Posts tagged: fly fishing gear

The Great Rubber-Soled Wading Boot Test Continues: The Guides Weigh In

June 2, 2009, by 14 comments
More water time for our test boots

More water time for our test boots

We’re not quite ready to spring our testing extravaganza post yet, but the Simms Vibram-soled wading boots sent for testing have been seeing more river time at the hands (or feet, actually) of a pair of local fly fishing guides.

While Dave Roberts and I thought they performed surprisingly well on the rock-snotty Rogue River, reports from local guides Wayne Eng and Steve Bertrand aren’t quite as encouraging.

First, keep in mind we’re testing the bare rubber soles – to which no screws have been added.

Screwing in a couple of Simms metal studs would likely improve their traction in difficult circumstances, though it would also negate some of the benefits of non-studded boots (they don’t make guides crazy in drift boats, you can wear them in your car without attaching yourself to the gas pedal at an inopportune time, etc)

The Guide Word

First, Wayne said “I was feeling pretty good about the new boots… until I hit the McCloud. When I needed them, they simply weren’t there for me.”

Wayne has worn the Simms boots more than I have – and generally liked them – but once he hit the bigger, rounder, smoother rocks of the McCloud, he became an unhappy camper, suggesting the grip was simply unreliable.

A couple Undergrounders commented on similar experiences on the Pit River’s devilishly difficult bigger, smoother rocks, which clearly isn’t the strong suit of the Simms boots.

Steve Bertrand has also worn the boots enough to decide that they’re “a great wading boot, just not on this river.” Bertrand bemoaned almost falling twice on an Upper Sacramento river crossing he normally handles easily while wearing Simms’ older-model studded rubber boots.

Again, everybody loves the way they work out of the water – and how they operate under most conditions – but on the bigger, smoother surfaces, the no-studs Vibram sole isn’t making the grade.

Oddly, this isn’t end-of-the-world stuff. The McCloud and Pit are notoriously difficult rivers to wade, and the fact that the Vibram rubber soles have performed this well – sans a few easily installed studs – is a promising development.

In gravelly or cobbled rock environments, the Simms soles seems to be working well. For those fishing tougher water, screwing in a few studs might just offer the best of all worlds; a long-wearing rubber sole that works better than felt in many less-challenging environments (like climbing a bank or in the snow), but still grips well in the tougher stuff.

In other words, these rubber soles are clearly an improvement over Simms’ older rubber soles, so it stands to reason they’ll also exceed the performance of the older models once you add a few studs – while lasting far longer than felt.

Patagonia Riverwalkers

Sadly, the Patagonia Riverwalker boots (subject of a review here, and possessors of a softer sole material but a less-aggressive tread) weren’t being tested on the McCloud, so a side-by-side comparison isn’t yet possible (we’re working on it).

Ian Rutter – intrigued by my earlier post about the Riverwalkers – got a pair and has been testing them on the tailwaters and small streams of Eastern Tennessee, and has decided they’re close – but that slipping (and windmilling) an extra 10% of the time probably isn’t worth it to him.

He’s especially uncomfortable with their grip on very smooth, “bedrock” style surfaces.

Like the rest of us, he loves their dry-land performance and comfort, but will probably be sticking with felt a while longer.

We’ve got our hands full simply testing two pair of rubber soled boots, but we were still intrigued to learn that Cloudveil’s boots are going for a test ride over on the roughfisher.com blog.

So many boots. So little fly fishing time.

Still, we’ll keep you posted.

See you on the test range, Tom Chandler.

The Ultimate Fly Fishing Vest Not a Fly Fishing Vest? (A Poll!)

April 16, 2009, by 23 comments

Is the fly fishing vest of the future just the aviation survival vest of the past? The link to this little gem was sent to us by Alert Underground Reader Arlan, and I have to admit it’s an interesting goodie (especially the “Fixed Wing” version, though I have no idea why).

Drink deeply of its many pockets Undergrounders, then vote in the poll below:

The ultimate fly fishing vest?

The Navy SV-2B Survival Vest - Ready for the River?

US Navy SV-2B survival vest. Made to work with the Navy ejection seat torso harness by having the pockets around the mid-section of the body and allowing access to the parachute fittings on the ejection harness. We have  hese vests in unissued and used conditions- please choose size and condition below. We also offer Fixed Wing type (used with ejection seats) and Helo Type (used with non-ejection aircraft). The HELO type is modified with an extraction belt with buckle sewn around the top of the vest. The approximate sizing of the vest when measured around the chest is: [XL:47" L:44" M:41" S:37"]

My five-year-old Orvis pack vest has served with admirable grace, but I have a few nagging issues (many of which seem to have been resolved in their newer versions). Unfortunately, it also makes the Underground’s butt look big.

I’ve long admired the Filson chest packs – I’m at a point in my life where I want to buy one piece of gear and just use it ’til I’m dead – but this offers an intriguing (and perhaps more affordable – $50 or so) alternative.

What’s the Underground’s take? Too many protrusions to snag a fly line? Too weird? Or just right? (Imagine running into a pastel-pack wearing fly fisher on the river, who – when confronted by the clear military superiority of your survival pack – visibly wilts and shambles away. At the Underground, we’re all about non-verbal communication.)

The Undergrounder’s Verdict Is:

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Gear Review: Are Patagonia’s Riverwalker “Sticky Rubber” Wading Boots Grippy or Gimpy?

March 24, 2009, by 43 comments

Can the New Sticky Rubber Wading Boot Soles Free Fly Fishermen From Felt’s Grip?

Will Patagonia Riverwalker "Sticky Rubber" wading boots stick when you need them?

Will Patagonia Riverwalker "Sticky Rubber" wading boots stick when you need them?

The old ways tend to die hard in most fly fishermen, and while I’d love to hold myself aloft as a golden exception to the rule, I simply can’t.

Like most of you, I wore felt-soled wading boots for the majority of my fly fishing career (both with and without studs). I learned to live with the rapid wear, clogging, and irritating tendency to skate on smooth, angled rocks, justifying the hassles with the knowledge that felt soles were the only thing that worked.

Finally – tired of wearing out felt soles in less than a season (courtesy the sharp rocks lining the railroad beds running alongside the Upper Sac) – I switched to Weinbrenner’s studded rubber soles, which were OK.

Well, sometimes they were a lot less than OK, though they wore well and had (I’m guessing) 70%-80% of the grip of felt soles under good conditions.

I got by.

But with the Weinbrenners no longer available, and a new pair of wading boots needed right away to soothe my aching feet, I plumped for a pair of Patagonia Riverwalker “sticky rubber” soled wading boots.

The soles were rubber and they lacked studs and frankly – because I “knew” rubber was a poor substitute for felt – my expectations were pretty low. Like any resourceful outdoorsman, I figured a fix was no farther away than the nearest hardware store (sheet metal screws).

The good news? I haven’t been to the hardware store yet.

Sticky Rubber That Really Is

Dashing my expectations, Patagonia’s “sticky rubber” soles worked very, very well. In many environments, they actually exceeded the performance of studded felt and studded rubber soles.

At times, they were a better alternative to felt and studded felt for some applications – and perhaps a better choice overall (everybody’s mileage may vary on this one).

In other areas – especially situations involving slime layers on cannonball rocks – the sticky rubber soles faltered a bit, though in the midst of winter, there isn’t a lot of rock snot to go around.

Those who wade on snotty stuff all the time can bolster their grip with the addition of a few sheet metal screws, though I haven’t bothered.

You see, I’m liking life without studs. You can walk places you never could wearing studded soles (like inside a friend’s house or into the Burger Barn for a post-fishing snack).

When driving, I don’t suffer that Moment of Abject Terror when the studs just won’t let go of the gas pedal. In other words, it’s almost as if you can ambulate just like a normal human being (albeit one wearing dorky rubber pants). “Which is great and all” you say “But how do they work in the water?”

The Undergrounders ask, we answer:

Dry Streamside Rocks

Smooth, dry, angled rocks were always something of a problem area for felt and studded soles. More often than I care to remember, I’d apply a little angular pressure, and find myself “skating” fast down a rock surface. It’s an unpleasant sensation, and a dangerous one too.

After all, fall in three feet of water and you’re going to get wet. Fall in three inches, and you could get hurt. On dry rocks, the sticky rubber soles grab like they’re glued. A huge win over felt and studded boots.

Wet/Shallow Rocks

Wet streamside rocks – whether from rain or spray – are another big wading hazard, yet the sticky rubber sole handled them nicely (much to my surprise). They’re not magic, but they are effective – and very secure. Shallow or exposed wet rocks probably account for more of my “awkward wading moments” than any other situation, yet I experienced none of them with the Riverwalker (that’s not to say you won’t).

Surprisingly, it’s another win for sticky rubber – especially if you’re a small-stream fisherman.

Cobbled River (The Usual)

This is where the rubber (ahem) really meets the streambed. On last Saturday’s Upper Sacramento River trip, I was surprised to find myself pushing my way up a waist-deep run without a hint of slippage on the rocks.

I have fished this stretch a lot over the years, and my studded-rubber Weinbrenners always came across a little dicey. By contrast, the sticky rubber soles treated the river bottom like it was dry sidewalk – the only hint of slippage came when trying to clamber over a pair of dark-colored boulders, which are warmer, and support more algae.

How will I fare on this same stretch later in the summer – when algae grows thick and the rocks aren’t being polished by high flows?

Unfortunately, I can’t say for sure, though I suspect I’ll be OK.

On the Slippery Green Stuff

It’s when you’re wading over green-painted “snot rocks” that the sticky rubber fails a bit (which is to be expected). Felt soles work by cutting through the algae and clinging to the rock; studded soles take a similar course.

The “Star Tread” tread pattern on the sticky rubber soles will cut through a little slime, but obviously, it’s not capable of penetrating through algae to rock like carbide-tipped studs.

Naturally, you can add studs (in the form of metal screws), though congratulations – you’ve just negated a lot of the positives I mentioned above.

While the Riverwalkers performed nicely at Ney Springs and also near the infamous Dunsmuir “Sewer Ponds” stretch, I must reserve judgement until after a little more algae’s grown. Given the performance so far, I’m ready to be pleasantly surprised.

The Riverwalker has passed the test on those smooth-as-glass exposed bedrock environments, where studs act more like ice skates than safety devices. In those situations, studs were always more hindrance than help.

The Underground’s Take

Finally, fly fishermen have an alternative to felt or studded boots that actually outperforms the traditional options in several environments, though I won’t pretend Patagonia’s Riverwalker “grips like felt” in every situation.

The sticky rubber Riverwalker just might be the perfect wading boot for people who hike to fish small streams, where its dry-land performance and effectiveness on wet-but-clean rocks would truly shine.

In fact, add the sole’s performance to the boot’s surprisingly light weight (and pleasing flexibility), and you’ve got the (so far) the perfect blueliner’s boot.

It’s less surefooted in snotty, algae-rich areas, and I haven’t yet tested it in the McCloud or Pit Rivers. Still, those who aren’t sure will be comforted know you can add studs if you think they’re necessary, though I suggest testing them stud-free. You might find the benefits of a rubber sole outweigh the costs.

Bonus Goodies

I already mentioned the flexible, featherweight nature of the Riverwalker, but I haven’t mentioned the sheer joy I experience putting the silly things on. Stuffing my feet in my Weinbrenners was a chainsaw-death-match-ish wrestling match, yet my feet just slide into the Riverwalker.

I demonstrated the easy-on aspect to Wayne Eng, whose eyes widened momentarily (when you struggle with wading boots as often as guides do, boots that slip on like loafers grab your attention).

Frankly, the gestalt of the Riverwalker is astonishing: Patagonia’s done a superb job of crafting a wading boot that’s light, comfortable, easy to hike in, and surprisingly protective (even in tough freestone environments).

Still, the rubber sole remains the focus of this review, and while I’m not 100% clear that rubber soles alone will prevent the transmission of invasives from one river to another (there are a lot of nooks and crannies in a wading boot), I do believe that buying fewer wading boots is better than buying more, and – on the Upper Sacramento’s hard-edge railroad tracks – felt soles simply cost more per fishing trip.

In fact, I liked Patagonia’s rubber soles so much I contacted Simms; a pair of wading boots with their much-hyped Vibram rubber sole are on the way for testing (Disclosure: I paid for the Patagonia boots), and we’ll see how the two brands compare.

Still, rather than turn this into a brand war, I’ll suggest the following: It’s good that fly fishermen finally have a durable, high-performance, longer-lasting option to felt and studded felt soles – especially those who hike a lot and fish small streams, where the Patagonia Rivewalker is simply superb.

See you on the river, Tom Chandler.

Underground GearTalk: Winter Fly Fishing & The Soft Shell Revolution

December 19, 2008, by 20 comments

OK, I’m stretching it a little. The headline suggests the “Soft Shell Revolution” has already happened – and it has in highly aerobic sports like skiing and mountaineering – but it’s less clear we’ll see the same in fly fishing.

Why? What’s a soft shell jacket? And why would you consider wearing one? You ask, the Underground answers…

What Are Soft Shells?

In simplest terms, soft shell jackets occupy a useful middle ground in the outdoor world. Typically, they’re a highly water resistant knit shell bonded to a light interior layer of fine fleece. They’re not insulated or “puffy” like a down jacket, yet they’re warmer than hard shells (most high-end wading jackets are essentially waterproof, windproof hard shells).

Yet it’s not their construction that makes soft shells so attractive – it’s their in-the-wild performance.

They’re not wholly waterproof or wholly windproof like a hard shell – nor is a soft shell as warm as a down jacket – but they can handle everything short of a really pouring rain, insulate nicely across a wide range of temperatures, and absolutely shine when the wearer is generating heat (and potentially sweat).

That’s critical to skier or mountaineers; working up a good sweat in a cold alpine environment is a one-way ticket to hypothermia – the wilderness athlete’s biggest enemy. That’s why – questions in hand – I found my way to one of the best backcountry skiers on Mount Shasta (and owner of the leading local mountain guide service).

His take? He wears soft shells pretty much all the time, saying his hard shells simply gather dust in the closet.

An unabashed Patagonia partisan, he wears soft shells climbing and skiing the mountain – often in rainy and snowy conditions – though he carries along a lightweight-but-warm Patagonia “Micro-Puff” jacket (a kind of synthetic down jacket that still insulates when wet and packs down to almost nothing) to keep him warm during those periods when he stands around in sub-freezing temperatures (pretty much always the case up there).

It’s the kind of practical insight from a working pro that makes a strong impression on me, and I admit to wondering about the application of soft shells to fly fishing.

It’s hard to overlook the utility of a jacket featuring the best working qualities of a four-wheel drive pickup truck, but fly fishermen aren’t as active on a river as skiers or climbers. Are soft shells really needed?

The Test (Or the Beginnings of One)

Because I’m willing to make even the big sacrifices for the Undergrounders, I forced myself to go fly fishing on the Upper Sacramento wearing Patagonia’s fly fishing soft shell (the Insulator).

Patagonia Soft Shell

Soft shell exteriors often feature a tight-knit, almost rubbery look, while the interior is a very fine fleece.

I’m only three trips into the test, but results have been good. The most “extreme” trip was my photograph-heavy snowy day on the river with Wayne Eng, where in upper-20s temperatures, I fished through the snow and wind wearing only a lightweight wicking t-shirt, a thin long-sleeve base layer, and the Patagonia soft shell (plus fleece hat, fingerless gloves, and fleece pants under the waders).

While I was always covered with snow, I remained dry inside the jacket. I was never too warm (the walk to the water was short), and I was also never too cold. In short, I was pretty damned happy with the results, though this hardly represents an all-encompassing trial.

The Good, The Bad, and the Waffling

Pluses? The lack of bulk was freeing; casting, retrieving gear, tying knots – all the basics – were easier to accomplish than if I was wearing the usual winter gear, which includes a bulletproof wading jacket over fleece. Patagonia’s Insulator soft shell is nicely streamlined, and includes covered anchor points for zingers, something I doubt I’ll use, though it’s a nice detail to see.

The experience was one of working closer to my skin than with bulkier clothing, a sensation I heartily endorse.

Minuses? None yet, though I don’t how I would have fared if the snow had turned to a pouring rain. Some go so far as to use soft shells as rain jackets, and my own experience (years ago) wearing a soft shell while skate skiing on a drizzly day suggests they’re far more water resistant than I’m giving them credit for. (The second I tell my readers to “heck, wear ‘em in the rain” I’ll be sued by an Undergrounder for emotional (rain-soaked) distress.)

In addition, soft shells typically don’t include a hood, and the Patagonia soft shell’s cuffs didn’t include a provision for cinching them tightly against water infiltration, so in a truly wet, hostile environment, a hooded hard shell might still offer the best protection.

Clearly, more rainy day testing is called for, so I’ll be back on the river soon (at the Underground, the giving simply never stops).

Last year, I skied/snowshoed to the river on several occasions, and expect the soft shell to shine in those high-output environments. I also want to put it through the winter wringer on a couple hikes to remote sections – the hikes that always left me annoyingly sweaty and fogged in my hard shell past.

The Limits of My Testing

The mountains of Northern California aren’t what you’d call a truly arctic environment; temperatures here don’t often fall into the single digits, and those in sub-zero environments might find a soft shell in inadequate to the task – or at best, only one part of the solution. Then again, the realities of icy guides and a frozen fly line means hardly anyone actually fly fishes in single-digit temperatures.

Those who consistently fish in very cold conditions (those zany steelheaders) might want to look at a warmer jacket – something like the above-mentioned Patagonia Micro-Puff, which though it sells in the bazillions to backpackers, climbers and skiers, was invented on a steelhead river by folks who liked fleece’s warmth and wet-insulating capabilities, but couldn’t abide by its bulk.

Caveats

If you’re interested in trying a soft shell jacket, don’t order the first one you see. Soft shells are manufactured in a fairly wide array of sizes and weights, and the thinnish soft shell jacket designed for a monster cross-country skier might not be ideal for fly fisherman who stand in the water.

In addition – and I’ll attempt to put this delicately – the soft shells designed for extreme mountain types often reflect their whippet-esque physiques – not exactly the perfect fit for the slightly more (ahem) pear-shaped fly fishing constituency. For example, Patagonia’s mountain-oriented “Guide” jacket didn’t fit me very well, and while the fishermen-oriented “Insulator” was too big in the middle, it made more sense.

Thus, if you’re not a member of the 5% body fat club, consider buying a soft shell from a fly fishing company. This is hardly an exhaustive survey of jackets, but I know that fishing-oriented soft shells are currently available from Patagonia, Orvis, Simms and Cloudveil, and I’m not about to start recommending one over the other absent testing all of them.

As you can see, there’s more to come on this subject. And yes, I’m starting the conversation here instead of later simply preaching at you guys about what to buy (it’s Power to the People Friday here at TU).

Any thoughts from the Undergrounders about soft shells? Recommendations? Failures? Whines?

See you on the (cold, cold) river, Tom Chandler

The Makings of a Country Music Song? “I loaned a buddy a rod and reel, which he lost…”

October 17, 2008, by 16 comments

It’s Friday here on the Underground, and while I’m working my skilled writer’s fingers to the bone to pay a few bills, I’ve still got time to ask fly fishing’s seminal question: What would your friend do to you if you lost his fly rod?

From the Washington Fly Fishing Board:

I loaned a buddy a rod and reel, which he lost, and thinks he left it sitting on the side of the grand ronde down near the schumacker access. The rod is a Temple Fork Outfitters and the reel is a bauer. please shoot me a pm or email if you have found it, and i will further identify…

Break a friend’s fly rod, and you’re forgiven, probably because breaking things is an essentially manly act (sorta like blowing them up).

Lose a fly rod – the act of a forgetful moke and possibly intravenous drug user – and you’re probably looking at a one-way trip to the fly shop, and maybe a few months of barbed comments, which you’ll have to withstand with good humor.

Any Undergrounders with a story to add? Plus a sub-question: Who out there among the Underground faithful is putting big-dollar reels on low-dollar fly rods?

See you on the river (looking for lost gear), Tom Chandler.

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Trout Unlimited Clears Out Gear Closet, Trades Swag For Donations

October 16, 2008, by 1 comment

It seems the Trout Unlimited (the other, less-famous TU) gear closet looks a lot like the Underground’s (the handsomer, better-written TU); they’re clearing it out and inviting you to donate to the cause in return for some high-quality swag.

Bargain hunters with a conscience might find this claim interesting:

“Here’s your chance to support TU’s coldwater fisheries conservation
work, help TU clear out our warehouse, and get a great gift worth close
to - or perhaps even more than - the value of your contribution.

See you online, Tom Chandler.

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The Underground’s Fly Fishing Retailer Post and Economic Bailout Plan

September 25, 2008, by 5 comments

Sure, the Underground’s feeling the economic pinch just like everyone else, but I’m not worried, reasoning what’s true for AIG is true for me: the Underground’s simply too big to fail.

As I write this, the Feds are no doubt readying an 80% buyout of the Underground (I figure a billion or so would do it), and there’s only one fly in the ointment: Traffic figures sadly suggest we’re succeeding, rendering us ineligible for bundles of your tax dollars a bailout.

Damn.

Without any hope of gluttony at the government trough, I suppose all that’s left is to continue, and we’ll start with a few broader insights into the recently-concluded Fly Fishing Retailer Show.


(image courtesy Derek DeYoung/Canvasfish.com)

First, Yes, It Was Smaller

FFR is where manufacturers roll out their new trinkets, and retailers either froth at the mouth or simply yawn and move on. The show – small by most standards – saw growth last year, but for all the obvious reasons, it downsized a bit this year.

Fewer booths dotted the landscape, and someone suggested 14% fewer bodies wandered the hallways (since my body was 1.5% larger than last year, I bravely narrowed the gap for the industry just a bit).

What’s new?

First, The Juicy Gossip

For months, unhappy rumours have been circulating about Scott Rods, a company loved by many but plagued by mismanagement and an odd marketing focus.

Given my affection for their rods (I once said they were the bestest brand with the worstest marketing), I was relieved to hear the news was all good.

I stopped by the Scott booth (they rolled out their new A3 rods, proving once again they can pair numbers and letters in relatively uninteresting ways), and they were upfront about their issues and the recent reorganization.

The financial questions have been resolved, and they’re back on track (sigh of relief). In an interesting homage to transparency, they even sent a letter to that effect to their dealers.

Yay, Scott.

What About Last Year’s Underground Favorites?

Last year, a few exhibitors earned Underground favorite status, and visits to this year’s booths confirmed my Nostradamus-like powers of prescience. Simply put, they mostly scored:

Canvasfish.com

Last year, Derek DeYoung of Canvasfish.com was stuck out in the boonies – his marvelous, stylized oil paintings of trout visible only if you liked to walk. For Derek, 2008 was a good year.

His work appeared on the cover of Gray’s Sporting Journal and in a few other magazines, and life, as the artistic types sometimes say, is hopping. I plan to write a whole post about this guy later, but suffice it to say I like his work.


(image courtesy Derek DeYong/Canvasfish.com)

Flybook.com

Craig Langer’s FlyBook hosted online booking system for guides, outfitters and shops only had one customer after launching just prior to last year’s FFR show, but this year, he’s got 30 customers and is growing fast.

Compared to a flashy new fly rod, this isn’t sexy stuff – unless you’re a guide or outfitter who is chewing up all your personal fly fishing time doing menial, mind-numbing office work.

Langer’s online solution is elegant and affordable, and if you’re a guide, it deserves a look. And yes, it’s about time the fly fishing industry as a whole entered the 20th century (and yes, I’m aware it’s the 21st century…).

Lamson Konic Reel

Let’s face it; it’s not hard to make a good $350 fly reel – and there’s no shortage of the things in this industry – but being basically cheap, I’m more interested in the $100 reels that simply always work.

In the good old days, fly fishermen had the clunky-but-bombproof Pflueger Medalist; now the affordable end of the market is awash in a sea of reels produced overseas, many of which are wholly anonymous.

Last year, I pegged the Lamson Konic for “soon-to-be-a-sales legend” status, and I was right; the $120 reel with the $400 sealed drag assembly quickly became one of Lamson’s top sellers, and is credited with keeping Lamson’s growth streak alive – even in the grips of a recession.


The new Lamson Guru

Given my desire to surplus my very-loud LL Bean/Hardy Marquis currently holding all my 6wt lines, the Konic remains a top choice, though Lamson’s new machined Guru reel ($179 or so) and wholly redesigned Velocity also look interesting.

In short, Tommy likes.

This Year’s Themes: Green, and Video

This seems to be the year the fly fishing industry discovered the environment. Given the industry’s dependence on clean water and a healthy environment, that’s a fairly shocking statement.

In all fairness, a few companies have long been concerned with environmental issues (Patagonia, Orvis, Loon to name just a few), but by and large, it’s taken until now for “green” to become the new black.

In fact, “the green thing” largely overshadowed most of the product announcements at the show; all the seminars focused on environmental issues (several of the earlier sessions were sparsely attended).

As a result, there weren’t any seminars focuses on typical topics like online marketing, CRM, merchandising, etc, and for a show catering to retailers, that’s an odd reality.

For example, the biggest show buzz revolved around Simms’ announcement – apparently in conjunction with Trout Unlimited (the other, less-famous TU) – that it was doing away with felt wading soles by 2010.

This isn’t the simple deal it appears to be, so stay tuned for more.

Watching Fly Fishing Instead of Doing Fly Fishing

The other big trend would have to be the explosion in fly fishing adventure videos. They’re hot, and yes, everybody has one, and yes again, even the video geeks were scrambling to add a “green” element to their movies.

The AEG guys were making the rounds – rumor had them hurrying to get their steelhead epic out quickly on the heels of their Mongolia DVD – and several new filmaking faces could be found among the show’s booths.

The full-length, big dollar movie “Drift” by Confluence films (I have a review copy, and I’ll watch it soon) was premiered. Written by Drake publisher Tom Bie, it looks to be a little like AEG for the over-40 set. More after I see it.

Also, the unfortunately named “Fly Boys Fishing” were showcasing their new “Raising the Ghost” adventure video effort. They didn’t cough up a copy for review, but what I have seen of the video suggests adventure and fish porn in equal quantities.

Steve Apple of “Fishsizzle” fame – a quirky little movie that brought annoying fly fishing icon Al Braughtigan to life – showcased a trailer for his upcoming “Hustle & Fish” movie, which frankly looks pretty damn good.

Clearly artistic, but (so far) lacking the posturing, and yes – even a plot thrown in for good measure. More on this one just as soon as we get the teaser.

A few others were making the rounds, including a very interesting Bonefishing video by Charles Rangeley-Wilson.

As you can see, I’ve got a lot of watching to do.

What About Gear?

As you can also see, I’m over 1000 words and I haven’t even started the gear goodies. To do justice to the gear stuff, I’ll fire that post in a day or two.

In the meantime, I’ll whet your appetites with:

  • Sage may have hit our funny bone with their Bluegill-specific fly rod, but reel manufacturers weren’t laughing at Sage’s new reels, which are impressive
  • William Joseph’s magnetic closure – that’s said to be “one-handable” yet largely waterproof – also scored some buzz
  • Also buzzworthy was Simms’ not-yet-released vibram rubber wading boot, though the backstory on this is very juicy indeed
  • Patagonia updated its line, and managed to somehow make their industry-legend Patagonia SST jacket entirely recyclable
  • Orvis extended their wildly successful Helios fly rod line with the Helios Ion small stream fly rods
  • Hardy & Greys launched their revamped USA presence with a lot of impressive gear and a big booth

Stay tuned, Undergrounders – there’s more to come from the FFR show.

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Off to FFR: What do the Undergrounders Want to See?

September 13, 2008, by 1 comment

There’s nothing like a cheap, freeway-side hotel to make you miss your quiet, beautiful mountain home.

Still, I’m flying out early tomorrow for the Fly Fishing Retailer Show in Denver, and as always, you get first dibs on the  Underground’s latest travel nightmare unique take on the fly fishing industry.

I can already offer you one hint: Green is new Black in fly fishing. In fact, a glance at the educational sessions on the show schedule reveals 16 environmentally related seminars (most repeat), but zero marketing or online marketing sessions (there was one online marketing session last year).

“Sustainable” is the new watchword, but just how serious is the industry? I’ve got a few ideas, so stay tuned.

Gear Porn

I’ll also be looking at some of the new gear – with an eye for the interesting goodies from smaller companies, who typically lack PR firms (or much savvy).

And yes, I’ll visit the big hitters in a search for handouts, looking for the new and interesting.

And naturally, I’ll entertain suggestions from the Undergrounders: anything special you want covered?

See you on the show floor, Tom Chandler.

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Singlebarbed Delivers: "How to Buy a $700 Fly Rod For $99"

May 21, 2008, by 6 comments

Singlebarbed’s recent look at online fly fishing gear discounters moves to a new level in Part II of the series, where he reveals a few specifics about online fly gear bargains — in this case, fly rods.

Those looking for fly rod bargains will have their interest piqued. Those who wonder about the forces transforming the fly fishing industry will find a lot of fodder for discussion.

And yes, Singlebarbed names names.

See you at Singlebarbed, Tom Chandler.

Our Wholly Biased Look at Fiberglass Fly Rods: Part III — The Bigger Builders

February 8, 2008, by 11 comments

In my last installment, I covered the independent fly rod builders who are probably providing the lion’s share of modern fiberglass rods to this small-but-interesting market.

(You can read Part I here, and Part II here)

Today I take a look at a few of the larger companies building glass, though I use the term “larger” in a relative sense. Thomas and Thomas are hardly rod building’s equivalent of a multinational, and the other companies mentioned won’t dent the list of the biggest fly rod manufacturers.

So be it; smaller companies are supposed to serve niches better than bigger ones, and in this case, it appears to be true. Off we go.

Thomas & Thomas Heirloom

Designed by rod-building legend Tom Dorsey to replicate some of his favorite bamboo actions, the T&T Heirlooms are wonderfully progressive fiberglass fly rods.

thomasandthomasphoto
(photo courtesy T&T)

I’ve cast a pair of T&T Heirlooms, and found the 7.5′ 3wt and the 8′ 5wt to be absolutely smooth casters – free of hinges and other odd behaviors. The 8′ 5wt is stronger, but still not clubby. No less a glass rod expert than Rich Margiotta thinks the T&T rods might be the best glass rods ever produced, and it’s hard to argue. (Update: He recently told me he likes the 8′ 4wt best of all, and who am I to argue?)

Rich builds, fishes and sells glass and bamboo fly rods more frequently than Paris Hilton makes headlines, so when he says he’s “found my 7.5′ 3wt,” you sit up and take notice.

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