Being an avid reader and book collector I’ve recently acquired two new titles from the shop. I highly recommend:

• “Fly Fishing Tailwaters” by Pat Dorsey
• “Active Nymphing” by Rich Osthoff

Not only are these books worthy of any collection, but if read and the techniques and strategies are employed on our waters, you should increase your success rates in the new season. In my opinion, these are arguably two of the best books to come out in the last 10 years. WP

Korkers has introduced it’s first fixed-sole boot with the new Predator series. The Predator combines comfort, lightness, and an easy lace up system. Available from Fish Tales in Korkers “Kling-on sole” version (similar to vibram), the Predator is a great boot option. ($185.00)

Korkers originally introduced the boa-lace system on it’s popular Guide boot series. The technology, which is the same technology used on snowboard boots, lets you ”forget about tying and retying laces, set the Boa dial and you’re ready to go.”

New to Fish Tales is the GoPro HD video camera. This waterproof, shockproof, mini video camera can be mounted on the side of a boat, bike, or worn on a head strap or helmet.

Visualize yourself sight casting to tailing bonefish or rising brown trout and being able to record what you’re seeing - hands free.  We see plenty of potential for this new unit.

This camera sells for $369 and comes with the following accessories:

• 1 suction cup mount
• 2 curved adhesive mounts
• 3 flat adhesive mounts
• 3-way pivot arm
• Cables
• Waterproof housing
• Lithium rechargeable battery

Other accessories available in-store include:

• Head strap
• Power Adaptor for USB
• Memory Card

 Come in to check it out.  

The new saltwater series from Scott received rave reviews at September’s Fly Tackle dealer show. I fished the S4S 8-wt last week at Turneffe Flats and can attest to it’s lightweight feel and easy castability. I’m not sure if it was purely the rod or my current affection for my new Tibor Riptide reel but I didn’t cast another rod while targeting bonefish in Belize.

Scott Fly Rod company based in Telluride, Colorado has this to say about their newest series of saltwater rods: “Their fast actions balance light in the hand and generate high line speed for quick spot-on presentations. With our industry leading reinforcement technology, S4s rods reduce tracking error and deliver outstanding durability so you can turn powerful fish quickly.

Each component on S4s rods was selected for ultimate performance in harsh saltwater environments. They feature stealthy low glare finishes and the best corrosion resistance available from nickel titanium Recoil snake guides, to SiC strippers housed in full titanium frames to our new machined reel seats featuring type 3 hard coat anodize finishes.”

The S4S series is available in 2 and 4 piece options. The 2-piece rods are available in 8 through 12 weight. The 4-piece rods are available in 6 through 12 weight. We have a range of 4-piece rods in stock.

Bottom line: I found this rod extremely light weight and comfortable to cast. I will choose to fish it again and again.

For you reel collector’s out there we now have two of the hatch Collector’s Reels.

• Trout Compass 5 plus
• Into the Flats 7 plus

Artwork by Lance Boen. Each of these reels is signed and number and production will not exceed 30 of each version. The reels feature a deep engraving process and come in a fine leather pouch housed in a collectable red cedar box. They offer other versions with other artwork. Check them out at www.hatchoutdoors.com/customshop.

If you would like us to order you in any of the reels other than the ones already in stock please let us know soon. These won’t last long! They must be seen to be appreciated.

I was doing laundry this morning during a much needed day off from guiding and remembered that one of my cool shirts was missing the top button — they come with a spare by the way. It’s sewn to the inside tag.  I started to think about when I’d bought the and how this was the first thing that’s gone wrong.

Well I bought it almost 3 years ago before my first trip to Cuba. Since then this shirt has been:

• to Cuba fly fishing for 8 weeks
• to Guatemala and Belize for a week
• on a fly in pike trip
• on 2 trips to Cape Breton for Atlantics

It’s also endured three seasons of guiding and lots of days in the shop for a total of  a gazillion washes…. AND it’s still fishing. I love my cool shirts and have a good collection of them now.  The sunglass pocket is great for my waterproof camera. They have huge zip down chest pockets for whatever and they save my skin from the sun.

Great product…. I guess I’ll let the button falling off thing slide. I wonder if i can make it to 5 years. Oh yeah where did I put that sewing needle???

In 2007 one of our guides brought this line of eyewear to our attention. He commented about how well he could see in these glasses. So they were on our “radar” when we headed to the Fly Fishing Retailer’s exposition in Denver that September. We were wanting to pickup a line of “cheater sunglasses” - sunglasses with built in readers - which we got with Ono’s Eyewear, but weren’t really looking for a new line of standard sunglasses. We stopped by the Kaenon booth and learned about their SR91 technology.

This technology combines scratch resistance and optics comparable to glass but it’s shatterproof like polycarbonite . By the end of the show I had purchased a pair of Kaenon Jetty’s.

In November 2007 Dave took his first Florida flats fishing trip. During that trip he received feedback from guides about the superior optics and clarity of Kaenon glasses. We placed our initial order when he got back.

Since then most Fish Tales staffers have switched to Kaenon eyewear. We’ve also sold a lot of prescription pairs. The glasses come in a range of frame styles and multiple lens colors/grades. They range in price from $280 - $330 for non-prescription. Higher with prescription.

Check them out the next time you’re in the shop….. You might be impressed with how well you’ll see in them. I know I am.

NS

A couple of years ago, a friend turned me on to a fly reel manufacturer in Sweden who in the past had produced reels for Sage and Loop. After some research, I put an order together with some friends and we purchased a few for ourselves. To say we were impressed by their performance would be an understatement. Being the innovators of large arbor technology Danielsson set the standard for large arbor design and continues to push the boundaries of fly reel performance.

Danielsson has now updated the Featherweight, Lightweight and Heavy Duty (FW, LW and HD) reels to the F3W, L5W and H5D respectively, the numbers refer to the number of drag configurations available for each reel. Mechanical updates include a new spool-retention assembly, drag knob, more aesthetically pleasing porting and most significant of all; more friction discs inside the sealed drag housing. The older reels had ample drag pressure for all kinds of fishing, now they’ll stop a truck! 

If you are fly fisher who demands the highest in performance from your gear you owe it to yourself to have a look at these reels.

In 2007 a couple of our regular customers returned from a saltwater adventure touting the benefits of these simple fabric tubes. They said it blocks the sun, cuts down on wind noise, and helps with visibility…. So we brought some in.

Since that time we’ve sold a lot of this product. Anglers buy it for the reasons outlined above. Runners buy it because it helps keep them warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. I’ve worn it during a very hot weekend when I participated in the “Weekend to End Breast Cancer.” And many of us have worn it and looked like “banditos” on various flats around the Caribbean.

The HAD is available in a number of different prints including the “grand slam,” and “trout flies,” as well as several colors of camo. At a nice price point ($19.95) a HAD makes a great gift for anyone who spends time in the great outdoors.

Korkers wading shoes with innovative interchangeable soles continue to be our most popular series of wading boots.

Available in three different styles for traditional wading use, as well as a wading sandal ($115), wading shoe ($135), and flats boot, Korkers has a shoe to meet every fishing environment.

The Korker Guide boot ($235) is by far our best-selling model of wading boot. They’re made of high quality durable leather and have protective rubber toe guards and quick-draining mono mesh panels.  The innovative boa lace technology appeals to anglers of all ages. The benefit of the Boa system is two-fold; an even tightness throughout the lace up and quick release at the end of the day. (Plus no more retying laces or dealing with shoe laces when your hands are cold.) The Guide model - as well as the two other wading shoes; Cross Current ($120) and Streamborn ($175) - comes with a felt sole and a hiker tread.

Another popular Korker option is the Ultra-Lite ($140) boot. Most Fish Tales staffers who’ve spent time on the Flats use these as their flats boot of choice. They fit a bit higher up the ankle than traditional wading boots. They are definitely light to wear and they give you the ankle support and foot protection you need when wading coral flats.