Fly Fishing Insider Newsletter featuring Happy Days

Our buddy Marvin with a nice wild hen Picture by Shakey Owens. 01/23/06	Mark Bachmann with a 34" wild buck. Picture by Marty Sheppard. 01/23/06
Dennis Staines with a nice wild buck. Picture by Marty Sheppard. 01/26/06	Josh Linn with a wild hen. Check out the seal marks. Picture by Marty Sheppard. 01/26/06

New for 2006, this Extreme Wet Weather rated, high-tech jacket is incredibly light and loaded with innovative features.

3-layer Gore-Tex® fabric technology
100% rip-stop nylon face fabric with faille weave in yoke and shoulders for additional durability
Watertight, breathable stretch cuff
Adjustable storm hood featuring Gore-Tex® PacLite® fabric for closer adjustment around head and easier storage
Brushed polyester collar lining with DWR treatment stows hood
YKK center-front nylon tooth zipper with storm flap for durable, waterproof protection
Four low-profile, water resistant pockets store fly boxes and Maxima spools
Accessories include forceps tab, retractor docking station, retractors, Simms Super
Imported
Color: Navy (Steller's Jay Blue)

Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
ORJ1060620	Simms Rivertek Wading Jacket, Navy	S	$379.95	-->SALE ENDED
ORJ1060630	Simms Rivertek Wading Jacket, Navy	M	$379.95	-->SALE ENDED
ORJ1060640	Simms Rivertek Wading Jacket, Navy	L	$379.95	-->SALE ENDED
ORJ1060650	Simms Rivertek Wading Jacket, Navy	XL	$379.95	-->SALE ENDED
ORJ1060660	Simms Rivertek Wading Jacket, Navy	XXL	$379.95	-->SALE ENDED

Marty Sheppard is one of the most talented and personable guides that works our local rivers. Last season, he filled our counter book with client pictures during the toughest winter in the last ten years. Low, extremely clear water, and sparse numbers of fish, made for unbelievably tough conditions. Yet, Marty was able to get his clients into winter steelhead nearly every trip. He said his secret, was the flies that he developed with his good friend Josh Linn, the Metal Detector series.
Special materials make these flies glow from the inside out and give them a lot of enticing action. The goal of the Metal Detector series was to develop a big fly without all the materials that soak up water and make casting such a chore. Bucktail

makes up much of the bulk of these flies and it does not absorb water to weigh it down during the cast. Bucktail is somewhat buoyant and has ton of action because it does not clump together while it fishes. The polar chenille body makes these flies translucent and once again it has very little water absorption, The collar is marabou and everyone knows Steelhead love the taste of marabou! Metal Detectors are stinger flies. A short shank, red Gamakatsu hook is trailed in the rear of the fly on a special cable attachment. There are few short strikes on Metal Detectors.

Metal Detector Fly, Blue and Black These colors are proven for winter steelhead under any overcast weather conditions and is especially effective for late winter fish. This color combination is a consistent producer with good to fair water clarity and is also a good choice when the river is off color.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
06573-02	Metal Detector Fly, Blue and Black	2	3 For $6.50	-->SALE ENDED

Metal Detector Fly, Chartreuse and Black Spring Chinook love the color chartreuse and this fly was tied to fish for the returning Salmon. At the end of the season it did its job on the "springers", but the surprising result was how very effective it was on the fresh run of spring Steelhead! A must have color for April through June.
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
06574-02	Metal Detector Fly, Chartreuse and Black	2	3 For $6.50	-->SALE ENDED

Metal Detector Fly, Red and Orange This fly is proven in hooking steelhead in all weather conditions with good water clarity. Red & orange is extremely effective in bright sunlight. As with all "metal detectors" the polar chenille body makes all of these flies glow from the inside out, and with this one, it is electric!
Item	Description	Size	Price	To Top
06575-02	Metal Detector Fly, Red and Orange	2	3 For $6.50	-->SALE ENDED

An Independent Spey Rod Survey

Many makers don't list the weights of their two-hand fly rods. Who knows all the reasons. Most list the weights of their single hand rods. One day Jeff Runner and I had too much time on our hands. We had listened to John Jones outline his ideas for a light line trout rod "shoot-out" where he would get a group of guys together to analyze trout rods from several makers. We thought about how much could be learned by comparing models of two-handers from competing manufacturers. We picked the most popular size of winter steelhead rod, the one George Cook calls the 30-06 spey rod, the venerable 14' #9. Upon consulting our inventory, I found that we carry 14-models in stock. That seems like a broad enough cross section for a comprehensive study. One rod of 14-foot 4-inches was included because it seems to fit the category. We weighed each rod on an electronic postage scale. We also measured each rod for total length when assembled. These kinds of projects are always a labor of love. You can't get a better job than trying great tackle on great water with your best friends.... Anyway, Jeff and I weighed each rod because we had a sneaking hunch that how much energy a rod can store is highly dependent on its mass/weight/length in comparison to its rivals. Each rod in this list has been tested with the same fly line, an 8/9/10 Rio WindCutter w/tips. Further testing is needed in many areas and will continue. So far we have found that the heavier rods do have more lift and usually build line speed with a shorter casting stroke. We also have found that being lightweight and "fishing light" aren't always the same. Fast action rods usually have more graphite material in the butt of the rod and less weight near the tip in comparison to slower action rods. The lighter the tip is in comparison to the butt, the lighter in overall weight the rod will feel like when you are fishing with it. A rod with a heavy reel seat will often make a rod "balance" lighter even though the total weight of the rod is heavier. The weight of the reel you choose to put on your rod will change the balance of your outfit. Like wise a rod with a reel seat positioned to place the reel closest to the butt of the rod will help the rod tip feel lighter in weight. Testing will continue. We will keep you posted.

Rod Model	Length		Weight
Rod Model	Advertised	Actual	Advertised	Actual
T&T DH1409-3	14' 0"	14' 0"	N/A	11.4 oz.
T&T DH1409-5	14' 0"	14' 0.5"	N/A	12.1 oz.
Sage 9140-4 TCR	14' 0"	14' 0"	10.125 oz.	10.8 oz
Sage 9141-4 European	14' 1"	14' 0.375"	10.25 oz.	10.2 oz.
Sage 9140-4 Traditional	14' 0"	14 0"	9.75 oz.	10.2 oz.
G. Loomis Greased Line GLX	14' 0"	14' 0.375"	N/A	10.0 oz.
G. Loomis Greased Line Deveron	14' 0"	14' 0.625"	N/A	10.7 oz.
G. Loomis Dredger GLX	14' 0"	14' 0.5"	N/A	9.6 oz.
CND Steelhead Specialist	14' 4"	14' 4.25"	N/A	10.2 oz.
CND Custom	14' 0"	14' 0.125"	10.4 oz.	10.7 oz.
CND Expert	14' 0"	14' 0.25"	N/A	10.5 oz.
Loop Blackline	14' 0"	14' 0.25"	N/A	9.2 oz.
Loop Greyline	14' 0"	14' 2"	N/A	9.2 oz.
Temple Fork Outfitter TFO09144P	14' 0"	13' 10.5"	9.5 oz.	9.4 oz.

1

Free Fly Tying Party
Feb. 11 - 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm Saturday Afternoon.
"Tying For The Winter Mayfly Hatches"
Learn to tie: Nymphs, Emergers, Duns & Spinners!
This program is for new tiers and experienced tiers alike.
Instructional demonstrations with big-screen TV,
and all tying materials & hooks are free.
A custom made fly tying room with perfect lighting
and special teaching aides are provided.
You get to keep all the flies you tie.
Please bring your own tools & tying thread if you have them.
If you don't have them, we will provide them.
Try ANY VISE we have in stock FOR FREE !!!
Refreshments will be served. Bring snacks if you want to.
Everyone is welcome!

	*	Search	Catalog	Trips & Schools	Bargains	SALE ENDED
	Our Waters		Order Info	Weekly Newsletter	Events	SALE ENDED

Happy Days

Native Fish Society Auction and Banquet

Saturday, February 18, 2006

Ambridge Event Center More Info