2007: Gear Year!

One thing about fly-fishing, you never have enough gear.

A sneak peak through the FlyFishing Retailer World Trade Expo this fall in Denver highlighted some of the newest innovations for 2007 that could be on every fly-fisherman?s ? and fly-fisherwoman?s ? Christmas wish list.
There?s a lot more style and color in much of the sportswear, tackle vests and bag lines ? no doubt influenced by the fact that many more women are trying out the sport.

And who?s going to complain if it?s a well-outfitted gal sneaking into your favorite hot spot rather than the beer-bellied guy tossing bass lures across the calm water you?ve been watching for the late-afternoon hatch?
The Boulder Valley is home to a great selection of premiere fly-fishing shops, all with knowledgeable staff to help everyone from the beginner to the expert fly-fisherman. Support your local shops, and you?ll almost always pick up some good tips on the best spots, hatches, flies and gear you?ll need for a great day on local streams, lakes and rivers.

Here?s just a sample of new gear from the Expo to whet your appetite for next spring.

River runners
If you really want to make waves with your fly-fishing partner, think about a little bigger ticket item such as a new drift boat or pontoon water craft. Just park it out in the driveway on Christmas morning.
Boulder Boatworks, which has pioneered a high-density polyethylene polymer driftboat right here in Boulder, got a lot of attention at the show with its new Vee Hull model. These tough boats are also low maintenance, depending on just how many rocks you slam against. www.boulderboatworks.com
Water Skeeter, a California-based line of river-running pontoon boats, has the Double Take II at the top of its line ? a 13-foot boat that can carry two fishermen and absolutely draw jealous double-takes as you scoot over to rising fish. www.waterskeeter.com

The right rod
zIs there such a thing as the right rod? Of course there is, as long as you eventually have about 15 or 20 different ones in your closet. For 2007, there are hundreds of fresh and saltwater models in every price range. There?s the big national brands of Sage, with a new Z-Axis line; Winston?s new Boron IIt; G. Loomis Crosscurrent Beach Rods for saltwater; and a special edition 150th Anniversary Bamboo Rod from the venerable Orvis Co.

Not everyone has a Colorado custom-crafted fishing rod, however, and I discovered the T.L. Johnson Company in Nunn.

The Legacy Collection on the high end comes in both three- and four-piece rods. An entry level series offers two-piece rods. These rods are so dazzling the fish will come to you to catch a glance. www.tljohnsoncompany.com

For the ladies
Denver-based Wright & McGill Co. has a new line of gear called Fly Girl, designed specifically for female fly-casters. As their brochure says, ?A woman should know her place ? right about the pocket pool drifting downstream.? Fly Girl models come in line sizes 3 to 6, with cork handles designed to fit a woman?s hand. W&M also is offering Fly Girl waders. www.wright-mcgill.com

Really into letting your friends know you like to fish? Woman-owned ChickBait will catch attention if not trout with its one-of-a-kind earrings and other jewelry made from colorful fishing flies. www.chickbait.com

Lighten up
Hands down I like the range of new vests, chest packs and gear bags offered by a company in Silverthorne, Colo. called fishpond. If you?re having a slow day on the stream, at least you?re doing it in style with fishpond.
Fishermen are following the lead of backpackers ? and waking up to the fact they really don?t need to carry all 30 fly boxes in their vest. Pick out a couple of boxes for the situation, and lighten down to a smaller chest pack that doesn?t restrict your casting arm.
www.fishpondusa.com

Tool man
There?s no way around the fact that you still need clippers, tippet spools, fly dressing and a couple of other gadgets, so an inexpensive gift this year might be a lightweight lanyard to keep everything at your fingertips. Morning Star Lanyards out of Idaho has an artist?s touch, and would make a great stocking stuffer. www.mslanyards.com

Speaking of tools, the new prism finish line of scissors from Dr. Slick Co. will shine from any fly-tier?s desk. Dr. Slick has clamps, nippers, scissors, pliers, tweezers, threaders and every other tool imaginable. www.drslick.com

At the show, I picked up a nifty retractable landing net retractor from GearKeeper. I can?t count the times I?ve caught my fishing net in small bush, only to have it retract out, release and slam into my back. GearKeeper?s system has a locking mechanism and quick-connect system to prevent that problem. www.gearkeeper.com
I also liked both the thermo-formed fly boxes and floatable, waterproof fly boxes from Wind River Gear in Erie. These are practical but sharp-looking boxes. Wind River makes its Adventure clothing line and all kinds of accessories. www.windrivergear.com

Storage solution
Broomfield-based made2fly offers what has to be one of the nicest fly-tying work stations (yes, dear, it?s work ?) out there.

The 107 Fly-tying Work Station has a drawer, shelf or storage area for every feather and gadget you got. The company offers more than 30 accessory and furniture items, including thread spool racks, tool caddy, waste baskets and hackle cabinets.
www.made2fly.com

Staying dry
Another local Broomfield company, better known for its quality gun cases, has jumped into the fly-fishing market with a complete line of both neoprene and lightweight microfibre waders. The Allen Company also is manufacturing wading boots, wading accessories and bags and packs.
Tiny stuff

OK, so the Euro is worth more than the dollar. Now comes the Bidoz Body from France. For several years fly-tiers have been adding weighted beads to get those tiny nymph flies down in faster waters. Bidoz Products, which makes all kinds of beads, fish eyes and tubes, has created a buggy-looking tungsten nymph body in natural, orange, green and gold colors. It looks like an idea that can catch on. www.bidoz.com

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