2009 Abel Borski Redfish

Don Swanson the President of Abel shows off two new reels for 2009.
The Super Series Quick Change Reel and a gorgeous Borski Redfish.

The Super series Quick Change

New for 2009, Large Arbor, cork drag system with quick change spool. 3 Sizes.

Years of testing and engineering have produced the Super Series Quick Change (QC) reel. Simply back off the drag knob, push in and rotate the center cap for quickest spool release in the industry.

The first of three sizes of the QC – for 7/8 lines – will be out this spring, while the 9/10 and 11/12’s are due in October.
Specs:
Super Series QC models utilize cold finished aerospace grade aluminum for the spool and frame.
Hi-Grade C64299 Silicon Aluminum Bronze drive system.
Buna sealed micro-bearings are ISO 9001:200 and AS9100 certified FAA TSO C149 aircraft bearings.
Cork Drag System is made entirely in our factory. We use a superior high grade cork with a little neats-foot oil on it.
Double Pawl System; Advantages over single pawl system include: increased reliability, back-up strength and unique sound.
Quick change spool.
Made in the USA.

Limited Edition Borski Redfish

Great looking reel! it is a super 7 large arbor reel with a price tag of about 2000 USD. I hear they have completely sold out on the limited edition run of 50. The first one went to Tim Borski and the second to the Bonefish and Tarpon unlimited conservation organization. I want one they are fantastic pieces of art.

Review of the two new Sage Bass fly fishing rods. Really in the Sage Bass series they offer 3 rods currently. A 230 Grain “bluegill”, 290 Grain “Smallmouth”, and a 330 Grain “Largemouth”.

Meet the Sage Bass series

All the rods in the Bass series come in a travel ready 4 piece design and 7′11″ in length. They are designed with larger flies in mind and are great for tossing into heavy closed cover. The Sage largemouth weighs in a 330 grains in weight and is touted for it’s ability to handle not only big bass but snook and tarpon. The Bass series comes with its own 330 grain matching line. For an equivalency you are probably at about a 11 weight but with its short taper provides an excellent balance. They feature a medium action and come with a protective nylon rod and reel case. So if you like throwing big poppers for even bigger fish you will want to give one a try. MSRP for the entire Bass series is 395 USD and that includes the line! Not bad at all especially with the Sage name and warranty attached.

I have heard of some complaints about this series when it comes to the reel seat build quality which is surprising. Some people are saying that it is very light and scratches easily. Some issues as well with the stripping guides have been mentioned as well but I haven’t seen any with that problem at all. is it worth the $395? Most people tend to think so and more. Personally, I don’t do enough bass specific fishing to make this purchase.

Gary Lacey is a true American craftsman. With he permission of the Wright and McGill company Gary has begun production of the third generation Grangers. From his workshop just outside Atlanta, Gary combines modern and old world techniques to produce the beautiful high quality rods that are the hallmark of the Granger name. In addition to the traditional Granger models. Gary also crafts his own line of artisan rods that are fine-tuned and customized to your exact specifications.

Granger Bamboo Fly Rod Series

Goodwin Granger had an amazing vision and set out to build a fly rod that was affordable to the fly angler, yet had incredible casting characteristics. Granger began in the early 1900’s in Denver. To this day, Granger bamboo rods are sought by collectors around the globe for casting quality. In 1955, because of the introduction of various new rod building materials, production of Granger bamboo rods stopped. Wright & McGill ended up with the remaining assets of the Granger rod building legacy.

With an exclusive agreement, Lacey & Johnson are authorized to build Granger bamboo rods once again. Their goal is aligned with the original Granger philosophy build the finest casting rod on the market with the best parts and finish for the money. These are truly some of the best split cane rod canes you can own.

The tapers are based on the original Granger’s rods and Wright & McGill rods specifications. You can ask for either the original taper, or a Wright & McGill taper. The original blanks were built with a hide glue and had reel seats made of thin nickel silver. Our new Granger blanks benefit from newer technology and the best bamboo possible. Chinese Tonkin bamboo is used that has been dried and hardened, split, planed, and finally glued with URAC 185, which is more resistant to water and mildew than hide glue, yet it retains the casting characteristics of hide glue. The beautiful color of the pre 1955 Grangers is preserved with the original ammonia vapor techniques

More features include:
Nickel silver reel seat that is much heavier gauge than original
Hardened steel guides
Traditional silk thread wrap colors and patterns
Optional agate and “agateen” stripping guides
Multiple layers of a marine grade spar varnish finish

The granger series consists of:
Granger Aristocrat
Granger Special
Granger Favorite
Granger Deluxe
Granger Registered

These amazing rods start at $1595 and range upwards to the $2500 USD mark.

The Simms Headwater chest pack keeps your tools, gadgets and fly boxes right where you want them without getting in the way of a cast. This can also be used with the front or back of the Headwaters Backpack system. Personally, I like it for its nice and light minimalist approach I can get most things I need into it quickly and access is pretty easy as well.

Features
1680 Denier Ballistic Nylon shell with a durable water repellent (DWR) finish
Utilizes ballistic fabric to offer extra abrasion resistance in high-wear areas
Internal digital camera, iPod, PDA pockets
Light grey interior lining for better visibility
Molded foam front pocket holds large fly boxes
Retractor docking station
Quick-stash stowing station houses strap system while Chest Pack is attached to backpack
Easy-pull adjustment system eliminates traditional line catcher hardware – pull, click & fish
Stowable hardware for backpack attachment
Stores 5 Liters, 300 cubic inches, 10″x6″x5″

Simms has produced a really functional chest/hip pack that hold your fly gear without impeding casting or mobility. A nice looking abrasion-resistant shell of 1,680-denier ballistic nylon that’s water-repellent. This with a molded-foam front pocket fits large fly boxes. The Retractors, looping fly patch and a quick adjustment system help get this bag out of the way for casts. The simms headwater also comes with stowable hardware for backpack attachment.

G. Loomis company profile. Some great info in his video about the company that keeps us company on the the rivers we adore.

What a beautiful rod from Tom Morgan paired with a gorgeous Janciuras reel. Some great shots in the video of both if these treasures. The video is by Outside’s Go magazine and features host Ryan Crowick. Tom Morgan is a Montana based rod smith and was one of the owners of the R.L Winston Rod Company. The Rod’s produced by Tom Morgan are in a calibre all it’s own. Each and every one is tuned to perfection before it is let loose on the river. More to come about Tom Morgan Rods…

summer 08 season in review

Flyishing during a week long vacatioon at Cape Hatteras. Friends and fishing

Some pretty unhappy people using a William Joseph bag  a product that didn’t live up to reviews after a day on the water.  Not sure what bag it is or if it is still an active line but for something that claimed it was waterproof…