Minutes on the Caney Fork

I only had about 30 minutes to stop by the Caney Fork on the way to Nashville yesterday, but I was happy I stopped. This was my first time fishing the Caney, and I will no doubt be back in the near future.  I missed a lot of fish, but did manage to leave with the smell of brown trout on my hands! 

Fly Rod Reviews

If you are in the market for a new fly rod, there are quite a few resources available.  Of course, there is no substitute for trying a rod before purchasing, but I came across an informative website that attempted to somewhat objectively rate fly rods:
8 weight shootout (2011)
5 weight shootout (2011)
5 weight shootout (2007)

Top American Made Fly Reel Makers

The following is a non-inclusive list of American Made Fly Reels that seem to be worthy of serious consideration:  Aspen; Galvan; Hatch; Nautilus; Tibor; Ross; Bauer; Lamson;  Abel.   Some makers have low-end reels that are made overseas, but premium reels made in the USA.  It seems that most if not all of the Orvis and Hardy reels are now made overseas instead of in the USA or England.  I'm sure there are other American fly reel makers, but the above represent a few that I've researched over the last few weeks.

Aspen Fly Reels

We don't make any money on this website/blog.  There are no commercials/no advertising, just a couple of guys posting fishing reports and occasionally, random thoughts on fly fishing.  Lately, I've been looking at fly rods and reels, considering an upgrade and/or addition to my existing arsenal.  Obviously, fly fishing is a financial vice in many regards.  Of course, in the most basic sense, fly fishing shouldn't be expensive.  I started with a $100 package that included everything I needed to fly fish, and honestly, the ability to catch fish doesn't really have any correlation with the gear used, at least for the most part.  A $1000 fly rod will not necessarily result in more fish than a $50 fly rod.  That being said, higher quality fly fishing products can enhance the experience in a number of tangible and intangible ways.  For example, a good set of waders will cost more money, but they may last much longer, keep you warmer, keep you cooler, and keep you drier than a cheap set of waders.  Similarly, a good pair of wading boots might help keep the angler on his/her feet or get to less accessible areas of a river/creek.  In a nutshell, a Ford Pinto and a Lexus will both theoretically get you from point A to point B, but the manner in which you get to and from those points is quite different, assuming the gas tank doesn't explode.  All of above is a long-winded way to introduce a fly reel company I keep encountering during my searches for a new reel.  I haven't pulled the trigger yet, but I invite anyone that is interested in purchasing what appears to be a high quality affordable reel to have a close look at Aspen Reels.  I intend on purchasing one in the near future, and will post a report if I do so.  In the meantime, check it out:  Aspen Reels