orvis just caught up with orders on the rest of the Helios line.

The 12-weight Helios weighs 5.25 ounces (the 11 only weighs 4.37 ounces). Compare that to the low end of spectrum for "light" 12-weights at about 6.35 ounces and you've got a rod that is probably going to be a full one ounce lighter than any other 12-weight on the market. The new rods will have an extended foregrip and two screw-in extension butts: one 1.5 inches long and another longer 4-inch butt. The new saltwater rods will retail for $795.

Get ready for an avalanche of new product announcements in the next few weeks. With the Fly Fishing Retailer show happening September 12-14 in Denver, manufacturers are putting the finishing touch on new-product details so that shop owners can figure out what to buy for spring 2009.

If you understand Patagonia, though, you know they've been ready for a while. I'm always amazed at the lead times these guys work with. Not that they don't have product that is truly new and different, but they don't subscribe to the "we need something new and we need it now" theory of product marketing. It's a luxury that may come with the terrain, from decades of having their stuff riding surfboards in frigid oceans and parked on top of glaciers.

Here's a good example: '09 Guidewater Waders. Patagonia's most durable waders will incorporate a patent-pending merino wool liner in the booties -- which came from their work on wet suits. The addition of the wool liner means they can actually increase warmth (by 91%, they say) and reduce the thickness of the neoprene in the booties to 3mm. The new Guidewaters will also eliminate any corrosion-susceptible elements. TPU post and slot attachments for suspenders replace the old metal snaps. Product line director Steve Stracqualursi, who has long felt that water-logged neoprene wasn't the right answer to gravel guard design, has also paid a lot of attention to new gravel guards that are lighter and drain water better.

Also new for spring 2009 are Patagonia's Watermaster Hip Highs. Plenty of manufacturers have moved to roll-down systems that allow uppers to be stored at the waist. And you may have noticed a trend toward "pant-style" waders (Cloudveil sold a lot of their Crystal Creek Wading Pant when they first came out in spring '07). Patagonia decided the time was right to offer lower-cost waders to anglers who value the comfort and convenience of pant-style waders but want something very practical as well. They decided to go with hip-high waders that incorporate quick-release buckle hip adjustments instead of suspenders or belt loops. Reports from field testers have them expecting that these new waders are going to be very popular for backcountry treks and float trips, where comfort is a huge factor. Not to mention the fact that they will cost less than $200.

Noting the decision by Hardy and Greys to introduce a higher-modulus 10-foot 4-weight, Keith Barton over on Single-Barbed suggested a possible path for U.S. rodmakers: follow the European lead and begin making more long rods. "As our lads return home it's likely one of our US vendors will start filling the breach and introduce the 10′ and 11′ light line rods currently dominating the European circuit and Fips-Mouche."

Among the new fly fishing items that Dr. Slick is bringing to market in 2009 are a $12 combination nail knot/nipper tool, a Wizard Split Shot Clamp for removing split shot, ergonomic twisted-loop clamps that allow "about 50% more pressure than using the thumb and forefinger alone as with a traditional hemostat," and new Braid Scissors, designed to cut SpiderWire, Spectra and other types of modern braided lines.

Read the full press release in the extended entry.

If you haven't noticed the explosion of marketing videos on YouTube in recent months, you've missed a modern cultural phenomenon. But of course some businesses are using the platform better than others -- many of them remixing and redubbing footage to put a humorous twist on classic footage. Take fly fishing and outdoors outfitter Wind River Gear Shop in Dubois, Wyoming, who are using a Waverly films clip of David Attenborough's lyrebird footage to generate attention.

Temple Fork Outfitters just announced a new 3-piece, 8' rod designed to provide extra fish-fighting power in both fresh- and saltwater. The Mini Magnum retails for $199.95.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.

That's what I call a baseball cap that serves more as a remedy to bed head than it does as any particular fashion statement. But no doubt headwear gets as much scrutiny from fly fishers as does any other gear item. Despite that fact, anglers continue to wear what is fashionable more often than they wear what is practical, especially if there is a video camera pointed in their direction. Steve Hickoff explores the subject on Fosters.com. "That I've never bonefished the Bahamas on outdoor television while barefoot and wearing the latest fly-fishing fashion, including a smart-looking bandana around my neck like Mr. Lewis, and with a knowing whispering guide nearby, is a true indicator of my lack of angling style."

Keep this image in your head for the next time you think the buzzing in your graphite fly rod doesn't really mean anything. Kirk Deeter on the FlyTalk blog got this photo from a friend who recently had his rod -- fortunately not in his hand at the time -- blasted by a gigavolt of electricity. I'm not sure I wanted to know this much about the basic materials in fly rods.

You gotta love the St. Croix story because it is quintessentially American. And in many ways it's typical of how fly fishing businesses often survive cycles in the sport's popularity -- depending on the support of family members, employees and dedicated customers. "Gordon [Schluter], unwilling to see St. Croix shuttered, bought the company and together with his sons -- Jeff, Paul and David -- rejuvenated it. In 1990, Gordon sold the business to his sons and daughter, Pam Smylie, and business has been booming since. Today, the company offers 600 types of rods for freshwater and saltwater fishing." Marjie McGraw on AmericanProfile.com.

A German company is introducing a new fly reel that uses the reel handle itself to engage and disengage the drag. According to the Varioverse Web site, the design is the result of poring over more than 100 patent documents and the desire to produce a reel that allows for the dynamic increase of drag during a fight while maintaining an upper limit on drag pressure. The Swedish Danielsson Control fly reel uses a similar concept, but according to Varioverse doesn't offer the ability to easily pull line off of the reel even while the drag is set to maximum.

The Varioverse uses a carbon composite / metal disc drag system that appears to be a self-contained unit. In fact the whole reel disassembles into 4 main pieces and weighs 6.94 oz. /198 grams for a 7-8 reel.

Crocs footwear, now worn both on and off the water by many fly fishing guides I know, will be expanding its line in 2009 to include three new specialty boat shoe designs: Ace Boating (MSRP $39.99), featuring the iconic Crocs; the Wraith (MSRP $49.99), with siping tread and a quick-pull lacing system; and the Dead Ahead (MSRP $69.99), which provides a Croslite material "Exo-Frame" that wraps the foot with a protective shell.

Word began circulating on Tuesday that Ed Storey, founder of the mail order company Feather-Craft, died on Sunday. Feather-Craft was created in 1955, and Storey built his business around mailed "bulletins" -- completed without a spell-checker, according to those on his list -- but later started one of the most successful catalogs in the fly fishing supplies and gear business.

"Bass Pro's version lists for about $79.95; add fins and a pump for another $20. Or, jump straight to the high-end belly boats. For $450 you can get the Outcast Prowler Float Tube. Big guys need to look at the WRFS Titan Tube. Built especially for larger floaters, it's roomy and exceptionally stable." Bill Cooper offers a short history of float-tubes for anglers, as well as some practical advice on getting into and out of one, in the Springfield, Missouri News-Leader.

According to Mark Anderson of Canada's Ottawa Citizen, new competition in the fly rod market is driving the dominant manufacturers to shorten their warranty-repair turnaround times. "'Our current turnaround time is 2 to 3 weeks and we will ship your repair immediately upon completion. You will receive an automated e-mail notification from UPS with the tracking information when your package has shipped.'" I was, to say the least, gob-smacked."

One of the impacts of lower airline profits is the disappearance of routes to local airports. That has communities like Butte, Montana trying things like "travel banks," funded by local businesses, which purchase seats to ensure the airlines continue their local flights. But the immediate result is likely to be more traveling anglers fishing closer to hubs like Bozeman and Denver -- good news for hub-based outfitters, but another challenge to the viability of far-flung fly shops and outfitters. "'If people are going to fly into the Bozeman airport, they're more likely to fish with lodges close to the Bozeman airport,' Hanson, partner and manager of the Complete Fly Fisher, told ABCNews.com. 'We are losing our grip by the second.'" Article by Kate Barrett.

If dropping your 16-foot dory down a 120-foot drop off isn't enough to make you wince, there's the churning, narrow gorge on Blue River that may swallow you before you ever reach "frog water." Scott Willoughby describes a river-boat test in The Denver Post.

It looks like New Zealand will be the first country to ban felt soles on wading boots. "The ban, expected to become effective from October 1, would apply to felt-soled waders or footwear with a sole of felted, matted or woven fibrous material when sports fishing. Fish & Game said such boots were a 'high risk' carrier of microscopic aquatic organisms like didymo and banning them would help prevent the spread of didymo." On Stuff.co.nz.

Remember that in most cases you can resole your wading boots with kits like those offered by Five Ten, which include a 5.5mm AquaStealth sole for $24.25.

Ever since I saw an extensive review in Practical Sailor that proved that bare human feet are as effective as any boat shoe sole in preventing slippage, I've wondered why someone hasn't taken the bit when it comes to replacing felt with something more eco-friendly. (I wouldn't want to wade Montana's Boulder River in bare feet anytime soon.)

Apparently Simms has been working hard behind the scenes to develop a hard-rubber wader sole that performs as well as felt but addresses the problem of aquatic hitchhikers being carried from stream to stream. They've partnered with Vibram to produce the first and only fishing-specific Vibram sole. In field testing, Simms' new sole has shown to have all the performance attributes of felt, only the soles have the environmental benefits (they don't soak and hold water and they dry quickly) of rubber. The new soles will come out in late 2008, as part of their new 2009 line.

It doesn't have a very sexy name, but it might bring a little pleasure to doing good things for the environment. Most of us stuff used mono into a pocket of our vest or drop clippings into a boat or cooler for later retrieval; sometimes we remember to dispose of them, sometimes we forget about them. The MonoMaster offers a way to make a habit of proper disposal. The product -- which is now available in Orvis stores or on the Grasshopper Products Web site -- retails for less than the costs of a couple of good leaders ($11.95) and has been endorsed by the Federation of Fly Fishers.

Read the extended entry for the full press release.