More Howler Stuff Just Arrived!

New T-Shirts....as well as re-stock of old favorites.

Bunch of new hat styles.

Womens Sea Horse and De Los Muertos T-Shirts.

Silver King Hats!

We also have the new Spring 2013 colors in Loggerheads in the shop.

Full Time/Part Time Fly Shop Staff Needed!

Country Pleasures Flyfishing, in Calgary requires full time and part time staff. Applicants are required to be experienced fly fishers. Prior retail experience is an asset, but not essential. A strong fly fishing product knowledge base is essential to these positions as well as good interpersonal skills. Compensation is above average for the industry for selected applicants.


Full time position as well as summer, part time positions are required. Positions are in-store staff, not guiding positions.

Please send resume to fax (403)271-5516 or e-mail info@countrypleasures.com Attn: Mike Gifford

Product Review-Orvis Helios 2 909-4

After a bunch of time casting the new Helios 2 saltwater rods on the casting pond, grass, and the parking lot, I got a chance to put the 9 weight to the test while actually fishing last month. My beloved 9 weight TCX got to take a rest for a while I fished the Helios 2 909-4 (9' 9 weight, 4 piece) for Permit.

The first thing you'll notice is how light in the hand these rods are. I've not run across a rod lighter in the hand. They are not in fact lighter than first generation Helios, the rod designers at Orvis just spent some time adjusting tapers to make the rod have a lighter, crisper feel. Power is not a problem with the H2, they have a bunch of jam. Casting the DC Crab, complete with 3/16 Tungsten eyes in a 25 knot wind, is not a big deal with this rod.

Butt strength (fighting power/feel) is pretty good with this rod. With todays rods getting lighter and lighter, one of the things we have noticed is that we have lost some of the "power" feel while playing big game species. The H2 is pretty darn good, about equal to the Sage TCX and certainly better than the Sage ONE.

Finish and cosmetics are unparalleled, Orvis does get the premise that a $800 fly rod should look good as well as fish good. Fitting configurations on the H2 are even prettier than the first generation Helios.

To make a long story short, everything I liked about the original Helios is still there but the few thing I thought could be improved (power, lightness up in the tip as examples) have been thoroughly addressed by Orvis. And the H2 rods are very forgiving rods, we can comfortably sell these rods to a range of casting styles and abilities,

not the case with Sage TCX.

All in all.....good job Orvis!

Easter Hours

Country Pleasures will be open for the following hours for Easter:

Friday, March 29: 10 AM to 4 PM

Saurday, March 30: 9 AM to 5 PM

Sunday, March 31: CLOSED

Monday, April 1: 10 AM to 4 PM

Regular winter hours resume on Tuesday. Happy Easter from all of us at Country Pleasures!

Thanks!

16 great years of character and class. At least he's not a Bruin!
Thanks Iggy!

New Simms T-Shirts Just In!

New Patagonia T-Shirts Just In!



VERY NICE!



New Flies for 2013!

First REALLY big shipment of flies has arrived from Idylwilde!

New patterns for 2013, whole bunch of Steelhead patterns for spring and fall, tons and tons of new bugs!

Ascension Bay Photos

Palometa Club March 2013

Saturday Seminar - March 23

Saturday Morning Seminar

March 23

Steelhead Flies with Brent Piche’

Brent spent nearly 50 days fishing for steelhead in 2012, and experienced about every water condition imaginable.

From Intruders to Dries, he’ll cover tried and true flies,

and why they work when they do.

All seminars start at 10:00 am and will end between 11:00 and noon.  There is no charge and no pre-registration required.  Simply drop by the shop and enjoy the seminar.

The Great Divide

Flats skiffs, bay boats, drift boats and canoes. They all share two essential truths: Space is limited and gear gets wet. Hence, the Great Divider II. Our award-winning soft-sided gear chest efficiently organizes and protects everything an angler needs. Made from 840-denier, double-polyurethane-coated nylon, this bag has molded top and bottom pans for waterproof protection (up to the zipper) and deck grip - even in standing water. Welded seams eliminate leakage. Shock-absorbing high-density foam gives this fishing bag shape and structure. Inside, foam dividers can be arranged in any configuration to store gear, reels, flies and camera equipment. The new, single-sided TPU transparent floating panel won’t discolor with age or show scratches. Removable, see-through end pockets help organize small items. The redesigned top closure opens and closes easier with a highly water-resistant zipper with and T-grip. We’ve also added grab handles for increased convenience. The single, adjustable split shoulder strap is detachable and the insides can be removed so the bag can be packed flat within luggage for streamlined storage, then easily assembled when you reach your destination.

Details

• Exterior is made of a durable, waterproof coated nylon fabric that repels water
• Main compartment is made of a pliable and resilient high-density foam that gives bag shape and protects contents
• Transparent floating interior panel (on the inside lid) has zippered pockets on both sides; foam dividers (with hook-and-loop attachments) can be arranged in any configuration
• Two interior zippered end pockets are transparent and removable
• Strap attachments and seams are welded to eliminate leakage; highly water-resistant zipper with T-grip
• Adjustable and removable, padded shoulder strap; two grab handles
• 840-denier 100% nylon with a polyurethane coating and a DWR (durable water repellent) finish
• 3719 g (8 lbs 1.6 oz)

New Patagonia Stormfront Backpack

Whatever the fishing gods throw at you, from tropical thunderstorms to heavy-water river swims, you can fish through it all knowing your dry goods are safe – as long as they’re inside the Stormfront® Pack. This ultrasimple waterproof pack is made with tough 840-denier double polyurethane-coated nylon fabric and features an innovative, easy-to-use waterproof/corrosion-proof zipper and internal, custom-fit padded gear case with an adjustable divider. It’s comfortably supported by a removable shoulder-strap harness and 3D spacer-mesh back panel. Take the harness off and you have the perfect fishing bag for wet boat decks. A glued-in zippered mesh pocket keeps valuables organized, while the external mesh pocket holds your hydration reservoir. The harness system includes tool attachment and storage capabilities, plus as an added bonus, it’s compatible with the Minimalist Vest and the vest portion of our Pack Vest (available in previous seasons).

Details

• Waterproof, fully-welded pod with waterproof/corrosion-proof main zipper
• Internal custom-fit padded gear case
• Harness system provides additional storage, tool attachment space and connects to vest; pack detaches to become a dry bag
• 3D spacer-mesh back panel wicks moisture, dries quickly and allows air circulation
• External mesh hydration reservoir pocket
• Internal zippered mesh pocket
• Outer pack: 840-denier nylon with a polyurethane coating. Inner pack: 200-denier polyester. Harness back panel: 3D spacer mesh
• 1057 g (37.3 oz)

Saturday Seminar - March 16

Saturday Morning Seminar

March 16

Foam Flies with Rick Harding

Rick, one of the better fly tiers around this part of the world, will tie a

selection of his favorite foam flies.

All seminars start at 10:00 am and will end between 11:00 and noon.  There is no charge and no pre-registration required.  Simply drop by the shop and enjoy the seminar.

Loon Outdoors

All of the new,and not new, stuff from LOON Outdoors for 2013

has arrived at the shop!

Are you serious?

They even have a greeter.

Saturday Seminar - March 9

Saturday Morning Seminar

March 9

Tying and Fishing Small Flies

Joe Buck will tie a selection of his “little bugs” and talk about

techniques and strategies for fishing them.

All seminars start at 10:00 am and will end between 11:00 and noon.  There is no charge and no pre-registration required.  Simply drop by the shop and enjoy the seminar.

Trouble in the Keys????

Silver Lining from Jekyll Works on Vimeo.

A curious mix of fish porn and conservation. Scary deal about the cruise ships though. Have seen what they have done in the Bahamas and it's not pretty.

In a lot of places it's kind of a false economy. Sure the cruise ships dock in these ports but the cruise lines do everything they can to completely monopolize any commerce resultant from the cruise passengers. The land tours that come ashore with guides often only patronize a selct few businesses.....and I have been told by locals in a few cities that only businesses that pay off the tour guides get business.

And then there's the fact they'll kill a reef environment. We have so many of those left intact!

Why do we go saltwater flats fishing?

Need we say more?

Howler Brothers 2013

Spring 2013 lineup from Howler Brothers

has started to arrive at the shop!

New T-Shirts for 2013

New Loggerhead colors for 2013!

New Hats for 2013!