flyrodman

For part 2 of my review, I also tested some more great gear, the Sage Freshwater line and the Fishpond Blue River Chest/Lumbar pack. I will start off with the line. The Sage line was 1/2 off at Bass Pro, $40. It provided descent flotation with the first 4-5 inches of the line sinking a bit. The line unfurls wonderfully and cuts through the wind pretty well. Overall, the line is good but it's not the best. The Blue River Pack can go between a chest pack, lumbar back, and satchel. The design is nice and it has plenty of storage for a couple of small-medium fly boxes. It has a fold-down fly box/bench that has 2 big ripple foam inserts which can be replaced when worn. I wore the pack as a lumbar pack and it has lots of places to attach tippets, clippers, and hemostats to. The pack preformed great and it was well worth the investment.

I tested out the Sonic Pro's and the Redside boots out at Bennett Spring. The Sonic Pro's were bought on a pre-Christmas closeout sale from The Caddis Fly Shop, $170, a really good deal. I bought the boots at bass pro. The waders, with their sonic-welded seams, felt more like baggy wants than waders, a comfortable feeling. They haven't leaked they feel like they are built solidly and very durable. The seat is 5 layers of material compared to 3 on most of the wader, a good addition to people who sit on the bank or sitting in general. Overall, the waders are great and I would recommend them. The Korkers Redside boots, with their interchangeable soles were great too. The Redside boots have a quick lace system, not a BOA but it is good for getting in and out without having to bother with more knot tying. The soles that I wore were the sticky rubber soles. The sole interchange system is good if you need to switch soles from river to river, but I don't really go to a lot of different rivers so I bought them to go between studded and unstudded rubber. I tried out the quick change system before I went to the river and snapped one of the soles by the heel, it was my fault because I didn't really know how to take them off so I tried to pull straight down. I did not break the other sole after I watched a video on how to do it. The soles are about $30 a pair. Both of these products make a great combination and I hope they will last a couple of seasons.

Arrived at the spring at 8:20 AM and by the time I had rigged up my Dad's rod my brother already had a fish on. Miracle Flies ruled the first 30 minutes of fishing and then the wind picked up and the fishing slowed for 2 hours until a hatch started. I don't know what they were. They were small, about size 18-22 and were cream-tan in color. Can someone make a guess on what there were? Anyway, I threw midges and midge emergers at them but only 5 fish to show for an hour of fishing. The rest of the fish were caught on Miracle Flies, Soft Hackles, and some caddis nymphs I tied. I ended the day at 2:30 for a total of 17 fish. The last 4 fish were caught in the last 10 minutes by the dam on a pink Miracle Fly with a medium sized split shot 6 ft. below a thingamabobber. All in all, I had fun despite frozen fingers, howling winds, and a faulty spool of 7x Rio Powerflex.

I don't think Vasoline would actually form a lasting coating on a fly line. On the subject on Vasoline, has anyone used it to keep ice out of guides? Vegetable oil would only grease the line and I don't think it would last long on the water. Hand lotion is like sunscreen, the fish can smell it. I don't think hand lotion has flotation properties either, correct me if I'm wrong. I also pretty sure fish can smell any dressing or grease that doesn't harden over fly line.

I didn't know really what I was doing, it didn't leave a gummy, sticky residue or anything. I'm pretty sure that the line was Rio Mainstream. I went to Bass Pro today and bought some Sage Freshwater line, it's half off right now! Only $40. What's your guys opinion on agent x made by Rio? Also, I didn't know people dressed line with Pledge, I've used Pledge on my fly rod, it makes it nice and shiny and it adds a little dust resistant layer.

About 3 weeks ago I put some Scotch Guard on my fly line after researching and finding nothing against it. I went down to the pond behind my house and fished for a couple of hours, then came back and cleaned my fly line in soapy water. After I was done cleaning it, I looked at the towel I used and I found bits and pieces of fly line coating in it. I thought back to what may have caused this and I concluded it was the Scotch Guard. The line is about 6 months old and went along on 5 trout trips and many trips down to the pond. No chemicals were previously put on the line and I always washed it in soapy water. Anybody have this happen to them?

Thanks for the input.

Thanks guys, Monday looks to be a very windy day. How do you all avoid wind knots on those windy days?

I am getting ready to go on January 2nd. What flies are working and what techniques are the working the best. Thanks!

There are a few posts about what areas are public and what areas are not. I would check those out. Good luck !

Sorry if I rubbed you the wrong way. I wasn't trying to get the topic shut down either, I was just hoping the topic wouldn't go south. Thank you for the Information too!

I agree, especially picky if they are caught and released.

Freshly stocked trout do not know as much as what to eat and what not to eat. Trout that have been in the stream for a while, in my observation, take natural patterns like GRHE's and PTN's MORE OFTEN than freshly stocked trout. Not saying that all older fish exclusively eat natural patterns, but they are smarter. Especially after they have been caught. Just my 2 cents

What is your layering system for wading around the trout parks?

Hopefully other states will follow in Colorado's footsteps.

Sweet thanks for sharing!

Agreed!

Sorry for bad picture quality

I got my order of hooks from Togens Fly Shop out of Canada. Upon first impression,the hooks look great. I also tied a UV scud to go along with them. Tell me what you think.

Fly Tyer Magazine, Fly Rod and Reel, and Fly Fusion are some good ones.

So you actually get 50 yds of material per spool? How does this compare to Orvis' Mirage tippet?

I have a 5 wt TFO Signature and Redington Pursuit and I am wondering how it will balance out.

I would be one of those bass fishing converts :-) Sometimes I almost yank a fish out of the water on hook sets. Another question, have you tried feathercraft tippet ? http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=GD006

Have you had any experience with these http://www.feather-craft.com/wecs.php?store=feacraft&action=display&target=GD009 ? It would be sweet to have an extra pound of tippet protection.