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

Toccoa River - Trip Report

September is finally here!  I met up with Doc and we drove to Curtis Switch, arriving at about 4:30 p.m. on Friday.  Two guys were getting out of the river when we arrived, and their report was discouraging.  One guy was a professional bamboo rod maker from Portland, Oregon.  Super nice guys, and beautiful bamboo fly-rods.  We put in at the launch and started wading downstream.  I started with a size 12 wolf and a size 20 zebra midge dropper.  Doc went with a similar rig.  We both caught stream chubs at the outset, which is usually a bad sign.   After about 30 minutes, I caught a nice 12 inch brown.  We worked on down river, and I caught another.  The fishing was a little slow at the beginning, when Doc suddenly caught fire, catching a good mix of browns and bows.  I ended up with 10-12 trout, all browns.   Doc caught somewhere between 12-15, with the majority being browns. This was our best trip in a long time.  Doc had luck with a large caddis and a small cream emerger dropper.  I caught fish primarily on size 20 and 22 midges.  The Toccoa has made a remarkable comeback.

Great New Website: Gink and Gasoline

There are only a few websites I view on a regular basis when it comes to fishing.  I may have just found another:  Gink and Gasoline.  I don't know the guys that are running this site, but one is a great photographer, whose photographs adorn many of my fly fishing books.  The other is a highly respected guide.  Their website is awesome! Check it out:  Gink and Gasoline

August - a bad month for trout fishing in the South

I haven't posted a report since my trip to Alaska.  Truth be told, there has been very little fishing since that time.  I fished the Elk with Doc for about an hour one afternoon in August, catching a few fish, but the fishing was so poor that we packed it in after an hour and hit a local bar to cool off.  I went up to Gee Creek for a few minutes with my son, but other than stream chubs, trout were not to be seen.  And finally, I made another scouting trip to the Jacks with Brown Trout Zilen and my son, only to be told by the land owners located at the headwaters that the water was all private property.  Apparently, at least one of the landowners feeds the fish and considers said fish to be his pets.  That was a little frustrating.  September is now here.  Cooler temps and more rain should equal more enjoyable fishing opportunities.  First on the list is the Toccoa, hopefully tomorrow afternoon.  A trip report to follow.