April Vokey Talks Wild Steelhead Release with Andy Danylchuk
Articles
A St. Patrick’s Day Streamer
Happy St. Patrick’s day from the Fly Fusion staff. Though we recognize the many traditions used to celebrate the Irish festive day in March, just in case you want to add another to the list, here’s a recipe for Krueger’s Olive Sculp Gulp. Tie one on…your vice!
Krueger’s Olive Sculp Gulp by Chris Krueger
Hook: Daiichi 2461, #2-6
Thread: 140 denier, olive
Eyes: Pseudo Eyes, black nickel/yellow, large
Tail: MFC BuggerBou, Rickard’s sculpin olive
Outer Tail: Grizzly Mini Marabou, olive
Body: UV Polar Chenille, olive and copper
Collar: Guinea, olive
Legs: Grizzly Flutter Legs, olive
Head: Pseudo Hair, olive, barred with brown Prismacolor marker
Brian Chan Joins Fly Fusion
Fly Fusion Magazine welcomes Brian Chan as their new stillwater field editor. Starting with the summer issue, Chan will be writing a regular stillwater column. Chan comes to the magazine as one of the most recognizable lake anglers in the fly-fishing industry today. He’s written several books, been featured in numerous magazines, and appeared on a number of different TV shows. He also runs a stillwater guiding company and online stillwater store. According to Derek Bird, Fly Fusion’s founding editor, “Brain has a deep understanding of what goes on below the surface of a lake, and I’m looking forward to tapping into his years of education and experience. The more exposure the fly-fishing community has to Brian’s knowledge, the more potential exists for stillwater success.”
Reel Review: Redington Rise
Redington added a new reel to their roster this year. Machined from anodized 6061-T6 aluminum, the Rise is an extremely lightweight reel. It has a uniquely modern look and the aesthetics complement the reel’s balanced feel. Fly Fusion testers gave the reel high marks for the enclosed carbon-fiber drag system that delivers smooth stopping power accompanied by a pleasant sound (a small but significant detail for some anglers). Testers also took notice of the functional oversized drag adjustment knob and appreciated the innovative feel especially for cold climates where sticky drag adjusters present a challenge for clumsy fingers. The Rise carries a lifetime warranty and is available in sizes 3/4 through 9/10 in three colors (silver, black and amber). redington.com
Gear Review: Orvis Battenkill Disk Reel
Fly fishers today live in a very fortunate time. They have access to traditional gear, fully modernized gear and fully modern gear designed to honor traditional gear. Such is the case with Orvis’ Battenkill Disk Reel. The exterior of the reel remains true to its impressive heritage, but the interior components fully capitalize on the latest technological advancements. Fly Fusion staff tested the Battenkill III designed to match 5-7wt lines. Testers found the sealed drag system, which is based on the award-winning Hydros SL reel, both smooth and very easy to adjust. Built from aircraft aluminum, the Battenkill is lightweight and strong. Spools are easy to switch in and out with no extra parts to remove. In short, the testers thoroughly enjoyed reel. Its functional simplicity consistently impressed them. The reel is available in sizes that match 2-10wt lines and there are also two spey reels in the family. orvis.com
Gilbert Rowley Talks About the Challenges of Filming Hundred Pound Tarpon
In this week’s interview, Fly Fusion editor Derek Bird catches up with Utah based filmmaker Gilbert Rowley to chat with him about Jungle’s Edge, a film currently running in this year’s International Fly Fishing Film Festival. Gilbert talks about some of the challenges he faced while out filming hundred pound tarpon in Costa Rica. click here
Gilbert also discusses another film project he released this year, Modern Nymphing. In this instructional video he teams up with a couple Fly Fishing Team USA members as they present over an hour’s worth of nymphing secrets. click here
Reel Review: 3-Tand VIKN
A few members of the Fly Fusion team have been using 3-Tand reels over the last number of years and have been extremely impressed by them. Each of their reels has a super smooth sealed drag system with unparalleled stopping power. Not only that, the 3-Tand design team makes an extremely attractive reel. With the VIKN™ (pronounced vixen) the company takes another step forward. The V-80 (8-10wt) weighs 7.7 ounces, has an ultra-large arbor spool that packs 300 yards of 30 pound backing. The reel feels well balanced on single hand, switch and spey rods. It’s also available in a 5/6wt and 11/13wt. 3-Tand.com
Gear Review: Hardy Ultralite FW DD
Most reels nowadays are lightweight by design. But truthfully, lightweight is a relative term (even a tyee is lightweight compared to an orca). Not only is the term relative, but what does a fly angler have to give up in order to fish with a next-to weightless reel—a more modern drag or machined aluminum? Hardy’s new Ultralite FW DD is a feather like, large arbor reel that provides the best of both worlds. It’s one of the lightest (non click-and-pawl) reels on the market, as it features a minimalistic disk-drag system. Built from 6061 bar stock aluminum, the size 1000 (1/2/3 weight) is 3.15 inches in diameter and weighs a mere 2.9 ounces. The heaviest in the family, the size 4000 (4/5/6 weight) measures 3.74 inches in diameter and weighs just 3.6 ounces. If you like the featherweight nature of a click- and-pawl, but you prefer a disk drag system, then you’ll enjoy this marriage. hardyfishing.com
Throwback Thursday | Premier Issue
Fly Fusion Magazine’s premier issue was released on June 1st, 2004 exclusively to fly shops. Our then Publisher, Chris Bird, worked through the night with Art Director, Terry Paulhus, to put the final touches on volume 1, issue 1 just in time to send it off to press. A collection of articles from Jim McLennan, Brian Chan, Kathy Ruddick, Phil Rowley and fly casting guru Chris Seipio make up one of our favourite issues of all time. With only 2,000 copies printed this one is impossible to find and there are only two copies remaining at Fly Fusion HQ. We don’t spend too much time around the office looking back, but just for fun we thought we’d take a quick look and share.
New Atlantic Salmon Book Definitely Worth a Look
Author Jacques Héroux’s new book Atlantic Salmon Flies brings together exquisite examples of nearly 300 salmon flies, tied by some of the best fly tiers and fishers in North America.
The book features traditional favourites and innovative new designs. Conveniently organized by fly type — wet flies and dry flies, bombers, bugs, and streamers — this rich compendium includes a detailed list of materials for each fly accompanied by colour photographs of flawlessly tied specimens. Both an invaluable reference and a beautiful tribute to the fly tier’s art, Atlantic Salmon Flies demonstrates the ingenuity and creative impulse behind the flies that entice the king of gamefish. click here
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