Articles

New Color-Coded, Low Stretch Sink Tips from RIO

by Ben Kryzinski - Wednesday, Sep 3rd, 2014

RIO Level "T" sink tips

RIO's "ultra-low stretch" ConnectCore technology has received a lot of positive feedback since it was introduced. Put roughly, fly lines are made of a supple plastic coating wrapped around a of supple plastic core line. Supple plastic tends to stretch. And, by in large, if you're looking for quick hook sets, efficient mending and good line feel -- line stretch is bad. With its ConnectCore technology, RIO looked to solve many of these stretch-related issues by creating a line core that with considerably little stretch. Anglers have responded positively, and as a result, RIO has been introducing ConnectCore into more and more of its lines. Most recently, RIO has announced a new line of ConnectCore-based sink tips called the In Touch Level "T".

The tungsten-powder coated tips come in all the expected sink rates (T-8, T-11, T-14 and T-17). RIO says the lines are supple and kink-free, and that "because they are built on RIO’s ultra-low stretch ConnectCore, the tips are extremely sensitive to soft grabs and ensure fast, solid hook sets." The tips come in 30 foot sections with front and back welded loops. If you're really into sink tips, you can buy the new Level "T" lines in 500-foot spools, too, and cut tips to your desired lengths.

Cheeky Intros Affordable Boost Reel Series

by Ben Kryzinski - Monday, Sep 1st, 2014

The Cheeky Boost 400.

One of the standouts amongst the myriad new products on the floor at this year's IFTD show in Orlando, Florida was a new, impressively affordable reel offering from Cheeky Fly Fishing. Cheeky has long been synonymous with building high quality reels that come to market at affordable prices, but Cheeky's new Boost series takes the affordability part a step further.

Available in 3 models ranging from sizes 2 to 8, the Boost series retails for a wallet-friendly $209 to $229. Spare spools clock in at under a hundred dollars.

According to Cheeky Fly Fishing's owner, Ted Upton, the Boost series is the result of over a year of development and testing. According to Upton, "The Boost Reel Series is the culmination of a tremendous amount of hard work here at Cheeky. We wanted to design a reel with that distinct Cheeky style and performance, but at a more approachable price point for our customers.”

Review: Patagonia Women's Island Hopper Shirt and Away From Home Pant

by Jesse R. Bussard - Friday, Aug 29th, 2014

Patagonia's Women's Island Hopper Shirt.

In the world of women's fishing apparel, the choices have long been too far and few between. Recently, many manufacturers have begun paying more attention to female anglers and have started to increase their women's offerings. To date, Patagonia has done a good job staying ahead of the game, by offering a much wider variety of options for female angling apparel than many of its competitors. While a pair of pants or a shirt alone do not likely warrant an extensive review, good gear is worth a mention, especially when the options are so limited for women anglers.

Patagonia's Away From Home Pant and Island Hopper Shirt arrived at my door in late spring, in preparation for the warm days I would spend wet wading in rivers in Southwest Montana during the coming summer. Over the course of the summer they have served me well, as I have worn them in a variety of rivers across the state, trekked into the backcountry of Yellowstone National Park to fish for wild cutthroat, and donned them on many hiking jaunts area surrounding my hometown of Bozeman, Montana.

Review: Simms Headwaters Day Pack and Chest Pack

by Paul Snyder - Tuesday, Aug 26th, 2014

In the past 12 months alone, my poor 2003 Accord has been broken into four times. Four times. It wasn’t until I started doing inventory for my 2014 trip to Montana and Idaho that I discovered those bastards got away with my five year old Simms Headwaters Chest Pack. That thing had three full fly boxes in it. Son. Of. A. Bitch.

When I discovered that the 2014 Simms Headwaters Chest Pack was not compatible with my ‘legacy’ Day Pack, I decided to cop for the whole package, though not without a side eye to innovations and our good friends at Simms.

Simms company line on the combo quips, "Skip river gridlock and make haste for upstream seclusion in Simms’ most technical backpack yet. The Headwaters™ Full Day has a chasmic 1,830 cubic inches of storage accessed via a large zippered compartment. Inside, stretch mesh dividers add intuitive organization for raingear, layering options, and all destination essentials. Break out the rods and elevate your angling thanks to Catch & Release modular convenience that allows you to dock or disembark with Simms’ Chest and Hip Pack options via rock-solid magnetic attachments. Packs ride comfortably thanks to a breathable mesh back and a plush strap system, while three hardworking levels of high Denier fabric enhance durability."

Adrift on the Elk

British Columbia in summer

by Mike Sepelak - Monday, Aug 25th, 2014

British Columbia's Elk River.

“You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink.”

The wry, completely accurate observation comes from the man on the sticks behind me and I have to admit, after missing a half-dozen hooksets, that I do appear to be stubbornly equine.

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