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It's Football Season

9/30/2013

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Every September the leaves start to change, there is a nip in the air and Football season starts. I love the start of Football season. We have waited all summer to see what will be new this season. We have watched the internet, studied charts and looked at trends of years past. We have planned weekends to be in our favorite places at the most productive times. We even have made food and packed coolers for the long days abroad. Yes, I love Football season and everything that goes along with it. Oh wait a minute. Did you think I was talking about college or the NFL? Not at all. For me this time of year is when the Brown Trout start their yearly ritual to pack on as many pounds as possible before the long winter. During this time a healthy Brown can be two thirds as wide as it is long causing them to resemble the shape of the oblong pigskin that has been kicked around the "Frozen Tundra" for years. This time of year can only mean one thing...Streamers, Streamers, and Streamers! Some people may frown upon using Streamers for Trout opting to watch a dry disappear from the surface as a fish sucks it down or the subtle tick of an indicator moving as a Trout takes the dropper of a Nymph rig.  These are all fun and exciting ways to fish. Few things however compare to the jolt of lightning you feel in the rod handle as a big ole nasty, aggressive Brown streaks across the river to attack the helpless little bait fish that is on the end of your tippet. This is a fun and exciting way to fish and we have a solid 2 months to take advantage of this before the fish go into winter patterns when we start to drift tiny #22 Midge patterns. Now is the time to give em the groceries! 


I like a 5 or 6 weight rod for most of our local rivers. It is not uncommon for me to have a sink tip ranging from 2 to 6 feet and for this reason I usually prefer the 6 weight. Trust me if you will be throwing 2 to 4 inch bait fish patterns with a sink tip all day you will be glad you opted for the 6 weight. Sometimes a floating line with a lightly weighted fly is the ticket and a 7.5 foot 3 or 4X leader is perfect. If you are in deeper / faster water and a sink tip is necessary, 3 feet of straight 3 or 4x tippet is fine. A typical down and across presentation usually works well. Use your mending skills to swim and sink the fly into would-be fish holding spots. As I work my way through a run I will let the fly swing through the first time. If I get no action I will swing through the same spot and impart a little action to the fly using the rod tip or my line hand. If I still get no action I will swing through again and this time use a full on jerk strip trying to elicit the predatory response (you are trying to piss the fish off so much that they can't stand not to eat your fly).  Take note of the first fish you catch each day.  What were you doing when he ate? What type of strip did you use, was the fly deep in the water column or shallow, did he hit it aggressively or just tap it? Go to school on the first fish you catch and try to repeat that presentation as closely as possible.  After a few outings and several fish you will get the hang of it. 


As far as patterns go I personally am fond of Sculpin patterns. The "Headbanger" series from Rich Strolis has been getting a lot of attention from me recently. Kelly Galloup has some great streamer patterns on his new DVD "Streamers on Steroids" (in stock now) that were designed specifically for big Trout and his Zoo Cougar pattern is possibly my all time favorite streamer. Muddlers, Buck tails  and Buggers all have their place within this type of fishing. The Shenks minnow in white has been getting a lot of play on our local river, the White Clay and don't forget about Crayfish patterns. Crayfish patterns swung around rocks right before dark can be just the ticket when that big ole Brownie decides to strap on the feed bag and fill his belly. 


Regardless of your river, gear or pattern selection, give this streamer fishing a try these next two months. Once you feel the bolt of lightning you will be glad you did. 


                                                                                                                                        Tight lines...
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Umpqua's new series of packs and bags.

9/25/2013

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Well known for their great products the new line of packs and bags from Umpqua are no exception. These are some of the most innovative products I have seen in quite some time. Feature packed and attractively priced it is no wonder we have sold through once and I am using two of these bags personally. Read on to get all of the details of this great new line.  



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The Ledges 500 is an essential fly-fishing pack. Its suspended back panel provides all-day comfort, support and ventilation, and makes it unlike any other waist pack on the market. This, combined with a unique, high-wear tool sheath, barbless fly rigging station, load adjusters, weather-proof pocket and much more, makes it the most functional and user-friendly waist-pack on the market. It also integrates with the Surveyor 1100 Backpack, making it ideal for any backcountry fishing adventures.

Features
• Suspended back panel with aluminum stay provides all-day comfort, support and ventilation and easy rotation around your waist regardless of load
• Load adjusters for personalized fit and positioning
• Hemostat grab-tabs/retractor-stations with retainers to minimize snagging and swinging
• Barbless fly-rigging work station
• Two external tippet pockets
• High-wear tarpaulin tool sheath
• Weather-proof pocket
• Quick access, one-hand zipper operation
• Rain jacket straps
• Two low profile water bottle holders with cord retainer
• Removable shoulder strap with “floating” pad
• D-rings for net attachment
• “Sticky” micro-textured zipper pulls
• Internal key clip
• Integrates with Surveyor 1100 backpack
• Corrosion resistant, snag-free YKK zippers

Dimensions [w] 11 in. [h] 8 in. [d] 8 in.
Volume 500 cubic in.
Weight 25 oz.
Colors Slate Gray and Moss Green


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The Ledges 650 is the ultimate large fishing waist-pack. At over 650 cubic inches it will comfortably carry loads like no other on the market. The suspended back panel provides all-day comfort, support, and ventilation, giving you the confidence to carry enough fly boxes to make your buddies green with envy. This, combined with a unique, high-wear tool sheath, barbless fly rigging station, load adjusters, weather-proof pocket and much more, make it the most functional and user-friendly waist-pack on the market. Also integrates with the Surveyor 1100 Backpack for any backcountry fishing adventures.

Features 
• Suspended back panel with aluminum stay (provides all-day comfort, support and ventilation and easy rotation around your waist regardless of load)
• Load adjusters for personalized fit and positioning
• Hemostat grab-tabs/retractor-stations with retainers
• Barbless fly-rigging work station
• Two external tippet pockets
• High-wear tarpaulin tool sheath
• Weather-proof pocket
• Quick access, one-hand zipper operation
• Rain jacket straps
• Two low profile water bottle holders with cord retainer
• Removable shoulder strap with “floating” pad
• D-rings for net attachment
• “Sticky” micro-textured zipper pulls
• Internal key clip
• Integrates with Surveyor 1100 backpack
• Corrosion resistant, snag-free YKK zippers
• Waist belt pockets for easy access to floatant, snacks, etc.
• Additional middle pocket adds capacity for two medium UPG fly boxes

Dimensions [w] 11 in. [h] 8 in. [d] 10 in.
Volume 650 cubic in.
Weight 28 oz.
Colors Slate Gray and Moss Green


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Most chest-pack fishermen are used to making sacrifices so they can wade deep. They either have a strap that digs into their neck or a pack that sticks out so far on their chest they can’t safely see their way down a steep bank. On the Overlook 500, we eliminated the typical chest-pack neck strap and replaced it with full load-bearing shoulder straps for serious, all-day comfort. We gave it a roomy 500 cubic inches of storage while maintaining a low, tapered profile that makes for unhindered casting and outstanding visibility while rock hopping. Also integrates with the Surveyor 1100 Backpack for any backcountry fishing adventures.

Features
• Fully cushioned shoulder-straps for all-day comfort
• Hemostat grab-tabs/retractor-stations with retainers to minimize snagging and swinging
• Two external tippet pockets
• Weather-proof pocket
• Quick access, one-hand zipper operation
• Low, tapered profile
• Back mesh pocket
• Internal key clip
• Dual molded barbless fly stations
• Integrates with Surveyor 1100 backpack
• Corrosion resistant, snag-free zippers
• “Sticky” micro-textured zipper pulls

Dimensions [w] 12 in. [h] 8 in. [d] 5 in.
Volume 500 cubic in.
Weight 19 oz.
Colors Slate Gray and Moss Green


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The Surveyor 1100 is not your typical “fly-fishing” backpack. With an aluminum stay-supported suspended back-panel for proper suspension and ventilation, it features a removable, internal padded laptop compartment, a hide-away dual rod sling and hydration compatibility. To make your backcountry adventures easier, it conveniently integrates with the Ledges Waist Packs and Overlook Chest Pack.

Features
• Suspended back panel with aluminum stay provides all-day comfort, support and ventilation
• Hide-away dual rod sling
• Removable, interior padded laptop compartment
• Hydration compatible
• Side compression to adjust load
• Two low profile dual water bottle holders with cord retainers
• Integrates with the Ledges 500 and 650 waist-packs and the Overlook 500 chest-pack
• Corrosion resistant, snag-free zippers

Dimensions [w] 12 in. [h] 18 in. [d] 10 in.
Volume 1100 cubic in.
Weight 40 oz.
Colors Slate Gray and Moss Green



All of the products viewed above are in stock now. If you are in the market for a new chest pack or  sling bag you have to check out the Overlook, Ledges and Surveyor bags from Umpqua. You will be glad you did. 
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Light Spey for Local waters

9/21/2013

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 I will bet as soon as I say Spey cast most people think of a some guy standing in a huge river with a 14 to 16’ rod throwing insanely long casts with a long (sometimes 80’) bellied line. While this is one of the disciplines of Spey casting, there are many others. Now, instead of saying Spey cast what if I told you I could show you a casting system you could use in most of our local waters that has several benefits to you, the fisherman. I’ll bet that got your attention. It is true. With the introduction of new, lighter weight, rods and matched weight heads light Spey casting is now right at home on many of our local rivers like the White Clay or the Brandywine. There are many advantages to this type of casting. Some of these casting styles, particularly Skagit casting were developed right here in the good ole’ USA. With this type of casting you can throw quite a long cast with minimal effort, much less effort than a single hand rod of the same weight throwing the same distance. Less effort means less fatigue at the end of a long fishing day. Less wear and tear on your body can possibly eliminate the shoulder and elbow issues that are sometimes common in fly fishing. Longer casts mean you can cover more water without the need to wade through as much water. The less you have to wade the odds go way down that you could sustain an injury from a fall. These are all good things to consider as we move further and further down the road of our fly fishing careers.  
Not so local, but here Terry is on the beach in Sanabel Island throwing underhanded casts form the beach. This technique can be put to use right here in our area. 
Here I am on the Brandywine throwing a C Spey cast. This is about a 70' cast with a 4"long weighted Crayfish fly and a sink tip with 5 feet of T-8. This cast would be a tall order with a single hand 6 weight. 


In the past there has been a lot of “smoke and mirrors” involved with Spey casting. Well, not anymore. With the popularity of the sport growing by leaps and bounds there is a wealth of knowledge available to the novice Spey caster. Gone are the days of buying two or three heads per rod to try and find the sweet spot. The new Rio Mega Kits (which we have in stock) allow us to "try before you buy" and we can match the perfect head to your rod and type of casting. Be it Skagit Flight, Scandi Short, or the new Skagit Max Short we have the kits in house.  
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One of the four Rio Mega Kits we have in house
Novels have been written on the different casting styles that are full of instructional information. Countless DVD’s are available with topics ranging from casting instruction to fly design. The Skagitmaster series of DVD's are some of the best on the subject. We have all 4 in stock now. 
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With the benefits of Spey casting so great if you are interested you owe it to yourself to give it a try. With careful selection we can put together a quality Spey set-up for quite an attractive price with running lines and heads matched to your rod. Stop in and check out all that is available in the world of Spey casing. Hopefully we will see some of you swinging wets on our local Trout rivers next year.  


The shop will be hosting the first annual “Marblehead Spey Clave” on Saturday September 28th starting at 10:00 am. This dual spot event will take place at the shop as well as on the river. A day dedicated to all things Spey. For more information go to www.amarbleheadflyfisher.com  or click here
 

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Hopefully you can make it out on the 28th. We look forward to seeing you there. 
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Loading the shop up for the Spey Clave

9/8/2013

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Well, orders are rolling in at a feverish pace and the shop will be well stocked for the Marblehead Spey Clave on the 28th of September. Lots of new stuff from Sage and Rio came in this week including the much anticipated new rods from Sage; the Method and Motive. Tons of new stuff from Rio is in also. Check out the new inventory...
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You didn't become an expert caster just to say you did. And you didn't do it overnight, either. You practiced, fished hard, and got better because you wanted to catch more fish, more often. You paid your dues, and you met the fish on their own terms, which meant getting the fly out to places they felt the safest: out of the range of merely average casts. Fast action rods have always been a part of your success, and the new METHOD gives you more of what you love most. Like our fastest line speeds to punch through the wind and to carry the biggest, bulkiest, heaviest flies in your box out to where they can strut their stuff. 

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We asked ourselves what many of the most hardcore fly fishers who take on big anadromous fish and powerful saltwater species want in a fly reel. The answer, like our innovative solution, was simple: more control. You wanted to add extra fingertip or palm pressure to actively engage the fish, so we looked at existing reel designs and decided to open things up a bit. Literally. Featuring a unique modified full frame with exposed dual palming rim, the EVOKE lets you add fingertip or palm pressure from either side of the reel as you feel exactly how much it will take to turn that fish. But it’s not all up to you; the EVOKE utilizes the same proven fish-stopping carbon drag design as our 6000 series, with an intuitive drag knob with detents from 1 to 39 so you have twice the finesse when tuning-in desired drag resistance. Stainless steel dowel pins give the reel its staunch rigidity, and also help form a full frame line guard that eliminates any errant line mishaps. Plus, the pins help your fingers to index the exposed palming area for applying added pressure without taking your eyes of the fish. This one looks different, fights different, and is sure to be the difference maker during your next brawl.

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Sage's all-new MOTIVE saltwater rods are ideal for seasoned saltwater fans looking to complement their rod arsenal, and fly fishers new to the salt who want to experience the many hard-fighting species without breaking the bank. Constructed of time-proven materials and embodying Sage’s immense saltwater experience, the MOTIVE features a powerful but smooth fast action that loads quickly to deliver heavy saltwater flies with the accuracy the sport demands. Light and responsive, you feel connected to your line for ultimate control over a full day of enjoyable casting. Yep, it’s safe to say the salt has attracted another convert.

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The new Large Tech Pack
Large capacity waist pack is perfect for carrying a large assortment of your fishing gear. With welded construction, waterproof material and a submergible cargo area, the Technical Large Waist Pack ensures that your equipment will stay dry and safe. Padded shoulder straps make for a comfortable journey, while various retractor docks allow you to easily see and organize your accessories. Dimensions measure: 14" x 8" x 8" / 357 x 203 x 203 mm. Capacity: 671 cu in / 11L.

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The new Small Tech Pack
Featuring padded shoulder straps for extra comfort, the small Technical Waist Pack is a great choice for a long day of fishing. A concealed tool sheath, welded construction and zipper closure ensure that your valuables stay safe and secure, no matter the elements. Dimensions measure: 13" x 6" x 7.5" / 330 x 152 x 190 mm. Capacity: 336 cu in / 5.5L. 

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The new Ballistic rod tubes will protect your rods and your trip!

Ballistic. As in veritably bullet-proof. For travel or storage, these all-new rod tubes & cases have been upgraded in form, function and fashion. Dressed in an elegant black ballistic nylon with an embroidered platinum Sage logo. Matching black piping adds durability and appeal. We have Singles, Doubles and Bulk tubes in stock now. 

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  • RIO's Spey swivel attaches (via loop-to-loop connections) between the shooting line and shooting head and eliminates twists and kinks often caused by spey casting 
  • 3 per pack
  • Bright orange for visibility

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    The Max Short is an exceptionally easy casting Skagit style shooting head that is ideal for short Spey rods, Switch rods and single-handed rods. The head will cast big flies, and the heaviest sinking tips with the utmost of ease. The head is built on RIO’s ultra-low stretch ConnectCore for the utmost in casting control and sensitivity, and has a highly visible orange section loop for easy recognition. It is available in a multitude of lengths and weights to cover all rod and angling situations. 
  • Ultra-low stretch core for the best in casting and fishing sensitivity 
  • Easy loading design 
  • Printed ID system on the rear of the head for quick recognition 
  • High viz rear loop. 
  • Shooting lines sizes: 
  • 200 to 400 gr - 0.024”/0.026” shooting line, or 25lb SlickShooter/GripShooter. 
  • 400 to 550 gr - 0.030”/0.032” shooting line, or 35lb SlickShooter/GripShooter. 
  • 550 to 675 gr - 0.035”/0.037” shooting line, or 44lb SlickShooter/GripShooter.

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    RIO’s new ConnectCore, shooting line is the very best coated shooting line on the market with tremendous assets for the Spey fly fisher. Built on RIO’s ConnectCore the shooting line has virtually no stretch, allowing anglers to stay perfectly in touch with their fly throughout the swing and feel every slight touch. A thicker diameter handling section prolongs the life of the line and ensures it is very easy to grip the line in cold conditions, while the highly visible front section makes it very easy to see when to stop stripping and make the cast. The unique core also ensures the most perfect coils of line when stripping in – resulting in far few tangles and snarls. A neat 8” welded loop at the front end allows for fast and efficient head changes, while the super slick XS Technology coating floats high and shoots far. 

  • Ultra-low stretch ConnectCore allows anglers to feel every single touch 
  • Thick, highly visible handling section for durability and visibility 
  • Unbelievable no-tangle casting performance

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    Our revolutionary RIO Perception floating trout line helps anglers connect with more fish than ever before. Built with ultra-low stretch ConnectCore Technology, Perception lines provide groundbreaking levels of sensitivity for intuitively better cast timing, easier line lift and sharp, precise mends. Lack of stretch also means enhanced detection of subtle takes and faster reaction time when setting the hook. Our exclusive SureFire color system (RIO’s uniquetri-color distance measure) improves casting accuracy by making it easy to gauge exact distances with a quick glance. 
  • Unique three-color SureFire system ensures deadly accurate distance control
  • ConnectCore improves casting timing, hook set and mending
  • EasyID tag to quickly identify fly line
  • Winner of best New Fly Line for 2014 at EFTTEX and IFTD shows

All of these items are in stock and ready to sell now. Please feel free to stop in and take a look all that is new in the world of Spey and light Spey casting and fishing. We look forward to seeing you in the shop and hopefully you can make it out to the Spey Clave on the 28th. 
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