Articles

Allen Introduces Extra-Large Arbor Kraken XLA Big Game Fly Reel

by Colin K. Breck - Wednesday, Dec 11th, 2013

The new Allen Fly Fishing Kraken XLA big game reel.

After over a year of development, Allen Fly Fishing is introducing an all-new reel that extends its very popular Kraken big game reel series. The new reel, the Kraken XLA is designed to offer incredibly quick line pickup and as such comes to the table as what appears to be the largest arbor reel available relative to the line class each model is intended to hold. The largest in the new Kraken XLA series, the Kraken XLA 5, features a whopping 5.5" spool diameter.

The Kraken XLA features a brand new, carbon 6-disc sealed drag system that Allen says was strengthened and redesigned to "account for the wider range of leverage on the arbor". Allen is calling it their strongest drag system ever, and one of the best available anywhere. The new drag system is exclusive to the XLA, but a similar version will be featured in upcoming Allen reels.

Evolving Beyond the Dead Drift: Breathing Life Into Your Dry Flies

Question authority

by Chad Shmukler - Tuesday, Dec 10th, 2013

Breathing a bit of life into a tiny dark-winged caddis imitation brought this unexpected Alaskan rainbow to the surface in a hurry.

I don’t consider myself a good dry fly fisherman. Not in the least. In fact, I spend most of my time nymphing, fishing wet flies and underperforming with streamers. Part of the reason my dry fly skills aren’t what I’d like them to be is a result of the fact that I don’t get as much time on the water as I’d like during the spring and summer hatches. Despite Pennsylvania being a wonderful trout fishing state, most of the state’s best fishing is over three hours from my doorstep, and the streams and rivers that exist in between don’t present what you’d call either clockwork or blanket hatches, so hitting them with any regularity takes a considerable bit of effort.

When I do find myself on the water during a good hatch, I do okay. I’m not splashing flies down on the surface and spooking entire pools. But, I’ll easily get outfished by the dry fly aficionado that doesn’t so much as carry split shot or even have a woolly bugger in his box and who spends all year casting exclusively dries, perfecting his reach cast. And that’s fine with me.

Given the above, I’m not typically eager to criticize other fishermen’s tactics for fishing bugs on or near the surface. Yet, whether the other fishermen I observe are obvious veterans or relative beginners, I’m repeatedly struck by the one-dimensional approach the vast majority of those fishermen take when fishing their flies and hoping to entice a trout to rise from where it is holding and snatch up their offering.

Review: Women's Waders - Patagonia Spring River Waders for Women

by Aileen Lane - Monday, Dec 9th, 2013

The Spring River Wader's front pocket and a monster trout.

As finding women’s waders that fit and function the in ways that make sense for women has always been a challenge, I was very excited to learn that Patagonia was “joining the women’s wader party.” Patagonia's Mark Harbaugh, in an interview with Midcurrent, stated that these waders were designed from the ground up “by women for women.”

Unfortunately, when the time rolled around to put Patagonia’s new women’s waders to through their paces, Patagonia did not have available my size to review. However, my friend and fellow fly fisher, Rachel, was the perfect candidate for these waders. So, we both headed out, working together to test the Spring River Wader -- both in and out of the water -- to give our assessment. The following review is a compilation of our thoughts and findings.

Artist Helping to Support the Henry's Fork Foundation

by Marshall Walker - Sunday, Dec 8th, 2013

Moving Water Poster

Artist Dave Hall has released the first poster in his Moving Water series to support the efforts of The Henry's Fork Foundation.

The first poster is titled "Dawn on the Henry's Fork", and it depicts a fog-laden Henry's Fork with the caption "If you're lucky, there are places you go back to."

In an interview with MidCurrent, Hall said he chose the image because most people will never have the chance to witness Henry's Fork at dawn.

"Anyone who's walked the Henry's Fork at dawn and any number of other rivers around the country knows that scene. It's gone when the sun's up and the air warms. It's ethereal and an experience I find extraordinarily beautiful."

Umpqua Founder Dennis Black Passes Away

by Marshall Walker - Friday, Dec 6th, 2013

Dennis plying the waters of Thailand (photo: David Lambroughton).

Umpqua Feather Merchants has announced that its founder Dennis Black passed away this morning.

Black is known as a pioneer of fly fishing who revolutionized the industry by working with over 150 expert tyers to increase the production of quality, hand-tied flies. Black's efforts throughout the years helped to reduce the negative stigma associated with flies tied overseas. Part of this accomplishment was driven by Black convincing American expert tyers to allow young women to tie their designs at his factory in India. Dennis is also known for rewarding the creativity and skill of professional tyers with his own unique royalty payment system.

In over 40 years, Black has worked with expert tyers, like Dave Whitlock, Mike Lawson and Randall Kaufmann, to build five separate fly-tying factories in India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Today Umpqua Feather Merchants is known for having some of the best fishing flies constructed of the best materials on the market. Black is also a commercial tyer himself and has been credited with launching the careers of many talented amateur and professional fly tyers.