geartalk

Fishing Gear Inflation…

Yesterday, retail chain Target’s stock price dipped after the company foreshadowed soft holiday sales numbers. Other notable retail names like Lowe's, Columbia and Walmart are also warning that tariffs proposed by the incoming administration could potentially cause significant price hikes.

How will the fishing industry be affected?

Tariffs were also on the table in 2019, but those that would have impacted fishing were averted, thanks in part to the lobbying of the American Sportfishing Association. It’s hard to say if fishing will be able to dodge the issue again.

One thing is certain–a lot of product that American anglers ultimately consume is produced in China, with Korea and other Asian nations ranging from Sri Lanka, The Philippines, Vietnam and others following closely behind.

In fly fishing, some product categories are dominated by imported manufacturing: wading boots, packs, outerwear and flies among them.

If the $200 (retail) boots get slapped with 60% tariffs, you’re looking at an increased cost of around $60 a pair, and that’s going to bite in one of two ways–either consumers will shoulder increased costs, or manufacturers are going to bite into the margins retailers have historically built their businesses on.

And in what has been an increasingly tenuous relationship between manufacturers and retailers over the past decade or more (see pro deals, selling direct online, affiliate commissions and more) this might become the straw that breaks the camel’s (independent brick and mortar fly shop’s) back.

We’ll be tracking and reporting on this news closely.

BONEDALE FISHING REPORT #19

IT IS TRUE THAT THE RIVERS WENT NOSING LIKE SWINE

You never know who might show up at the WORLD HEADQUARTERS. Mostly it’s fish bums and other lost souls, but there are exceptions. An earth muffin showed up the other day and engaged me in lengthy conversations about Chakras and the like. Although we had theological differences, we both agreed that John the Baptist was on to something with the water thing. Fly fishing is primarily an excuse to be on the water for lengthy periods of time, and the upper Fork just got to the right level. The water is so clear, it’s almost not there at all. Running out to the flats on Christmas Island is the same visual rush, where you can see the shadow of the boat in fifty feet of water. I don’t know about Chakras, but I do know John the Baptist knew what he was doing when he dipped Jesus.

Live from the WORLD HEADQUARTERS

Kea C. Hause esq.

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Castwork proofs, Carbondale, CO. Photo: Liz Steketee

Fly-fishing News: Carp Fishing New York, Mystery Ranch Rumors and New Umpqua tools

Umpqua Feather Merchants has unveiled the RiverRun Four-piece Tool Collection: Nippers with Lanyard ($24.99), Trout Pliers ($39.99), Big-Game Pliers ($69.99), Nipper/Trout Plier Combo ($64.99). In an increasingly competitive hard goods/tool market, these products are intended to attract the mid-priced angler.

Great carp fishing piece from Field Mag: In search of carp with Dr. Brandon Dale, the only NYS licensed guide operating in Manhattan. “Hoisting the fat fish out of the net for a photo, it was hard to ignore the pungency of its odor. Yes, all fish smell, but boy, do carp stink on a whole new level…” Watch the episode.

GearJunkie reports on the YETI Rumors of a Mystery Ranch (consumer backpack) Phase-Out: “The speculation gained traction when the Rock Fight podcast broke the news on Wednesday morning. Several retailers and sales representatives for Mystery Ranch have contacted the Rock Fight podcast about YETI’s plans…” Read more about YETI’s plans to integrate Mystery Ranch from their new head of softgoods, Layne Rigney, as he discusses next steps in the brand integration.

Flylords interviews Andrew Murphy of Gaspé Coastal about the resurgent Canadian striped bass population: “Canada can be a tough place to love striped bass, especially as a fly angler, since much of the local community sees them as a trash fish or an afterthought. Salmon is the name of the game here and, for most, the only game in town. There’s a major misconception that striped bass are a significant threat to salmon…”

Ken Baldwin of Sports Illustrated goes deep on the old and new Pflueger Medalist fly reel: “Because of the original’s popularity and that it is still in demand among collectors, Pure Fishing re-released the Pflueger Medalist for a new generation of fly anglers. The new Medalist is a standard arbor fly reel with fully machined aluminum construction and a multi-position click and pawl system.”

The Beaverkill Angler, an iconic outfitter in the heart of Roscoe, New York, is for sale: “For anyone with a passion for fly fishing and a desire to become a steward of Roscoe’s rich heritage, The Beaverkill Angler offers an extraordinary chance to carry on a time-honored tradition and turn it into a thriving business venture.”

The Lodge at 58° North: Kate and Justin Crump talk about their new, sustainable lodge on Alaska’s Naknek River.

How to Cast Fifteen-Foot Leaders (and Why)

In places like New Zealand, a longer leader and tippet are considered vital. Kiwis want to keep the actual fly line as far away from the target fish as possible, and nine feet doesn’t do that as well as fifteen feet.

I don’t know if I’m that sensitive myself, but I have been using longer leaders, especially when I’m fishing dries on clear water, and one thing is becoming clear: The longer leader cannot hurt your odds if you know how to cast one.

The key to casting a longer leader is to build a longer leader that’s easier to cast. So, I do favor a very heavy butt section, and I’ll build down to my desired diameter from there. Knotted leaders are fine if you are going long–if I want to end up with 5x, for example, I’ll start the leader with 2x, and build out three-foot intervals (stepping down 2x, 3x, 4x etc.) with blood knots.

With longer leaders, you really need to mind your form and not over-wrist the cast. Easy, gentle, technical strokes are called for, because punching the line creates tailing loops, and the potential mess is increased incrementally the longer the leader.

Lastly, you want to adjust the plane of your cast so everything is fully extended about two feet above the surface–you can’t have that long leader extend six feet and drop to the surface, or it’s going to recoil, and you lose the whole reason for fishing a longer leader.

The exception is if you want some coils of loose tippet to absorb some current as the fly drifts. That’s another useful move with the long leader, and in that case, all you want to do is have the whole line and leader fully extend just a bit higher above the water’s surface.

And always remember: practice lawn casting before you ever show up on the river.