Articles

Big Sky Country is Closer Than You Think

by Tom Buterbaugh - Friday, Mar 9th, 2012

Big Sky Country is Closer Than You Thnk

We have some great trout fishing here in the East; there is no doubt about that. However, once you spend some time trout fishing in Montana, it changes everything. However, I am consistently surprised by the number of fly fishermen that we talk to in our travels that say something like, “man, I’d like to fish Montana some year." Well, that year can be now. You're not getting any younger and anything can happen in life.

Like all trips, a fishing trip out west takes time and costs money. However, it is time and money well spent. Unfortunately, many people are wrongfully under the impression that the only way they can fish out west to go the guide + lodge route, complete with $3,000 price tag. This is not true. Others may be concerned about the skills needed to catch trout out west. If you catch trout in Pennsylvania and other Eastern states then you have more than enough skills to get it done out west, without doubt.

The biggest hurdle (and cost) to a trip to Big Sky Country is usually simply getting yourself there.

Drugs and fly fishing: Casting to big bonefish

by Chris Goldmark - Thursday, Mar 1st, 2012

For Annie, being in a high-risk demographic for glaucoma has its perks.

To get some background on where this is coming from, let alone where it is going, let's look a typical angler. Let's call our angler "Alfredo". Alfredo has a good cast, fairly tight, good rod position and better than average line management. Turn overs are decent and he has opposite side presentation ability. A dream of a client, really. That is, until you put Alfredo in front of a double digit bonefish tailing at 35 feet. Behold the transformation of our formally competent caster at the mere sight of a fish.

Simms to Sell Direct to Consumers: Who Benefits?

by George C Costa - Monday, Feb 27th, 2012

Will customers still venture in to their local shop for Simms products?

Last week, when Simms announced that it would begin selling direct to customers as well as placing stricter regulations on how existing retailers can sell Simms products online, it came as a surprise to much of the fly-fishing community. In an era where the fly fishing industry as a whole is said to be shrinking and local fly shops are disappearing from towns all across America on what often feels like a weekly basis, both shop owners and the customers that support them are understandably sensitive to issues such as this one.

As a result, Simms' decision has caused quite a stir. Many have taken flight to online forums to lambaste Simms for turning its back on the very shop owners whose dedication and loyalty were integral to building the Simms brand that exists today. Others have defended the move as inevitable and one destined to build a stronger Simms for the future.

In an interview with Kirk Deeter of Angling Trade, Simms CEO K.C. Walsh explained that Simms would begin selling direct to customers in August and that the company would also no longer allow its vendors to sell Simms products on eBay and Amazon. Simms believes that these decisions will ultimately support the specialty shop by growing the brand and leveling an unfair playing field created by online dealers that offer unauthorized discounts on Simms products.

In the interview, Walsh emphasized that “specialty matters most” to Simms and indicated that Simms plans to continue to focus on the companies and individuals with which they have spent years building relationships by prioritizing inventory for their authorized retailers (over Simms direct sales) and by providing support to maintain the quality and consistency in the Simms products most of us own or covet. After all, you know you're just dying to drop $700 on the G4's.

Photo Contest: $1200+ in Prizes, 1 Week Remaining

by Colin K. Breck - Wednesday, Feb 22nd, 2012

Maui Jim Guy Harvey Collection Sunglasses

It's not that we haven't spent enough time and effort promoting our fishing photo contest. Those of you who read the site regularly probably wish we'd just can it already. It's not that we haven't gotten lots of great entries from which we're eager to select the winners. We're just being greedy.

That said, we're putting you all officially on notice. There's now one week left to get your best photos from this past year entered in our Maui Jim Guy Harvey Sunglasses photo contest. Four pairs of these limited edition Maui Jim sunglasses featuring the artwork of renowned artist Guy Harvey, valued at $299 each, are up for grabs. We've also got some Maui Jim apparel slated for several winners as well. Last but not least, the grand prize winner will have their photo featured in the header of the Hatch Magazine web site, which surely has everyone chomping at the bit.

Review: Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (Full Zip)

by Chad Shmukler - Friday, Feb 17th, 2012

Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket

One of the challenges of staying warm during winter fishing is doing so without adding bulk. Big, bulky clothing can certainly keep you warm but it can get in the way of casting and, more importantly, can be a real drag trying to cram into properly fitted waders. The alternative for many is to wear winter outer layers on top of waders, which defeats the purpose of anything more than waist-high waders. The answer is highly compressible winter outer layers that provide the warmth, water resistance and wind protection that spending a winter day on the water demands. In an effort to find potential candidates, we reviewed a series of winter outer layers designed to be low-bulk and provide serious protection from the elements. One of the standouts was Patagonia's Nano Puff jacket.

As tested, the Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket in Forge Grey.

The Patagonia Nano Puff is the synthetic counterpart to Patagonia's Down Jacket, both highly compressible winter jackets designed to be used as the middle or outermost component of a layered clothing system. Though both jackets still work very well without a sophisticated set of under-layers, it's important to realize that the key to successful temperature management during winter activities is layering. Wicking base layers (leave your cotton garments at home), combined with the proper mid and/or outer layers allow today's technical clothing to manage moisture and temperature the way they were designed to.