Where have all the vest gone? Part Three

The backpack comes in everything from a small, lightweight pouch to a massive rear compartment that can store all your fishing and camping gear. Many fly fishing manufacturers make a backpack specifically for fly fishing gear; it has rod holder pockets and smaller zippered pockets to organize all your equipment much like a vest would just in the rear rather than in front. The backpack like the sling often comes with accessory pockets/attachments on the straps to hold all your VIP gear while the majority is held behind you, meaning that you do have to take off the pack access it.
The combination of the chest and back pack has truly completed the line up for vest alternatives. The backpack offers all the storage of a backpack but with convenience of having a compartment in front for essential tools, fly boxes and tippet. But as we complete the circle of vest alternatives really we are arriving back where we started, the backpack/chest combination is heavy, weighs entirely on your shoulders and offers no real advantage other than it actually can hold more gear than a vest!
I was once told that the vest is the most important element to an anglers gear, it’s their filing cabinet, the tool box of fishing. Though I personally think a rod, line and fly are equally as important, it is a valid statement. A vest or its alternative is an essential element to the sport of fly fishing, it shouldn’t be purchased lightly or without much thought. I truly believe that every angler has different requirements of their gear and some will be better off with a backpack over a chest pack while others will be much happier with a traditional vest. Whatever route you decide to take, ensure that you spend sufficient time evaluating your requirements of the gear and which will work best for you.


And with that the Where have all the vests gone? series is complete. Finally!
-Caitlin

Sage Xi3 Fly Rod Review

Sage Xi3 12 weight comparison
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Now that we've had the Xi3 in the shop for a few days, we finally got out both the 12 weight Xi3, as well as the replaced 12 weight Xi2 for comparison.

Right off the bat you notice that the Xi3 is a very pretty rod (prettier in our mind then the Xi2). It has a nice ocean blue color, with discrete thread wraps in a bright blue. All in all, it's one of the prettiest fly rods we've ever seen.

Discrete thread wraps make this rod even prettier. Xi3 on top.

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They have upgraded the stripping guides to make them even lighter (and a lot nicer looking), as well as making the reel seat just plain easier to use, as well as sturdier.

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Xi3 stripping guide behind the Xi2 stripping guide

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Xi3 reel seat seems like a simple upgrade, but it's actually a nice improvement to have.

Xi3 on top

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Now the important parts:

While the Xi3 is not astronomically lighter then the Xi2 (the Xi3 weighs 5 5/16 oz, while the Xi2 is slightly more at 5 7/16 oz), it does make quite the difference. The Xi3 feels considerably lighter in hand, and balances beautifully with the big 12 weight reels (speaking of which, check out the Brand New Lamson Vanquish..will have a review of that in a few days).

With the lower weight, automatically the Xi3 is easier to cast. It is an absolute gun, and seems to handle those 90 foot plus casts better then the Xi2. For all of the casts, from 30 feet to over 90, the Xi3 feels snappier, more powerful, and just plain nicer to cast. Let the rod do the work, and you have an absolute perfect saltwater weapon.

Not only would this rod be awesome for the salt, but anything that required distance and a shooting head. The 8 weight would be an unbelievable Taimen gun.

Very simply, this is a geat upgrade from the world renowned Xi2. The Xi3 blows it out of the water.


The Xi3 is now available from our Online Fly Shop.

Be sure to check it out

http://www.countrypleasures.com/store

Where have all the vests gone? Part Two

The chest pack is a vest in disguise, it wears like a vest yet holds less and sits mid-chest. Often the back and shoulder components are made of mesh for breathability and comfort. The chest pouch holds a variety of accessories and boxes depending on the brand and style. The chest pack has a key advantage over the waist pack in that it has a D-ring in the back for a net attachment but loses the advantage of a waist pack by having to wear it on your shoulders. Like the waist pack the chest pack holds less gear which as stated earlier can be an advantage.

Currently Orvis makes a Meshed-Back Chest Pack with moulded pockets for support of your flies boxes while standing in three feet of moving water (to prevent those “&%^* my fly box” moments as it floats downstream) as well as a forceps pocket, tippet spool holders and extra large buckles for easy access in and out of the pack. Another alternative that falls somewhere between chest and the back pack is what’s known as the sling pack. This puts your gear in the back out of your way but the weight is distributed across your chest, not just on your shoulders. Some have accessory pockets on the sling so they are close and easily accessible but the pack has to take off in order to access everything in the rear. Check out the Simms Sling Pack.

Stay tuned for the final part in this three part series, backpacks and chest/back pack combinations.

Where have all the vests gone? Part One

Both in the shop and on the river I’m seeing an increasing amount of anglers straying away from the traditional vest and leaning towards alternative options like a backpack, lumbar pack or chest pack, this includes myself. But why!? Vests have long since represented fly fisherman, it was their everlasting emblem, a silly neutral coloured vest with pockets for every nick-nack and accessory an imaginative angler could come up with. Why now do anglers look towards an alternative to the clumsy, heavy, hot, uncomfortable extra layer we call a vest, oh wait!

Manufacturers of fly fishing gear have put their minds to coming up with alternatives that work just as well as the traditional vest but have they succeeded? Well, in my mind the answer is no. There is not an alternative that holds as much gear in as easy access as the vest but there are some great attempts that stand out in their own way.

“The Fanny” or in man language, the waist pack sits on the hips usually in reverse holding all your fishing gear around your lower back. It quickly swivels around for a semi-easy access to pockets and zippered compartments. Just like a vest, the waist pack has compartments designed for fl y fishing paraphernalia, from tippet spool holders to a forceps pocket. The waist pack often holds much less than a vest but as a user of the Sage Lumbar Pack I find this an added benefit since it restricts me to my essentials. For example, there really is no need for seven fly boxes, six sizes of tippet, and every new line nipper on the market but that’s just me, some have the need or the desire to carry a lot of gear with them and in this instance the waist pack may not be large enough. The waist pack also doesn’t have an attachment for a net unlike the vest, this makes the waist pack less useful to the walk and wade anglers. For anglers that often fish from a boat where they are hopping in and out and carrying a boat net, then the waist pack works great. The Sage Lumbar Pack and the Simms Headwaters Series stand out as useful and durable waist packs for the avid fisherman looking for an alternative to the vest.

Part two to come- The chest pack as an alternative to the vest
Part three to come- The backpack and combination chest/backpack

Limited Orvis Sale

We've got limited supply of some top-end Orvis gear for sale in the shop. Not a better time to get those new waders you've been needing, or that rain-jacket for Steelheading, or the lightest fly rod on the market for an amazing price.

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Orvis Pro Guide III Waders - Reg. $515.00

Now $310.00!!!

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Orvis Deluge Stretch Rain Jacket - Reg. $ 489.99

Now $295.00!!!

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Orvis Helios 105-4 10 foot 5 weight 4 piece Fly Rod - Reg $995.00

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This is an incredible nymph rod for the Bow. Perfect for highsticking and long-line nymphing. As well as being able to present hoppers and streamers with ease

Now $625.00!!!

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Orvis Helios 966-4 9'6" 6 weight 4 piece Fly Rod - Reg $995.00
This rod is a gun. Possibly one of the nicest streamer rod's we ever had the chance to cast.

Now $ 625.00!!!

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Call the shop with any questions, or visit our website. Sales on in-stock items only
http://www.countrypleasures.com/

(403) 271-1016

Shop News

With more students going back to school everyday, its with sadness that CP says goodbye to our youngest employee Zach Southgate once again. Good luck with the upcoming school year and thanks for a great summer!

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Don't forget about our sale on Orvis Felt Sole Boots.

30% off remaining inventory.

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A few Sage Xi2 rods are left on sale!

Only one twelve weight remains!!!!

Remember these rods come with Sage's lifetime, unconditional warranty.

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The One Fly Competition for support of the Childrens Wish Foundation was a success once again.

Thanks to all that participated and donated to this wonderful charity that combines fishing with a great cause!

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Select Fly Lines on sale, some great deals!!

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Mark is back from his Salmon trip to BC, stop in and have a chat about his adventures.

Highlights: a 49 inch Chinook and Marks first steelhead.

Guide Spotlight - Mike Guinn

September is approaching quickly and our summer is fading, it won't be long till we have to bring out the shovel and winter tires! Make the most of our few remaning days of summer, get out and fish! Whether your a seasoned angler or trying to get into fly fishing, a guided fishing trip can be a valuable experience. A catch of Bow River Rockets and Buttery Browns make the Bow River famous and with good reason.

We employ who we think are the greatest guides in Calgary, and the comments we recieve post-trip have been beyond confirming those beliefs. Our outfitting service employs a handful of exclusive Bow River guides that can be your tour guide to our home waters. Our trips include a full day on the river, a shore side deli style lunch, a variety of beverages and gear if you require it.

Mike with a nice brown and a happy client.

We'll start our guide spotlights (more to follow) with possibly one of the most experienced guide on the river, Mike Guinn.
Mike has been guiding on the Bow River for over thirty years, his experience holds him in high regard in the guiding industry. We'll let our clients comments tell the story.

"Mike was great, very knowledgable and helpful. It was an honor to have been guided by him."

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- Neil Johnson

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"Mike was great! He was extremely knowledgable, lots of fun and had tons of helpful hints and advice. [He] knew the river very well and made the day very enjoyable. We got into lots of fish and [his] feedback and help made the day more productive and fun."

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- Cam Woolnough

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"I was very impressed with the quality of fishing on the river and more so with the guide, [Mike Guinn]."

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- Mike Trainor

If you'd like to fish with Mike or any of our other exclusive, experienced fishing guides time is running out. Bookings can be made via email, over the telephone or in store at:
Country Pleasures Fly Shop and Outfitter.
403-271-1016
#100 Willow Park Village
10816 Macleod Trail South
Calgary AB
info@countrypleasures.com

Stay tuned for more guide spotlights!

5 Hoppers You Should Have In Your Box

Parachute Frankenhopper

One of the more visible hoppers out there.

A great bug for hopper dropper fishing

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Yeager's Neversink Hopper Popper
Throw a mend and splash some water.
A highly realistic pattern,
floats well and is as tough as nails.
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Morrish Hopper
Sculpted foam makes this fly hard to beat.
Lot's of legs, and very visible.
It's a must have.
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Fat Albert
Legs, legs and more legs.
The 'Fatty' just screams eat me, and the fish are much obliged.
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Rainy's Grand Hopper One of the best selling hoppers of all time.
Floats like a cork, and is extremely realistic.
Plus, fish love it.
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All of these flies can be purchased at the shop, and we'll do our best to point you in the right direction. Hot and windy days are common on our rivers, and hopper fishing is hard to beat.

Southern Alberta River Reports

Trico on the Bow

Me and Caity floated the Bow with George Beasley on Tuesday and had a ton of fun.

Caitlin with a very nice bright day Hopper Rainbow

Here's the reports from Southern Alberta as of late

The Bow River:
The river is fishing well again, especially on dark days. The Trico fishing in the morning has been pretty good, and a non-windy day goes a long way in finding rising fish.
The hopper fishing has been pretty good on overcast days, and the fish are definitely responding negatively to bright days. Find some cloud cover, and you'll find rising fish.

Even with the hot weather, there is no need to heavy nymph to find fish. Hoppers love the hot weather, and fishing a big hopper in choppy water off of high banks, or mid-river slots can definitly produce some amazing fish. A dropper can be added if you like, but we've been taking to cutting off the dropper lately to get closer to the banks and finding more fish on top.

Caddis fishing has been ok, but with the rain we've been getting in the afternoon's and evenings has made it a lot harder to find a substantial hatch.


The Oldman River:
The Oldman is high and has some color. It is very reminiscent of the last week of June, first week of July flows and color. The water is very cold for the time of year, and the fish aren't too happy about it. You'll find the odd rising fish, but the hopper/stonefly fishing has not been great like the previous years. Could take a while to drop, considering how high the flows are right now. Most spots are tough to cross, and I'd reccomend picking your crossings carefully.


The Highwood River:
The Highwood is much higher for this time of year then previous years, but the water is clear. However, the water is cold and can make finding happy rising fish a little harder. Keep walking and you'll be sure to find a few.

Salmon/Steelhead Fishing in N.W. British Columbia

Just back from 4 days of fishing in the Terrace/Kitimat region of NW BC. Mid August give you a chance at catching all 5 of the Pacific salmon species along with Steelhead, dollies, cutts and rainbows. Our first stop was where the Copper River runs into the Skeena. After catching a bunch of Pink Salmon on an 8 weight fly rod I pulled out the spey rod. After donating a half dozen flies to the Skeena River fish gods I walked back up the Copper river. After a few more pinks I finally tied into a sizeable fish, and after a 10 minute battle I finally landed my first Steelhead.

She took a Blue Moon fly and taped out at 31 inches. My buddies made me buy a round later that night to celebrate my first Steelhead.

The next day we fished the Kitimat River which is famous for its big Chums, last year we tied into some huge 40 and 41 inch Salmon. This year we caught a bunch of chums but nothing over 38 inches. Last year I also caught a 41 inch Chinook and I was happy when I surpassed that fish with this 42 x 24 beauty (37pounds).

The following day we found things slow on the Skeena so we headed back to the Kitimat. We were having fun catching a bunch of fish when I had a big hit and the fish headed upstream. This brute took out 200 yards of line and was leaving a 3 foot rooster tail as the line ripped thru the water. We couldn’t believe the size of the fish when we finally landed it, the tape read 49 inches and the girth was 31 inches. Looking up a conversion factor of width X girth X girth X 1.54 / 1000 = weight the Chinook was an estimate 72 pounds. The killer fly was a Chartruese Medusa.

A few item highlights - Simplifying your fishing

There's some products in the shop that we feel deserve some highlighting.
Here's a few of them, we'll focus on 'gear simplifying' today:
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Simms Sling Pack:
The sling pack will certainly become a favourite for steelheaders and anglers trying to simplify. It's a no-nonsense pack that gives you quick access to flies and tippets, then swing out of your way. No more tangling running line on that 100 foot cast, and it is built to last (and a price that can't be beat).
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Sage Double Rod/Reel Case:
We sell a ton of these to anglers that are looking to simplify access to their rods. Keep your rods fully rigged up for your next day on the river. Bring the case in a drift boat and you have instant access to your foam-bug rod when the streamer fishing slows.

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Cliff's Super Day's Worth Fly Box:
Midges, Meat, and Mayflies - Oh My! The triple layer design allows you to effectively hold a ton of different sized flies. One of the cooler features is the Magnetic Compartment. Perfect for holding all your small nymphs (or when you're rushing through your box as a 26" brown is refusing your latest creation). It's also a nearly indesructible box.

This box was awarded the Ka-Ching award at the Fly Fishing Retailer World Trade Expo

-Brent

Bow River Report

Heres a few photos from the last week. Though it's supposed to pour rain, the river should be fishing ok with streamers, and maybe hold back the trico's till the weather turns and the water color gets back to normal.

Bob Logan with a beauty brown trout on a dry.

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Maureen Gifford with a very nice rainbow
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Jeff Peterson with a very nice Brown on a streamer

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Dee Chatani with another monster brown on a streamer

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We'll see how much rain we get, and how blown out the river is to become, but hopefully this will save us for the rest of the year from high water temps.

-CP Staff

Trout Slayer

The things you see working in a fly shop.
Yesterday, a young guy walked into CP's with a six back of beer and started talking fishing. Not an everyday encounter.
Turns out he works for Big Sky Brewing Company in Montana, was up for a few days and wanted to throw a line into the world famous Bow River.
He went out with some advise and we went home with some beer.





Now thats an interesting beer. Not bad either.