Gear Review- Winston BIII Plus

This past winter I was given a new Winston BIII Plus 9 weight to take on some saltwater trips. I have to admit, my expectations were to experience a slower, albeit pretty, saltwater rod.

I used the BIII Plus 9'  9 weight and switched back and forth for a few days with my usual Sage Method 909-4 so I could compare as best as possible. I then fished the Winston exclusively for 3 days to see if there were any situations that it didn't work well or if there were instances where it excelled.
here's what I came up with:

Even though not as quick as I'm used to in the Method it had all sorts of power. A number of other rods I have cast require a change in how I cast, almost babying the rods due to their slower action. At no time did I feel like I had to do that with this rod. It generates great line speed even though it's a smoother action rod.

Tracking/accuracy on the BIII Plus is fantastic. Certainly on par with great entries like the Helios 2 and Sage Konnetic technology. Plain and simple, they're really accurate fly rods.

Feel in the hand is really nice. They feel light in the hand and feel crisp/quick (if that makes any sense to all of you). It just feel great in the hand, both at the ready and while casting.

Butt strength/feel is very good with this rod. While playing fish it never felt like the rod was under-gunned,  a not uncommon issue with a number of the high end, lightweight rods of today. It's got lots of jam.

My opinion is that this rod is a better choice for a broader spectrum of anglers looking for a premiere big game rod than say the Sage Method, which is quite unforgiving.

Last, and some would argue not important is the absolutely stunning finish and construction on the Winston rods. I own Sage methods, Orvis Helios 2, and now tried this Winston. All three of these rods sell for around $1000. With the Winston and Orvis I get immaculate finishing and fitting (guides, wraps, cork, reels seats) configuration. They are absolutely stunning! Then, with brand C, I get a $1000 fly rod with cork and fitting that is, as diplomatically put as possible, mediocre. Plain black reel seats and so-so cork. Not everyone would agree, but for $1000 I want a rod that looks awesome.
The Winston rods are, and always have been, quite possibly the most beautiful rods on the market.

Sage Method 7126-4 Review

A completely objective review of the new Method 7126-4

Sage METHOD 7126-4 Spey Rod Review

In the fly fishing world, we are constantly being told by media about “the next best thing”, the latest revolutionary clothing, tackle, flies or accessories that are going to make us more comfortable, increase our effectiveness, instantly improve our casting or just make us cool. Many of us in the spey game have become jaded with the media-driven you-gotta-have-this syndrome, greeting each new product announcement with a varied mix of interest and scepticism. In the end, the only way to really determine the value any of these products have for us is to try them yourself. That is not always easy or practical, as we often don’t have access to these new items or if we do, it is at our own personal cost so the process becomes a self-financed gamble.

As a long time spey fisherman, I have arrived at a point where my spey rod/switch rod needs are pretty much covered off by my current arsenal of preferred equipment. Having said that, I am not immune to curiosity and the recent introduction of the Sage METHOD spey and switch lineup did catch my attention. Other than a couple of blog reviews, there doesn’t yet appear to be much feedback available for this rod family. When it comes to evaluating spey rods, or fly rods in general, there is no substitute to actually casting them, and I was fortunate enough to have the recent opportunity to spend a day on the water with two Airflo spey line demo kits and a demo Sage METHOD 7126-4. Currently, the closest equivalent rod to this model that I own is the Sage TCX 7126-4, and that comparison is the one me and most of the spey anglers I know are interested in, so I took both to the river and following is a summary of what I found…

Rod Specifications:

Sage TCX 7126-4
Length: 12’6”
4 piece
Weight: 7 5/8 ounces
Line rating: 7 weight
Action rating: ultra fast
Color: green blank, olive primary thread wraps with red trim wraps
Fuji ceramic stripping guides, oversize chrome snake guides and tip guide
Smoke grey aluminium reel seat, two screw rings – up locking
High grade cork fore grip and butt grip, composite cork butt knob

Sage METHOD 7126-4
Length: 12’6”
4 piece
Line rating: 7 weight
Weight: 6 1/2 ounces
Action rating: ultra fast
Color: “magma” red blank, rust primary thread wraps with pewter trim wraps
Fuji ceramic stripping guides, oversize chrome snake guides and tip guide
Black aluminium reel seat, two crew rings – down locking
High grade cork fore grip and butt grip, composite cork butt knob

Test Tackle:

Airflo Compact Skagit heads
Tip: RIO T-14 tip, 10 feet
Leader: Maxima Ultragreen, 15lb, 3 feet
Fly: 4” intruder style weighted w/ 3/8” dumbbell eyes

Airflo Compact Scandi heads
Leader: RIO salmon/steelhead mono, 12 foot
Flies: #6 low water style, #4 Bullwinkle dry fly

Airflo Compact Rage heads
Leader: RIO salmon/steelhead mono, 12 foot
Flies: #6 low water style, #4 Bullwinkle dry fly

Nautilus CCF #12 reel
Airflo Ridge running line 30lb

Line Matches:

Sage TCX 7126-4 - My personal line match choices over the past couple of years for the Sage TCX 7126-4 have been the following, and I used these benchmarks as the starting point the METHOD 7126-4 trial:
Airflo Compact Skagit head 540 grain
Airflo Compact Scandi head 510 grain
Airflo Compact Rage head 510 grain

Sage METHOD 7126-4 – Skagit Heads
Started with the Airflo Compact Skagit 540 grain head using the sink tip-leader-fly combo above. The 540 grain head loaded the METHOD really well and cast nicely with an even feel and a smooth power transfer over short, medium and long (35’-65’-85’) casts. Using an easy spey stroke with equal top and bottom hand, the rod handled targeted casts naturally without any need to force the rod on the longer casts. This setup loaded well at short range using a lighter touch for close-in work, and as distance was gradually increased there was no need to tighten grip or change any part of the casting stroke other than increasing the D loop slightly and stopping the rod a little higher for more trajectory. Experimenting with grips and casting styles revealed that the METHOD liked a stroke with a more pronounced lower hand pull (although with a light touch) which reveals the “hidden” power this rod possesses, quite unexpected for a rod so light in hand. Then tried the same range of casts with an Airflo Compact Skagit 510 grain head and was amazed how that head lit up the METHOD on the first throw, sailing well beyond the intended mid-range cast and snapping the running line hard to the reel even though I still had enough stripped out on the water for much longer casts to come. The METHOD rod really liked the 510 grain Compact Skagit head, I found again that the same moderate stroke loaded the rod easily allowing very natural-feeling power transition that released smoothly at the rod stop and shot the line effortlessly and on target. I will categorize the 540 grain head as the blue collar “power” line choice featuring a heavier rod load “feel”, this head able to easily handle and manage longer, heavier sink tips (I cast a 13 foot T-14 tip with no problem) and T-14/T-17 MOW tips as bigger payloads for more demanding conditions. The 510 grain head is the white collar “crisp” choice with a lighter feel for more general purpose use with moderate sink tips and lighter MOW tip packages covering most conditions. It will really come down to the applications and feel each angler is most comfortable with suited to water/flow conditions requiring sink tips. I was temped to rig up the Airflo Compact Skagit 570 grain head for a few casts, but the two Skagit head choices tested felt so dialed in that I asked myself “Why would you?” That question may be answered in another test by someone else.

Sage METHOD 7126-4 – Scandi/Rage Heads
I’ll say at the outset, the Scandi/Rage head tests went much like the Skagit head tests did. Started with the Airflo Compact Scandi 540 grain head using the long leader-small wet fly/dry fly setups noted above. As with the Skagit line test, the 540 grain head loaded the METHOD comfortably and produced easy and accurate casts with good rod load feel over short, medium and long casts. There was little noticeable difference between casting either the small wet fly or the more bulky, wind-resistant dry fly, the 540 grain Scandi head presented both with accuracy and as much delicacy as intended based on how much power and trajectory adjustment was applied. The METHOD’s limber power allowed the caster to manage the long floating taper very effectively and the rod further proved it’s versatility when a modest upstream breeze came up and I powered several casts directly into it with the dry fly, still able to kick over the fine-tipped line, leader and fly with authority. The next choice was the Airflo Compact Scandi 510 grain setup with the same leader and flies. As with the lighter Skagit head test, the thirty grain reduction added briskness to the cast and delivery, providing the ability for a moderated presentation that would likely suit smaller fly sizes than the ones I used. The METHOD - Scandi 510 combination allowed a lighter touch during D loop formation, cast and delivery but didn’t give up anything on the power side, especially when combined with a slightly more emphasized lower-hand pull. The angler’s choice will again depend on individual preference. A move up to the 570 grain Scandi head resulted in a combination that was just okay and delivered the flies with power, but it was tougher to create narrow outbound casting loops and the rod felt overloaded and the action boggy. Conversely, dropping down in size to a 490 grain Scandi head may suit casters that prefer a very light load. This line under-loaded the rod for my taste, considerably reducing flexion during D loop and delivery and taking away some of the best attributes of the rod‘s unique action. I have no doubt a skilled spey caster could make this head work on the METHOD if they desired although I believe the 490 grain line weight would limit fly size options and reduce fishing versatility over a range of conditions. As most of you know, the Airflo Compact Rage heads are a hybrid line combining the short head/condensed weight attributes of the Skagit line design with a modified version of the long, gradual taper common to the Scandi style heads. These “in-between” heads are often useful when fishing consistently shorter casts in tight conditions where back cast room is very restricted or for floating line presentations in consistent wind. These hybrid lines accommodate most full floating line tactics, Polyleader/Versileader options and light-medium sink tips. I’ll summarize the Rage tests by saying that my findings and preferences were identical to the Scandi head trial in terms of line weights vs. rod responses. I recommend Rage 540 grain head for average casters/load “feel” enthusiasts and the Rage 510 grain head for more advanced casters/bottom hand “touch” casters. I used a long mono leader for this test, those anglers preferring more line stick for the anchor during the middle part of the cast to assist rod load would be able to achieve that through the use of Airflo Polyleaders or RIO VersiLeaders.

Rod Performance:

For context, let’s take a subjective look at the Sage TCX vs. the Sage METHOD rods

Sage TCX 7126-4: The TCX 7126-4 spey rod comes from a family of TCX rods that are among the fastest designs ever made by Sage. It’s attributes include a strong butt and mid-section, a fast, responsive tip and the capability to create super fast line speeds. As well, it offers a wide grain weight window and is tolerant of being over-lined by those who prefer a heavier casting load feel. The rod’s ability to handle long, heavy tips like 15 ‘ of RIO Type 6 and Type 8 as well as 13+ feet of T-14 along with the capability to deliver all these with tight loops at distance is remarkable. The TCX 7126-4 is a light, fast, responsive rod that rewards good casters with it’s unique action and fishes much bigger than it’s 12’6” length would indicate. The flex pattern under load is pretty much from just ahead of the butt section stripping guide forward to the tip, flexion coming mostly from the top two thirds of the rod’s length. The commanding butt comes into power best with 525 grain or better Skagit lines in combination with longer sink tips in the #8 plus weight range. This big boy butt also provides good lifting power to help control larger anadromous species. It is well finished, light in hand, the handle is a good length and is slimmer and more comfortable than the late 90’s-2000’s Sage “fat boy” cork handles many anglers felt compelled to turn down for improved feel. This Sage rod does sacrifice some feel for power, is definitely not for those that enjoy a fuller flexing action and more relaxed fishing pace and I find it is quite demanding in terms of angler skill to make sure all parts of the cast are near perfect in order to get the most out of the rod’s action.

Sage METHOD 7126-4: I’ll be honest, the METHOD 7126-4 spey rod surprised me. The fact it is rated by the manufacturer as “ultra fast” colored my expectations before I even strung it up. When I finally did line it and waded into the river preparing to cast, I wasn’t prepared for the lightness and limber feel in hand. The first few casts with a Skagit line and sink tip were impressive. As the casts became longer, the smooth load, “natural” feeling transfer of power along the rod and the effortless release of energy into the line and leader to finish the cast really got my attention. The first half hour was spent learning how to reconcile the inherent power of the rod with the lively performance it delivered. The METHOD has a feeling of life that I have seldom experienced in a spey rod. It is progressive without being wimpy, loading equally well on short, medium and long casts. Rod flex under load begins around a foot ahead of the cork handle and it always feels like there is more power to draw from while at the same time an inherent forgiveness. Mending line effectively on the swing or while high stick fishing a short slot is another benefit this rod possesses. When you mend with the METHOD, the line and rod are in it together and it is an organic action that you can execute with both accuracy and feel as if both components are one. Fittings, reel seat, finish and cork handles are all first rate, I am kind of fussy about having slender grips on spey rods and the METHOD’s was comfortable right from the get go. Here’s the thing, I have no idea what “Konnetic energy” is, but this rod is supposed to have it and offer us the benefits of what the new Sage technology brings. I don’t know if it is Konnetic energy or what, but the METHOD rod does two things that no other rod I have cast does: First, it recovers from the delivery at the end of each cast faster than any rod I have cast that wasn’t a pool cue. Delivery – Stop – Fishing. Secondly, I am no scientist but this rod is “directionally stable”. That is the only way I can describe how uncannily straight it casts. The fly goes exactly where you intend it to go. Short, long, in between… I may never know why, but that is how it works and I really appreciate that fact. The only fault I can find with the Sage METHOD 7126-4 is that with the down locking reel seat, the bottom grip seems short and those of us with big hands may feel the lower hand is a little crowded below the reel. On the other hand, I found this setup made me more conscious of using a lighter grip with my lower hand which seemed to actually help my casting, so perhaps something to get used to.

Overall, the Sage METHOD 7126-4 has a lot to offer. It is light, lively, powerful and accurate. I recommend that if you are planning to test any new tackle that you give this spey rod a try, because it has a lot to offer and just might live up to the hype after all.


Scott Runciman – October 14, 2013

Thanks Scott!

Product Review-Howler Loggerhead Shirts

The Howler Technical clothing has been getting more and more popular over the last year. Most of us around the shop wear it, and like it. A recent trip to Ascension Bay gave me opportunity to try an idea. I wanted to to try the Howler Loggerhead L/S Shirt, Simms Ultralight Shirt, and Patagonia Sunshirt all in the same day and conditions.

So, you may think this is goofy, but it is in the name of science, I took one of each of these shirts out on the flats on the same day. I wore each one for an hour in the afternoon when it was hottest and the sun was highest. Here's what I found:

The Patagonia comes in dead last! It allows the least airflow, meaning it's the hottest, has the lowest wicking properties, and at the end of an hour already held some odor. It does wash reasonably well in the shower (all cleaning tests done in the shower) but it is very difficult to get rid of the odor. It also has no pockets or button collar.

The Simms Ultralight has long been my favorite shirts for fishing in the tropics. You can tell how light these shirts are just by picking them up. The air flow on this shirt is pretty darn good. It stays pretty cool even on the hottest days. it is a little tougher to clean in the shower if you have sunscreen stains, etc. in the collar and cuffs but they aren't too bad. They are different from the Patagonia and Howler in that they are a full opening, snap close shirt. One issue with design is the welded fron pockets can fail if you carry a heavy object (like a heavier point and shoot camera) for extended periods.
The Ultralight is pretty good as far as odor retention and with shower cleaning don't seem to retain odors.

The Howler Loggerhead is similar in appearance and design to the Patagonia with some important differences. The collar is a tandem button so you can leave it open to stay cooler or buttoned up for sun protection. The rear pocket is something I didn't think I would use. Turns out its perfect for thing like lip balm, tissue, etc. Stuff that goes in the front pocket of the Simms and nowhere on the Patagonia. This shirt gets very good from here. It is noticeably cooler, allowing more air flow than even the Simms. It is amazing, I never felt hot (did with the others). It held no odors and was the easiest to clean. I actually continued to wear this shirt for the next few days (washing it every night). It cleans up like new in the shower, you can't tell you wore it the previous day. They also dry in about the same amount of time as the Simms (quicker than the Patagonia). And at 60% of the cost of the Simms it's kind of a "no-brainer". Try one!

Overview:
Patagonia-Leave it on the rack!
Simms- Pretty decent, but expensive against Howler, more traditinal, collared appearance.
Howler- Hands down, best performance. Not the best for those who want more traditional, collared look.

I was kind of shocked that the Loggerhead impressed me more than the Ultralight.

Product Review-Hatch Finatic 9 Plus

Last winter/spring I spent some time fishing the Harch Finatic reels with the anticipation of carrying them in the shop. We were on the lookout for a US made, high quality reel for big game applications. I had guides and lodge owners that I know from around the tropics speak well of the reel. Obviously, things checked out as we have them in our shop.

Having said that, I took a Finatic 9Plus on my recent trip for two weeks to the Babine River to give it a good "stress test".

It hurt a little bit to leave my Vanquish reels (my usual Spey choice) in the room but I really wanted to see if the Hatch would hold up.

Late season Steelheading is as tough as anything I've seen on reels but 2012 turned out to be a real proving ground.

Temperatures ten to fifteen degrees colder than normal offered up as severe of an environment as I have run across.

Freezing temperatures and twenty pound Steehead...perfect!



Hatch Finatic 9Plus "in the drink"



Before I go to far with my review, you should know I was trying very hard to find fault with this reel. The reels I use now have been so good it was hard for me to think another reel could come close.

As for fit and finish, the Hatch is stunning and perfect. The only thing I would say is for those of you who use mono or Slickshooter for running line you can get the line between spool and body of reel. Using .035 running line, I had no issues and Hatch is addressing this problem in a future design.

Drag, well after two weeks of use I can say the drag on these reels is top flight. A reel left out at minus fifteen celsius worked as well first thing in the morning as it did the afternoon before at zero. The best example of the drag continuity throughtout the range of adjustment came on a very big fish hooked last week. The big buck essentially left the county, removing the last of the running line and then disturbing amounts of backing. The fish was leaving so easily I thought my drag was set too light and proceeded to keep increasing the level of drag. At no time was there any grabbing or indication of the drag not being smooth. After the fish concluded kicking my ass, followed by far too much time required to reel in backing and some running line, I tried to pull off some line to check drag....I could hardly pull line off!

Smooth!...plain and simple!

Weight on the reel is very much average. Not terribly heavy, not ridiculously light, actually balances a 13' 6" 8 weight perfectly. As for finish, the Finatics are pretty tough. I left the cover off mine for two weeks (I never do that!) and after multiple rock leanings, boat tray slidings, and general nastiness I couldn't find a mark on the reel.

Last thing you should know is the reel never came inside for two weeks. It was left on the rack outside and frozen as cold as minus fifteen at night. The warmest the reel got in the last 6 days was minus six. While a bunch of other reels in camp were blowing up, seizing from the ice, and having to be taken in at night, this reel just kept working.

All in all, I'm very impressed with this piece of equipment! Thumbs up!

Sage One 8136-4 Review

Seems like, for the most part, I have written the product reviews over the last while. Here's a little change, recieved this from Terry Antoniuk regarding his brande new Sage One 8136-4 Two handed Rod.....

Sustat Hen on the 8136
Terry Antoniuk Photo

Had an opportunity to fish the Sage One 8136-4 two hand rod on several Skeena tributaries over 3 weeks in October. Also talked with others who were fishing the same rod, and have decided that this is now my go-to rod for rivers with chances at larger fish. Why? Well the rod has a huge sweet spot and is very forgiving of caster error - it added over 10 feet to my casts with no additional effort and was a pleasure to fish with all day because its much lighter than my Sage Z Axis and other equivalents. When compared to the Z Axis, it has a more progressive action, is better at pulling sinking tips from the water, and allows both bottom hand and top hand power application (although as with all spey rods, bottom hand dominant is the better way to go with Skagit lines). The butt's not as powerful as the Sage TCX series, but I personally prefer the way that this rod casts and fights fish. The new handle style was comfortable and the downlocking reel seat really balanced the rod with my old school Van Staal reel.


I tend to like heavier Skagit heads, but found that it fished well with the recommended 550 gr Rio Skagit Flight head when throwing Type 3, 6, and 8 tips and lightly to heavily weighted flies. It easily handled 15 feet of T-14 and 12 feet of T-17 when dredging deep winter holding waters, but I'd probably use a 575 gr Skagit head if doing this exclusively. I'm really looking forward to trying other spey models in the Sage One line.

Terry Antoniuk
November 2012

New One on the Bulkley
Terry Antoniuk Photo

Stuff That Works/Stuff That Doesn't

Back from the three weeks of Mexico and Bahamas fishing.

This means I got to put some stuff

through their paces.

Here's some reviews on items used......some good, some not so good!

Product Field Review - Helios Spey Fly Rod 1368-4 Tip Flex

Helios Spey Fly Rod 1368-4 Tip Flex

I'll likely get into trouble for saying this but after a long period of Orvis being somewhat inept at designing and building a Spey rod, I was a little hesitant to get too excited about the new Helios Spey Rods. 

I got my hands on the 13' 6" 8 weight 4 piece late this summer and used it during a Spey Casting Clinic. I was quickly impressed with this rod and decided to use one for my fall steelhead trip. I fished it for 3 weeks straight this past October/November with the intent of finding anything I didn't like about the rod.....I couldn't find anything I didn't like!

The first thing you will likely notice about this rod is it incredibly light, like all of the other rods in the Helios line. I had been using a TCX 12' 6" 7 weight for most of my steelheading as it was so light and a pleasure to cast. The Helios is certainly as light, maybe lighter in the hand.

Like a lot of the Helios rods, the 1368-4 is very easy to cast, very forgiving, but has a quick, powerful feel. This rod will not only please the beginning spey caster, but also the advanced. It has very nice feel when casting short (only a Skagit head out the tip) as well as the jam to throw long casts.

Butt and blank strength checked out all good with lots of power for fighting fish. The blanks seem to be sound as a couple of very nasty sections of overhanging alders led to a few pretty good whacks on the blank when not paying attention. Other rods would have likely broken, either immediately, or on the next fish. The Helios held up just fine.

The 1368-4 will cast a dry line with finesse, as well as handle tips out to 18 feet of T17. I made sure I tried it and it handle even the heavy tips with no problem. Other light rods I have tired tend to power out when you start getting heavier than 12-15 feet of T14. Not this rod!

Fittings (reel seat, guides, etc.) are, like all Helios rods, absolutely stunning. Stripping guides are high quality, with all other guides being recoil style. The reel seat style is akin to all of the Helios saltwater rods and the reversed locking style is different but easy to use and works just fine. The one thing I would comment on is the secondary lock ring sometimes loosens a little, but the primary stays right where it's supposed to.

I fished a Rio Skagit Flight 525 grain on the rod, which seemed perfect but of course everyone has different preferences. For dry line/light tip use, I would recommend the Rio Scandi Short around 500 grain.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

A product you should probably have

Thought we'd share with you one of the products that may have snuck under your radar, but one that is definitely worth owning (and they're less then $6). It's one of those 'why the hell did no one do this before!?'

The Shark-Tooth Spool Management System is one of my new personal favorites. They have a built in razor blade to cut your tippet, without having to pull out the nippers, or chip a tooth (been there, done that). They also stop the inevitable unrolling of your spool, while still leaving a tag end to grab onto. A must have for all maxima spools...

They're completely reusable, and fit pretty well all standard spools. Come check em out

Product Review- Sol Patrol Shirt, Houdini Jacket

 

 The Patagonia Sol Patrol Shirt was a bit of a shocker for us when it arrived late this week. 

It offers all the features we wanted in a high tech shirt for a significantly lower price.

Its lightweight, quickdry, has a lot of venting and a UPF rating of 30 but only costs $90!

If your planning a trip to somewhere warm or just want a new fishing shirt, this one offers the technical advantage and comfort for less bucks.

 

The Houdini Jacket rocks our socks too! Its insanely light and packs down into its own pocket and fits into my palm. The DWR coating makes this jacket highly water resistant while being completely breathable. It is prefect for anglers that want emergency rain gear without the weight or space or as a flats jacket!

Product Review- Rio Gallegos Wader

These new waders are flying off the shelves and for good reason!
Winner of the "Best New Clothing" Award at the 2010 European Tackle Trade Show.

The 3 layer H2No fabric with a Deluge DWR finish is light, very breathable, waterproof (thank goodness) while being highly durable and puncture resistant. The inside seams have been moved outwards and reinforced with a abrasion resistant tape to prevent excess wear from seams rubbing together.

  

I'm really looking forward to the removable neoprene pads on the inside of the knees. No more sore or bruised knees from kneeling down!

 

The suspender system is attached at the waist rather than the chest allowing you to wear them as either a chest wader or waist wader with a quick, simple conversion. The wader also features a highly water resistant pocket on the inside of the chest ensuring your cell phone stays dry while fishing even if you take a dip! An external check pocket is large enough for a fly box or spare tippets and an accessory caddy makes attaching your forceps or nippers easy and isn't intrusive or will get in the way.

 

Possibly my favorite feature on these waders is the merino wool booties which are cool in warm weather while helping warm up your toes in cold weather. The built on gravel guards have a "drain" so you don't carry water around with you.

I'm really looking forward to getting out and fishing more in these waders. Best of all? They cost only $499, not bad for top end waders. As a Patagonia product they also come with the peace of mind knowing that you have an Ironclad Guarantee, if your not happy Patagonia isn't happy!

Come on in and see them in person!

-CP Team

New 2011 Patagonia Products Just Arrived!

Rio Gallegos Waders **Award winning! (Product Review coming)

Guidewater Waders

Gunnison Gorge Wading Pant

Rock Grip Wading Boot

Riverwalker Felt Wading Boot

Sol Patrol Shirts- Awseome Flats Shirt  for a reasonable price! (Product Review coming)

SST Jacket - Classic quality, state of the art design.

New 2011 colours for Island Hopper Shirts

New 2011 colours for Nano Puff Jackets

New 2011 colours for R1 Pullovers

Several new patagonia T-Shirts

Freewheeler Max

Shelled Insulator pants-Perfect for the Steelheader!

Guidewater Pants and Shorts

 Houdini Jacket (Product Review coming)

MORE COMING IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS!

SA Buys Ross Reels

SA has announced they have an agreement to aquire Ross Reels.

New Product: Casio Pathfinder

Casio Pathfinder 1500 Tide Watch
A watch designed for the angler and adventure man.

• Tri-band radio receives signals from three major atomic clocks around the world - to ensure watch keeps perfect time.
• Solar cell recharges battery with most any light - never needs a new battery.
• Tide chart
• Moon phase
• World time
• Alarm, Chronograph, Timer,
• Thermometer
• Compass
• Altimeter (with memory)
• Barometer (with memory)
• 200 Meters of Water Resistance

What else could you ask for??
Check out this review to read more about the Casio PAW1500

Now in stock at CP $395

How to make the most out of your waders

Breathable wader; they were a god send in the eighties. Anglers looking for an escape from heat exhaustion flocked to fly shops to get a look at these new "cool" waders and would pay an arm and a leg for them.
Now an angler can pick up a pair of breathables for a reasonable price, they are the only choice for most anglers. The perks? Cooler in hot weather, lighter and more comfortable. How? Breathable membrane cloth that allows water vapor (sweat) to exit but prevents liquid water from entering (unless from over top!!!).

But to get the most out of these magnificent creations you need to wear the right stuff under them.

HOT weather:
Lets face it, sometimes we need to wear waders in hot weather. Right now is a perfect example, for those of us with feeling in our feet, the water temp in pretty cold but the air temp can reach 30 degrees. A bit of a conundrum, freeze in the water and scorch in the sun. Wearing the right layers under those waders will help keep you cool in the heat while giving you the protection from the chilly water.
A single, light weight, wicking layer will allow sweat to move from the skin to the wader and be removed from the wader. We like the Simms Rivertek Bottom.COLD weather:
In cold weather, layering multiple layers of varying thicknesses (all have to be wicking) will give you warmth while still maintaining "breathability".
We like to start with a next to skin light layer that will quickly remove sweat from the skin like the Simms Rivertek Bottom. Next, a heavy layer like the Simms Guide Fleece Bottom will provide warmth while still wicking moisture away. If the weather is extremely cold, additional layers can be added like a mid weight layer in between the light and heavy layers. Just make sure that all the bulky layers won`t exceed the size limitations of your waders.


Keep in mind, the same layering techniques can be used for your upper layers as well but sun protection (UPF) should also be incorporated into the fabric.

Speaking of which, make sure you have the sunscreen on today!!!

Staff Product Picks

Here's Marks favourite 2009 product pick and his upcoming 2010 product pick!
Also check out Brent and Caitlin's favourites

"Last spring Maui Jim introduced a new line of “Readers” sunglasses. These glasses have all the best features of MJ sunglasses along with the convenience of a bifocal area. In the last few years I have been having problems tying on small flies and even losing a few trout because of sloppy knots. Now that I have a pair of Readers all it takes is a simple glance at the bottom of the lens to tie on the smallest of flies or to make sure that the barb is pinch down properly. Currently I have 4 pairs of polarized sunglasses in my kit bag but the only pair getting used are the MJ Readers.

New from Orvis for 2010 is the Hydros fly rod. The Hydros uses the same blank technology as the Helios rod but with less expensive fittings and rod tube in order to produce a light weight rod thats also light on the pocket. I might just have to replace my old worn out 7wt streamer rod with an Orvis Hydros. "

Staff Product Picks

Over the next couple weeks each staff member will be posting their favourite product from 2009 and a 2010 product that they are excited to try out.

To start here's Caitlin's Product Picks

"During the 2009 fishing season my favourite all around product turned out to be the Simms Guide Top. As fellow Albertan’s, you all know our variable weather can make fishing apparel decisions quite difficult. Our springs and falls can either be -15 or above +15 and the summers have nearly the same range. It comes down the simple fact that we need to be prepared for anything including but certainly not limited to: rain, shine, wind, hail and snow. The Guide Fleece offers an extremely comfortable and soft fleece interior for warmth and a durable exterior that wicks.

My favourite features about this top are the dropped tail which keeps my lower back warm and the seaming across the shoulders that prevents fabric “scrunching.” A half zipper with a fleece flap over the top of the zipper prevents chin rash and a small chest pocket to throw my camera into. I took this top everywhere, from the Bow to K-country, all the way to northern BC in November. I only wish Simms made them in women’s sizes!
In this upcoming 2010 season I am really excited to try the new Sharkskin Streamer Express. A line designed for shooting streamers, “throwing the big boys!” A review will be up in the New Year once it gets some testing. "