Gear Review: Columbia's Powerdrain Cool water shoes

After three months of extensive testing in the day-to-day exertion of my life, I've (finally) come to a conclusion about Columbia Sportswear's Powerdrain Cool water shoes.

They're good.

Read the full review over at my other site here (or click the image below).

UPG! FTW!

I've written here before about how much I like the UPG fly boxes from Umpqua Feather Merchants.

They're lightweight, rugged, and large capacity without being obnoxiously large.

And now I can say Umpqua backs them with legendary customer care, too. But you don't have to trust me on this. I'll prove it to you.

A CASE STUDY IN LEGENDARY CUSTOMER CARE

The Issue

For the last year or so, I had two UPG boxes: the Double-Wide for bass bugs or redfish flies, and the Streamer box, for, ummm, streamers (duh!).

Both UPG boxes were repurposed for my trip to Belize in September. Bonefish flies & general patterns went in the Streamer box, and tarpon flies & beefy crab patterns inhabited the Double Wide.

On our last full day of fishing, the boxes slid out of my backpack while we were motoring between flats. They proceeded to soak up the sun for a few hours while temperatures hovered near 454°F. I may be exaggerating the temperature just a little, but not by much. It was hot. 

As Umpqua presumably does not do product testing at the second inner gate of Hell, the foam on the sides of the two boxes exposed to the sun became warped, and the adhesive melted.

Long story short, I killed both boxes through neglect.

When I discovered my mistake that night, I was disappointed. The UPG boxes are my favourite by a long shot, but they're not cheap enough for someone like me to say, "Oh well!" as I toss them in the trash. Like a rugby player on a blood sub, the boxes would remain in the game as long as possible.

Adhering to my sometimes-frequent principles of reduce, reuse, recycle and repair, I wrote Umpqua a message explaining my stupidity and asked if I could buy replacement foam for the two boxes.

Note: I bought the UPG Flats box shortly after returning from Belize, bring my UPG box collection to three. That's how much I like these boxes.

The Response

Due to a technical glitch, they didn't receive my original message right away...or ever. BUT...once I finally spoke to someone at Umpqua (Luke...and he contacted me on his day off), they didn't waste any time to answer.

Luke said they'll take care of things after New Year's Day and apologized profusely for my original message getting misplaced. By midday on Wednesday, David from Umpqua's customer care responded:

In answer to your original question, no, we do not have replacement foam for the UPG boxes.  However, if you give me your mailing address I’ll put some new boxes in the mail for you today. 

Sweet! Two new UPG boxes! 

That was more than I ever expected: it was my own damn fault the foam warped & lifted, and I was fully prepared to buy the replacement foam inserts (or make my own).

Two new UPG fly boxes was awesome.

Needless to say, when UPS arrived THIS MORNING (Friday, as in less than 48 hours from the first message on Wednesday), I was taken aback with the size & weight of the box the delivery driver handed me.

WTF?!?

I ripped off the packing tape, tossed aside the paper wrapping and peered into the box...

Holy shit!!

Six fly boxes and a hat.

The replacement boxes for the Streamer & Double-Wide, plus a Magnum Dry, a Magnum Midge, a Weekender, and another Flats. And a hat.

Holy. Eff.

Umpqua Feather Merchants, you have completely outdone yourself. I'd almost let you get away with dognapping Awesome the Dog or eating all of my mom's meat pie after this display (almost...but I would at least share the pie with you).

Merry F**king Christmas to me.

Thanks, Umpqua!

Luke & David, you guys rock.

*          *          *

UPG FLY BOX CONTEST

Since I now have two UPG Flats boxes, I'll give one away through a random draw. 

I try to be a bit of a minimalist when it comes to accumulating things, plus I'm moving & trying to downsize...and it feels good to give awesome stuff away once in a while!!!

So here it is:

Comment on this post by 0800 EST on Monday, January 7th to be entered to win the fly box.

While you're at it, pop on over to Umpqua's Facebook page and give 'em a 'like,' too. This part isn't necessary to win, but it'd improve your chances through karma. Trust me on this.

In summary:

• The Prize: One (1) UPG Flats Fly Box.
• To Enter: Leave a comment on this very post you're reading now by 8AM EST on Monday, January 7th. 
• To Enter, part deux: For karmic reasons, go 'like' Umpqua's Facebook page. It's not necessary to win, but it's karma, dude. Karma.
• The Rules: One entry per person. Winner will  be selected through random number generator and announced Monday, after 8AM EST...at some point...

Good luck to all!

More randomness

It's been a while since I wrote an essay of complete random bullshit, and, since I haven't posted here on ten or so days, now's as good as time as any.

1) Niger
Yes, Niger (not Nigeria. Two different places).

I'm going to Niger tomorrow for three weeks or so (and possibly again in January).

Hopefully I won't land what Bjorn called a grand slam of dysentery, malaria and getting kidnapped.

I will have internet access but have no idea of the workload as of yet, so posts may be sporadic. Well, more sporadic than usual...

There's no fishing there, which really doesn't help me write content for Traveling Angler Tuesdays.

Which brings us to...

2) Traveling Angler Tuesdays
Traveling Angler Tuesdays might be placed on hold for a little while.

I have no fishing trips planned or schemed (but some are dreamed). I am working on a few subjects for upcoming posts (doing liveaboard/mothership trips, using booking agents, etc.) and I was hoping for a few guest posts from other Traveling Anglers I was in touch with, but for now, this Traveling Angler isn't doing too much angling.

If anyone would like to contribute a guest post with how-to's or other fine points of being a Traveling Angler, by all means, get in touch, but I'm not chasing people down.

Trying to track down fishing addicts to write something is like herding cats, for f** all.

Not that I blame them. I'd rather be fishing, too. I'll always be a fisherman that writes, not a writer that fishes.

3) Pic of me with the best Key Lime pie ever

I'd shoot someone for a piece of that Key Lime pie right about now.

And that, folks, is why gun laws are tight in Canada. We'd shoot people over pie.

But not dog shit. Never dog shit. That's just irrational.

4) International Fly Tying Symposium
Last weekend I was in Somerset, New Jersey for the tying symposium; my first 'official duty' as Clear Cure Goo's writer-not-in-residence. I had a blast meeting a lot of folks that I had only spoke with via Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Skype up until that point.

I understand turnout was a little down this year; a lot of that had to do with people dealing with the aftereffects of Hurricane Sandy.

Thanks to Brian of CCG for letting me tag along and to everyone for stopping by the CCG booth to say hi. It was great meeting y'all.

Note: I'll probably write a little more about the IFTS on the Clear Cure Blog soon, so keep your eyes peeled for it over there. 

5) Being sick sucks hole.
Honestly, I've been having my ass kicked by a cold/flu since the tying symposium in NJ, so I haven't been posting too much here, there, or anywhere else for that matter.

I've been combining various elixirs and concoctions for the last few days. The congestion remains...but I seemed to have made a new friend that appears after certain medications have been mixed together:

As I'm 28 hours away from boarding multiple tin-pigeons (with their healthy recycled air) for the better part of a day and a half, I'm hoping adding some Buckley's flu medication into the mix finally knocks this bastard down the basement stairs for good.

I'd like to take the elephant with me to Niger, though...

6) Being sick isn't the only excuse, though...
As I wrote many weeks back, I've been using my side project, The Saltwater Fly Journal, to share a lot of content that previously would have been posted here. Stuff like this. And this. And this, too. So sign up for email/RSS updates (right hand sidebar, underneath the Redington banner) so you don't miss anything awesome on The Saltwater Fly Journal.

Because someday, there will be awesome stuff there. Trust me.

7) The following people/blogs need to keep doing what they're doing...
...because it's damn good:

• Warmwater Chronicles
• Smallmouth Fly Box
• Pine Island Angler
• Stream2Stream
• Chi Wulff
• Salt 396
• and many, many more...

8) Some people just don't get it.

"Kramer goes to a Fantasy camp? His whole life is a fantasy camp! People should plunk down $2,000 to live like him for a week." George Costanza

Someone recently referenced that quote while talking to me about my life. Some days I think it it's bang-on.

But that particular day I just purchased this to keep strapped to my body 24/7 in Niger.

Fantasy camp, my ass...

9) I love this website.
I like to mix it up once in a while here: fly fishing and lifestyle.

That lifestyle probably doesn't jive for the majority (go back to 1) and 8) on this list) but I'm sure two or three of you are interested in it a little bit.

Oh, that link might be classified as NSFW and/or the kids. There's a lot of swears in there.

My apartment is in a state of flux right now. I call it controlled chaos. The clutter and squalor quotients are kept to a minimum, at least. The kayak, fishing gear and all the fly tying materials in the living lend a certain loveable ambience to the place.

UFYH gives a much-needed dose of reality to the realm of cleaning & organizing: cleaning sucks, but it needs to be done (for advanced level reality, give this guy a read...if you can handle it)

It's a good site to read when things get out of control.

10) The new James Bond...
...was ok. It was no Avengers, by any stretch, but it was good.

11) Music for your playlist
A few tracks I've been listening to recently, give 'em a listen:

(Can't see the videos above? Click here to view the full post)

Things of Three VIII

The eighth edition of three items/subjects/places/people worth checking out to make life as an angler and global citizen far more enjoyable.

1. TFM interviewed on Itinerant Angler
Glass guru Cameron Mortenson of the Fiberglass Manifesto spoke with Zach Matthews on the Itinerant Angler podcast the other day, sharing his insights on current trends in the world of modern fiberglass rods.

The discussion ranged from a who's who of modern glass rod builders to the feel of casting slower action rods. The podcast is a great listen; Cameron really knows his stuff.

Since following along to Cameron's glass sermons over the past couple of years, I've dipped my toe into the shallow end of the fiberglass pool. The 7/8wt Cabela's CGR ended up as one of my favourite rods, and I've dusted off my dad's old Shakespeare two-piece rod a few times. They're fun to cast, and playing a 2lb smallmouth on them is a near religious experience.

Though not a devout glass disciple, I've discovered my casting style and technique (or lack thereof) is better suited to slower action rods, and have since adjusted my rod quiver accordingly. Gone are a couple super-fast action rods (eg, TFO's Axiom). Another lightsaber has found a home with me: a new 7wt Redington CPX (I now own the CPX in 7, 8 and 10wts). Casting the fiberglass rods helped me determine what works best for me, and the slightly-slower action of the CPX is it...it just took a few other 7wt rods to figure that out.

If you haven't taken a glass rod for a spin yet, I recommend it. There's a rod loan program over at TFM to give you a chance to demo a few. It's worth looking into.

Listen to Cameron on the Itinerant Angler podcast here, and visit The Fiberglass Manifesto website to get your inner glass geek on.

2. Google Nexus 7
You might recall me singing the praises of my iPod Touch in previous posts. And while I still believe it's a amazingly useful device for communicating, snapping pictures and listening to music (especially when traveling light), the Nexus 7 otherwise blows it out of the water.

With a 7" screen and larger touchscreen keypad (equipped with Swype), it's far easier for reading and typing content, and videos can be watched without holding the device 4.5" from your face. Synced with my Google account, it has everything I need (email, calendar, contacts, etc) for my jet-setting ways.

The Nexus 7 is also far more comfortable to read my ever-expanding ebook library than my iPod Touch, and the screen allows me to read with the lights off, unlike the Kobo e-reader. As both Kindle and Kobo have Android apps, I'm able to keep both libraries on one device. Brilliant.

Am I retiring the iPod Touch? Hell no. I'm still a big fan of Apple products. But it's a lot easier on my brain traveling with the Nexus 7 & iPod instead of my MacBook Air, which remains my HQ for all things Mat in the digital world.

And another bonus: it's far, far cheaper than an iPad. I wouldn't own a tablet if the Nexus 7 wasn't the price it is ($250 for 16gb model).

Web: google.com/nexus/7/

3. The (updated) Saltwater Fly Journal
Blatant self-promotion? You bet.

But a couple evenings of sleeplessness from jet lag brought some flashy renovations to my little side project, The Saltwater Fly Journal.

Gone is the plain-Jane minimalist look. A flashy header pic and a few coloured fonts later and I'm ready to take on Midcurrent*!

* - No I'm not.

Though still existing as an aggregator of news, videos and info from the salty realm for now, I'm excited about putting more effort into the Saltwater Fly Journal. Expect content about community supported fisheries and eating seafood to accompany the usual fare of saltwater fishporn, gear and fly tying. And yes, there will be some original content in there, too...eventually.

Note - Don't fear, for the rambling bullshit that you've been used to seeing for nigh onto 270 posts will continue here on mattrevors.com.

I'd be pumped if you clicked over and checked out The (new) Saltwater Fly Journal.

*          *          *

Enter your email address to subscribe (I will never, ever spam, sell or trade your email address):

Things of Three VII

The seventh edition of three items/subjects/places/people worth checking out to make life as an angler and global citizen far more enjoyable.

1. Recycled Waders

The 'nook sack from Recycled Waders

There's a few smallish players in the fly fishing industry that have come on the scene over the last few years.

I think it's great; I'm one of those hippy communist free-thinkers people that believes a resurrection of cottage industries is the way out of the mess globalization has created. That is, people creating their own goods or services (& destiny) as opposed to slaving away at a soulless job while worried about a pink slip arriving at any moment.

Vedavoo & Smith Fly have been getting a fair amount of press and rightfully so, but another one you should check out is Recycled Waders.

The concept is simple & brilliant. They repurpose leaky waders into 'new' useful gear: packs, wallets, reel cases and the like.

Waders don't get sent to the landfill, and the gear at Recycled Waders is very reasonably priced, likely due to decreased material costs. Win-win.

I purchased the 'nook sack and think it's great; it fits exactly what I need and doesn't let me take more than what I need. Thus fulfilling those hippy communist free-thinking minimalist tendencies I lean toward.

Reduce, reuse, recycle indeed.

web: recycledwaders.com

2. Fly Fishing for Coastal Gamefish by Dr. Aaron Adams
As a self-confessed nerd, this book seems as though it was written for "fishing nerd me.' There's a lot of science in it. I think it's awesome.

I picked it up this summer when we were visiting Asheville, NC. I read it in a tent, on the hostel's balcony, on the beach at Sullivan's Island, in the hotel in Massachusetts, on the plane to Nunavut and on a boat in Belize. I read it just about anywhere a person could read a book.

If you're an angler heading for any inshore fishing anywhere south of the Carolinas (& north of Venezuela) and want to understand the various habitats, fish and prey, this book is definitely for you.

Is it for everybody? Definitely not, especially if the most literary or scientific thing you read each week is my rambling bullshit.

Whether you're a nerd or not, it's worth having on your bookshelf for reference.

web: fishermanscoast.com, or buy here

3. Sweet Home Alabama - The Southern Rock Saga
This is a cool documentary on the rise of Southern Rock, if y'all have an hour to kill.

In fact, y'all should put everything on hold for an hour to watch it. It'll do you good.

(If you're reading this in an email & can't see the video above, click here to view the full post)

Things of Three III

The third edition of three items/subjects/places/people worth checking out to make life as an angler and global citizen far more enjoyable.

1. Howler Bros apparel
If shallow people were to align a product line with their 'personal image' (*cough*), I wouldn't blame them if they chose Howler Bros of Austin, TX. From their About page:

We are Howler Brothers. We are not really related by blood. But we are bonded by many shared callings: surfing, fishing, paddling and the good things that come with these pursuits. Things like fire pits, really good tequila, limes, and pre-dawn coffee.

My surfing career was cut short by lack of waves, a fear of sharks and limited motivation to learn how to surf. But I do like fishing, paddling (for fishing), fire pits (we call 'em bonfires), tequila, limes, limes/lime juice in tequila, and coffee (pre- or post-dawn makes no difference to me).

But that's neither here nor there.

Howler makes clothing that is durable, comfortable and practical. Some would say stylish, but I use practical in place of stylish; as in, "Can I where this in public without my lovely girlfriend being embarrassed?" For Howler's apparel lineup, the answer to that is a heck yeah.

I just received my (third) order from Howler this AM and I'm impressed as always. Their t-shirts are the most comfortable (and softest things) I own. And that hat is just damn cool.

Know who else digs Howler swag? This guy. Oh yeah, it's true.

Website: howlerbros.com

Social: @HowlerBros & facebook.com/howlerbros

Note: Cameron over at The Fiberglass Manifesto has a TFM promo code for $10 off your order, check out the details here.


2. My (new) old-timey shaving kit
This started as a multi-paragraph rant about much of a money-grab cartridge razors have become, but instead I'm just posting this pic:

A better shave, a more enjoyable shave, and a far less expensive shave. Less plastic waste, too. Bam.

After using the double-edge razor for the first time, I was already looking forward to my next opportunity to shave.

That's telling in itself: I normally hate shaving.

Website: classicedge.ca
Resources: sharpologist.com

3. Wolves
Last week it was Coyote. This week it's Wolves, from Big Wreck's Albatross album. Enjoy.

5 Things I Learned in Belize

Here are five things I learned on my trip to Belize last week:

1. Line speed is extremely important.
I knew line speed was important in the salt before leaving, but rarely gave it a second thought...until I was on a pancake flat with a super-spooky school of cruising bones in a very stiff breeze.

We didn't have very many shots in the first two-thirds of the week, and the few shots I did have were exactly as described: cruising fish, long-ish shots, stiff breeze.

Mark my words, bonefish: it'll be a different game the next time I'm around.

Louis and Kent over at Gink & Gasoline frequently post good stuff on this, e.g.:

2. I like eating seafood far more than I ever imagined.

I caught some snapper on a handline off the back of the boat one night with one of the guides. The kitchen staff cleaned them & dressed them up in beer-batter. I topped them with Marie Sharp's and it was heavenly.

And don't even get me started on snook. We had it one night & it was amazing, but they're just too fun to catch to make a habit of eating them. But man, they are delicious. Commence moral dilemma.

Related note: we had caught a couple snook and the guides wanted to keep them. Our boat kept one, and the other boat kept two. I was sort of ok with this. Then I caught a big snook, which they also wanted to keep. I wasn't ok with this. Dylan suggested a picture of it in the water, as I leaned over the gunnel. This photo op was convenient; I 'dropped' the snook, giving it a little shove into the current to help it along. 

3. There's a place for glass & slower action rods in the salt...

...and that place is short-shots, mangroves and docks. 

I brought my CGR 7/8wt with me to Belize, and it really shined for making short shots under branches & in between roots and dock pilings. 

Whether or not the CGR would have the backbone required to yank a decent-sized snook or baby tarpon out of structure remains to be seen: I didn't hook anything on it. But it reinforces my belief that super-fast action rods are not the cat's ass at all times, as I discovered this summer in Charleston.

Note: I would have gladly blown that rod up on a 20lb baby tarpon & replaced it with another. I consider that the price of admission, and better to blow up a $99 rod than a $450 custom-built glass rod, huh?

For more reinforcement on glass in the salt, check out the backcountry fun Dr. Aaron Adams had with glass here on The Fiberglass Manifesto.

Side note: Some day, possibly soon, or maybe next year, I will be actively searching for an 8'-8'6", 4pc 7/8wt glass rod for light salt duty. I believe it would be epic for reds, specs & bones in certain situations. And I want the reel seat to match my Tibor Backcountry, fyi...

4. I am very emotionally-invested in catching fish.

By day four I was getting bummed out.

The trip was awesome, food was delicious, bunks were comfortable, but I wasn't seeing many fish, and the shots I did have weren't easy by any stretch of the imagination. Frustrated would be an understatement.

Side note: I'll mention Dylan, aka the guy who does this for a living, hadn't hooked anything at this point either, so it wasn't totally my incompetent angling skills at play here. Things were friggin' tough.

Fortunately day five turned things around. If it didn't, Dylan would have woken up to the following on day six:

5. i) Loop knots are my favourite knots.
Simple. Elegant. Effective.

5. ii) My Tibor Backcountry is my favourite reel.
Simple. Elegant. Effective.

Things of Three II

The second edition of three items/subjects/places/people worth checking out to make life as an angler and global citizen far more enjoyable.

1. Marie Sharp's Habanero Sauce
I can barely put into words how awesome this hot sauce is.

Marie Sharp's is the hot sauce of angels.

There's heat, but the heat compliments the flavour of the sauce's carrot base without overpowering it. The Belizean Heat (smaller bottle) is considerably hotter, but still extremely flavourful; moreso than most hot sauces that I've tried previously.

About seventeen minutes after coming ashore, still wobbly with sea-legs, I sauntered into a Belizean grocer to buy some to bring back to Canada (the $1.04CDN = $1US = $2BZ exchange rate is highly favourable if anyone is interested in becoming a habanero sauce smuggler with me).

It's completely possible I've discussed Marie Sharp's more than I have the fishing since I returned. And it even makes turkey bacon tolerable.

Related note #1: Once we arrived at the airport, I accessed email for the first time in 8 days, where I saw the following passage in an email from my buddy Will: "Marie Sharp's habanero pepper sauce. Just sayin. Fill your boots and then cover your eggs." Done and done, William. Done. And. Done.

Web: www.mariesharps-bz.com

2. Columbia Airgill Chill shirt
I was looking to buy this shirt when I sent the following tweet:

I never expected Columbia to tell me to DM my address and size to get one to demo for free. That was pretty damn cool, although never the original intention. So thanks, Columbia!

Related note #2: Ironically, I've been telling people for the past month or so how I'm limiting the number of gear reviews I do on this site. I'd rather mention gear I've used & abused after purchasing it on my own dime. You might not have noticed, but I've been using this forum to (attempt to) expand my writing abilities, albeit slowly and one syllable at a time, as well as focusing on travel tips to help my fellow anglers (anyone? Bueller? Bueller?). Oh well. Who am I to turn down free swag?

In four words: I love this shirt.

In more than four words: I wore & abused the hell out of this shirt. Five of seven fishing days I wore it, with no washes in between. It was soaked in saltwater and sweat, smeared with fish slime, and drizzled with coffee, Marie Sharp's, Coca Cola, Belikan and very nearly tears. The Airgill Chill held up to all of it.

It's sturdily built but lightweight and quick-drying, with the right number, size and location of pockets to hold your camera and a small fly box. Size large was slightly baggy on me, but I didn't mind the loose fit in the billion and eight degree heat.

Two additional considerations: 1) it was surface-of-the-sun hot a few days there; and 2) I'm a Canadian who spent the majority of summer in far Northern latitudes. I was a pasty-white cracker in Belize, and the shirt's Omni-Shade® UPF 30 sun protection kept my upper body pasty-white throughout the week.

This is a premium fishing shirt. It will travel with me to any hot climate from here on in.

And yes, I would have gladly dropped my own coin on it with zero regrets. But I didn't have to, so big win for me.

Web: Columbia Performance Fishing Gear front page here; www.columbia.com

3. Coyote
No, not the cuddly animal. Coyote is the new album from Matt Mays. It's good. Like, really, really good. This may be blasphemous, but I like it better than Jack White's album Blunderbuss, and I thought that was the primo album of 2012...until I heard Coyote.

Check it out on the iTunes store here.

Here's the first track on the album; it's definitely one of my early favourites.

Things of Three

Three items/subjects/places/people worth checking out to make life as an angler and global citizen far more enjoyable:

1. Fish Tales Fly Shop, Calgary, AB
The positive side of getting weathered in at the project site in Nunavut last week is getting to meet Matlock (aka @findeep) for a quick fish on Alberta's Bow River and going for sushi with him & Cod (@chroniclesofcod) during a seven-hour layover. Best layover ever. Wet socks & all.

Matlock picked me up at the airport and we headed to his local fly shop so I could grab a license. The fact they had been closed for about an hour didn't really slow things down much; they unlocked the door and got me set up with both a license and the new issue of The Drake for my flight home.

Fish Tales is a great shop, loads of inventory and run by a seriously kick-ass nice dude. If you're in Calgary, it's worth a stop. And Cod guides outta there, too.

Check 'em out on the web here. For a Google Map, click here.

Supporting your local fly shop isn't a cliché. Try rolling into a BassPro or Canadian Tire to buy a license an hour after they're closed. Yeah, thought so...

2. The Shack Up Sessions
This is Ross Neilsen's new solo album, recorded inside the Robert Clay shack at The Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale Mississippi, just down the road from the famous crossroads of highway 49 and 61.

It's good. Really good.

Ross has been mentioned a few times here, and his music is on my regular rotation of playlists & albums. And for good reason: his songs are at times rocking and whisky-chugging, and always soulful and honest-to-goodness blues.

This album is a little less loud but still everything one could ask for in a blues album.

Ross also had a special message for the fly fishing crowd that reads this: "Keep yer poles bent."

You can preview and download the album here & on iTunes; for a physical copy shipped, click here.

Ross can be reached via his website, rossneilsen.com, and through Twitter, @rossneilsen.

And if this picture doesn't brighten your day, check your pulse.

Ross (right) & Karl's search for a bass player brought interesting characters.

3. William Joseph HemoCuts
One of my favourite fly fishing accessories. Probably one of the best sub-$20 items in the fly fishing industry, in my mind.

Pros: easy to grip, easy to open, pinch barbs up to 1/0 saltwater hooks, cutting blades are sharp, and they lock down tight when shut.

Cons: they don't make a big, eff-off size for toothy/salty critters.

Check 'em out here.

Traveling Angler Tuesday: My Must-Haves

Clousers & Deceivers are must-haves

In last week's Traveling Angler Tuesday post, I listed a few of my must-haves for traveling. I decided to take those items and other traveling necessities and compile them into a couple of lists.

I've spilt my must-haves into 'general apparel & accessories' and 'fishing-specific' sublists; this week I'll cover my general category. Fishing-specific items will be covered in a future post...like, next week.

Without further ado, here are my General Apparel and Accessories must-haves for traveling...
(Note: Links to the products will be provided where possible)

Tools of the trade

• iPod Touch (64gb): it does everything an iPhone does (except make/receive calls & texts) with more memory and for less money. I've been traveling with this iPod for almost two years; it's been my camera, atlas, e-reader, music & movie player, video camera, and communications hub. Add a pair of travel-friendly noise-cancelling earbud headphones and you have it made for flights and noisy neighbourhoods (or snoring roommates). It's a full-on mobile command post.
• MSR Packtowel: almost the size of a beach towel, folds to the size of a small paperback novel. It's very quick-drying and an amazing product. I have two of them in different sizes.
• Ex Officio Give-N-Go boxer brief: comfortable, easy to wash, quick drying. Wear a pair, take a pair. Wash them in the shower or sink when needed and they'll be dry within hours. Some day, every pair of underwear I own will be these.
• Smartwool socks: awesome products, and oh so comfortable. I have several pairs of varying weights and it's not often I'll wear anything else. Great to have a pair stashed away even in tropical climates for blister prevention.
• Decent hat. Blocks the sun. Cuts glare on the water. Hides unwashed bed-head. I prefer the mesh-back trucker style as it's a little cooler in warm climates. My current hat is the previous version of this one (gotta support my Southern cousins...)
• Reliable but inexpensive (or inexpensive-looking) watch. You might need to know the time, and hauling out your iPod Touch to check the time in downtown Puerto San Jose or Ouagadougou might not be the wisest choice.
• Pocket tool. This might not be practical if you're not checking any luggage. I'm almost always check luggage, so I bring two: a Gerber Crucial and a Leatherman Wave. If I were to pick only one, the Gerber would make the trip.
• Water bottle. I use Kleen Kanteen, but without the spout (even with water bottles: the more moving parts it has, more likely it will break).
• Packable rain jacket. Buy one of decent quality and it will last for years. I've had one from Marmot for seven years and a full rain suit from MEC for five years; they're both going strong.
• Notebook & pen/pencil. This is a backup in case the iPod battery is dead or dying (or because the traveler is in downtown Puerto San Jose & doesn't want to take their iPod out of their pocket). Jot down directions, contact information, fly patterns to tie or buy, to-do lists, whatever. Just have one.
• Zip-Lock freezer bags (large). Use them to isolate toiletries to keep them from spilling into your luggage. Or to isolate stinky socks & underwear when packing. Transport several pounds of primo Guatemalan coffee beans in them. They're good to have.
• Electrical tape. To tape things shut, like shampoo bottles or bandages to open wounds. Or tape things together, like a tube for a 3-piece glass rod to a case for 4-piece rods, so you only have 'one' carry-on item.
• Gum. Minty stuff to freshen your breath. The Traveling Angler might not have a chance to brush their teeth for a little while.
• A good playlist...or three. Have a playlist for chilling out or falling asleep to on noisy planes, buses, in dorms or whatever. Have another one for fun times, with shitty music you might not normally listen to, because you never know when you'll be called upon to supply the party music (Jay-Z albums are pretty good for this). And have another one of your favourite tracks or genre to sing along to that allows you to do whatever you need to do. Like drive for 26 hours straight. This is a good track for that right here:

Traveling Angler Tuesdays launched June 26th, 2012 on mattrevors.com. My mission is to prove the concept of fly fishing travel abroad is not just the realm of old rich dudes and magazine writers & photographers. Keep checking back regularly as I share tips & tricks to get you to fly fishing locales you dream of going to. To see past articles & tips, click here.

Disclaimer
The products mentioned in this article were bought and paid for by the author, Mat Trevors. 

I, Mat Trevors, am not sponsored by or associated with any of the companies listed above and am accepting no compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for these endorsements. 

My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship has been pursued or established. 

Companies wishing to hire a Writer-Not-In-Residence-But-On-Water can definitely buy my allegiance; however, those companies must be upstanding members of the global community and produce gear of high quality. I can be reached through the Contact Page.

Enter your email address to subscribe (I will never, ever spam, sell or trade your email address):

Traveling Angler Tuesdays: Gear Review - Redington Sonic-Pro Wading Pants

Traveling Angler Tuesdays launched June 26th, 2012 on mattrevors.com. My mission is to prove the concept of fly fishing travel abroad is not just the realm of old rich dudes and magazine writers & photographers. Keep checking back regularly as I share tips & tricks to get you to fly fishing locales you dream of going to. To see past articles & tips, click here.

This is the first Traveling Angler Tuesday gear review.

For any self-respecting Traveling Angler, packing and traveling light should be a major part of the process.

Of course, anglers with their rod tips pointed south have it made: quick-dry pants & shirt, hat, sunglasses, Buff and suitable flats boots. That, in a nutshell, is it.

Anglers traveling to points north (well, typically northwest and maybe northeast) might have to bring some waders along. Waders are bulky and add weight to your luggage, but water temperatures and general climate patterns in some destinations may require them. Hypothermia isn't all that fun, and can definitely occur in year-round.

There exists a wader that packs nicely without taking up too much space and without adding too much dreaded weight to your luggage: Redington's Sonic-Pro Wading Pant.

Waist-high and lightweight, the wading pants use Redington's sonic construction to weld the seams together, resulting in no stitching along the seams. No stitching means no holes. No holes means a better chance of no leaks. These are good things.

I have been using (and traveling with) the Sonic-Pro Wading Pant for the past few months; my review is as follows:

Note: I also have a pair of Redington's Sonic-Pro Zip-Front chest waders, which I have been using (& abusing) for the past two seasons without any issues whatsoever. For comparison with the Sonic-Pro Wading Pants, I have added some notes about the Zip-Fronts as well.

Fit - 3.5 / 5
I am wearing the wading pants in a size large. For the record, I find it difficult to find clothes, fishing-related or not, that fit me well; I am 5'8" and 195lbs, with a 34" (sometimes 36") waist and take a size 9 shoe. I always seem to be on the cusp between medium and large for most clothing. Waders included.

The wading pants fit me comfortably, and their adjustable waist strap & suspenders do what they're supposed to do. The large size would definitely fit a taller man than I, and the neoprene wading booties could easily fit a person with size 11 feet. I wear two pairs of socks when wading (I'm susceptible to cold in the feet due to a minor experience with frostbite) so the roominess of the booties works out well for me.

If I was 5'10" or so, the wading pants would definitely be getting a 4.5 out of 5. In fairness, the same issue came up trying on Patagonia and Simms waders prior to purchasing the Zip-Front chest waders. I'm just an odd-shaped fellow. It's a rugby thing, I'm sure.

Zip-Fronts: Same deal; size large. Definitely made for someone a little taller than me, but they fit comfortably. Neoprene wading booties are also a little big, but a non-issue due to my wearing two pairs of socks.

Mobility - 4.5 / 5
When walking to and from the river, I hardly notice the Sonic-Pro Wading Pant. They feel as light as some of the technical rain pants one can buy at REI or MEC.

For bending over to put on my wading boots, I do have to keep the adjustable waist strap loose until my boots are done up.

There are no issues with kneeling, squatting, climbing over things, etc., while wearing the wading pants.

Zip-Fronts: I have to keep the waders unzipped and the wading belt undone while putting on my wading boots in the zip-fronts, but I've haven't any mobility issues with them, either. However, you definitely notice you're wearing waders when you have them on; though lightweight, they're still chest waders.

Style - wtf? / 5
Who gives a flying rat's ass about style? It's fishing, damn it. If you're worried about style, the figure skating club is probably looking for new members.

Zip-Fronts: Ditto. But they definitely make me feel like a pro. Except when my casting falls apart five hours into a tough day of fishing. Then I feel like a chump in nice waders.

Packability - 5 / 5
This is where Redington's Sonic-Pro Wading Pant shines. These things pack up smaller than your typical hoodie or bath towel, taking up hardly any space at all in my duffel bag. These things are damn-near perfect for traveling.

In fact, do you think this review would make it as a Traveling Angler Tuesday post if I didn't think the wading pants were worthy? Damn straight.

Zip-Fronts: Due to being chest waders and of heavier construction, the zip-fronts take up 2-3 times more space and I'd say weigh about twice as much as the wading pants (estimated). I have, however, taken the zip-fronts on a few trips, without any regrets. They pack smaller than boot-foot waders, after all.

Durability - 3.5 / 5
To be clear: I have had zero issues with the wading pants with regards to durability. The work like they're supposed to: they keep me dry.

That being said, I wouldn't want to take them bushwhacking through a heavy alders or thorn bushes for any great distance. The thought of sliding down a riverbank in them caused me to walk the extra hundred or so yards to a gentler slope down to the water.

Bushwhacking through alders & thorn bushes and sliding down riverbanks, however, is not what they're designed for; used within their limitations and with a little bit of care, the Sonic-Pro Wading Pant should last the angler a very long time. They are extremely well-made.

And they handled an errant size 6 Clouser minnow fairly well. No worse for wear it seems.

Zip-Fronts: Bulletproof. I feel like Iron Man in them, that's how heavy-duty they seem (without sacrificing the lightness & breathability of modern waders). If I was to give the zip-fronts a score out of 5 for durability, it'd be 5.5. Seriously.

*          *          *

So, needless to say, I'm a pretty big fan of the wading pants from Redington (and the Sonic-Pro Zip-Front waders, too).

Are wading pants for everybody?

Definitely not.

But if you're a small-stream fisherman, fishing from a boat or canoe, fishing cold spring creeks on warm days, or a Traveling Angler, I think you could put the Sonic-Pro Wading Pant to pretty good use. I know I have.

*          *          *

Product Information:
Redington Sonic-Pro Wading Pants
MSRP:
$229.95
Colour:
Driftwood
Manufacturer's Description:
Ideal waders to fish in when the weather is warm, but the water is still cold or between seasons. Offering Redington's premier Sonic-Pro technology, these wading pants will keep you dry and comfortable. The adjustable waist and optional suspenders make these waders the perfect option for the angler looking for an alternative to a chest wader.
Manufacturer's Website:
www.redington.com

*          *          *

Disclaimer:

I received the Sonic-Pro Wading Pants from Redington to provide a review on mattrevors.com. 

I'm not entirely sure if I have to return them or not; if I am told to return them, I might just try to buy them instead of shipping them back. If I can keep them free of charge, well, that's pretty friggin' awesome. 

Either way, the preceding review is my honest opinion. This review was not, under any circumstances, biased for or against the waders and/or Redington. I do try to maintain some credibility and professionalism in this whole Writer/Angler thing I'm doing.

The Redington Sonic-Pro Zip-Front Waders also mentioned in this article were bought and paid for by the author, Mat Trevors, via Redington's Guide Staff Program and Fredericton Outfitters & Anglers in the spring of 2011. 

I, Mat Trevors, am not sponsored by or associated with Redington or its parent company Farbank Enterprises, and is accepting no other compensation, monetary or otherwise, in exchange for this review. 

My independent status may change in the future but, as of the date of publication, no relationship other than described above has been pursued or established. 

Companies wishing to hire a Writer-Not-In-Residence-But-On-Water can definitely buy my allegiance; however, those companies must be upstanding members of the fly fishing community and produce gear of high quality. I can be reached through the Contact Page.

The quest for the perfect 7wt

I somehow developed an infatuation with seven-weight fly rods this past winter.

Not actually owning a 7wt fly rod didn't prevent this infatuation from forming. That would make sense. As one would expect, logic cannot be allowed to step in the way when it comes to fishing gear. Thus the search for a worthy 7wt began.

Note: I will henceforth refer to it as 7wt Fever.

My research began with targeting smallmouth and was expanded to include Atlantic salmon and then light saltwater angling.

And it was based on this maxim:
Choosing the rod for the size of flies you wish to cast, not the size of fish you wish to catch.

I'll break this down into the various species:

Smallmouth Bass
For smallmouth, my Redington Predator 6wt was great for casting size 4-8 flies, including weighted flies like Clousers and crawfish patterns. But it was severely lacking the backbone necessary for big, wind-resistant deer hair poppers and beefy flies like Barr's Meat Whistle and larger, heavier Clousers. And, while I can easily cast these flies on my 8wt, the fun of 1-3lb smallies is slightly diminished on the  big stick.

And fun is what matters, right?

Enter Doug from Smallmouth Fly Box (with a quote from Tim Holschlag of smallmouthflyangler.com):

If you are going to pick out a favorite rod you have to start with the perfect overall line weight for the species you are after.  The type of water you fish, wind conditions, fly sizes etc. are all factors when choosing a line weight, but many agree that the ideal line weight for smallmouth bass is a 7wt. 

First off, a 7wt is a nice weight to lug around all day, avoiding arm fatigue is always a good thing.  I can toss a large popper as well as a beefy streamer with this weight rod.  If paired with the right line a 7 weight can punch through wind, but if cast correctly it can quietly lay out a bug without a splash.  The 7 weight is the perfect balance between brute force and finesse....and it give you options to toss top water poppers or streamers. 

Smallmouth legend Tim Holschlag had this to say about the 7 weight: 

"What if a person wants to fish different types of water, but can only afford one good rod?  That's simple--get a 7-weight, 9 1/2', medium-stiff, medium-fast action good quality rod.  7-weights may be out of style right now, but they're still the best all-purpose smallmouth rods available.  Over the course of a year, I probably use a 7-weight more than any other type of rod." 

I agree with Tim completely, but I tend to deviate from his recommendation for medium-stiff and medium-fast action rods.  Who am I to contradict Tim Holschlag, a guy that fishes more in one year than I have fished in my lifetime.  Good thing all of this is personal preference! 

So mark one up for 7wt Fever for smallies.

Note - As mentioned in numerous previous posts, my go-to bass rig is now the Cabela's 7/8wt CGR, perfectly paired with Sage's 230gr Performance Bass (Bluegill) line spooled on a Hardy Ultralite 7000DD reel. If I do say so myself, it is the best combination of rod-reel-line I have ever pieced together. And it does support 7wt Fever, as it is officially listed as a 7/8-weight.

Atlantic salmon
Ask any number of New Brunswick fly anglers what rod weight to use for Atlantic salmon and the majority will swear up and down you need an eight or nine weight fly rod.

But applying my rod-for-fly-size maxim above, I decided an 8wt might be too much rod, and a 9wt could definitely be considered overkill* - especially with the cast-cast-step-cast-cast-step methodology used for fishing salmon pools. It's a lot of damn casting.

* - Two contrasting points here: One, the Main Southwest Miramichi is a big river, and the wind can definitely howl. So an 8wt could definitely be beneficial in those situations. Conversely, the typical salmon angler on the Miramichi is almost as old as the river itself, so one would think they would appreciate casting a lighter rod. Just something else to think about.

The fly-size factor was a non-issue: no Atlantic salmon fly is as heavy nor as wind-resistant as a smallmouth fly. For one, current New Brunswick salmon fishing regulations do not permit weighted flies. And the biggest salmon bomber is nowhere near the size of a deer hair popper.

Salmon flies, for the majority of patterns, can be easily cast with rods as light as 5wt.

As for fighting and landing the fish, the rod weight, should be a non-issue. Though a number of 15-20lb salmon are caught each week during the fishing season (except, of course, by me), the majority of salmon hooked are in fact 3-7lb juveniles called grilse.

And that doesn't take into consideration the conventional thinking for leader/tippet test used on the Miramichi is 8lb test, quite often used as a straight piece of 8lb-Maxima tied to the fly line (only us "fancy city boys" or "know-nuthin' youngsters" would ever use a knotless tapered leader...).

So I came to an extremely profound observation in my 7wt Fever study:
Eight-pound test is still eight-pound test, no matter what rod weight you are fishing.

Chalk another point for 7wt Fever.

Light Saltwater
The species (sea trout, snook, redfish, baby tarpon, bonefish) included in this portion of the study were more difficult to justify for 7wt Fever. For me, that is.

For one, as much as I love it, I don't saltwater fish enough to call myself a 'saltwater fly angler'....yet*. So I have to pay attention to guys like Austin Orr, Bjorn Stromness, Davin Ebanks, Captain Gordon & others for a lot of their knowledge and opinions.

* - More on this in the near-future. Some of you (Cameron, Dave, Dean, Scotty D, Tara...if you guys actually read this shit) already know what I'm talking about :)

Secondly, the oft-present sea breezes an angler encounters on the flats can definitely warrant the ubiquitous 8wt saltwater rod. As does the heavier, more wind-resistant fly patterns the angler might be throwing at any given time.

That being said, I am of the opinion there are times where a 7wt would be an ideal choice for light saltwater fly fishing. Especially if the angler can cast. Which I can't, sometimes...

I'll give a half-point for 7wt Fever in light saltwater.

*          *          *

As the winter months waned, one, shortly followed by a second, 7wt rod fell off the rack at the shop and into the back of my truck (somehow).

However much I stumble through life trying to use critical thinking and not being susceptible to marketing propaganda, the lack of fishing and extreme cold of winter can really throw a wrench into the works. This is breakdown in sanity is often magnified by my addiction to appreciation of fly fishing gear, and a generous staff discount at the local fly shop.

The first rod was a Loop XACT 907-4. It had a medium-fast action and a really comfortable cork-mix handle. In fact, I think I may have bought the rod solely for the handle. I liked the feel of the handle. I mean, I really liked the feel of the handle. Enough to buy the damn rod without casting it.

But it turns out, I didn't like casting the rod. In my quiver post, I had this to say about the XACT:

I have a little twinge of buyer's remorse over this, as I don't necessarily love the medium-fast action on this rod & sometimes wish I would have went with a TFO TiCr, TiCrX or Axiom. But it is what it is, so I'll cope (for now).

Another minor issue was the stripping guide was of an extremely small diameter. I don't know why, but it bothered me...but it doesn't bother me on the CGR. Go figure.

Needless to say, I didn't end up coping for long, as the shop received an order of TFO's Axioms at the end of March. And the XACT was eventually sold to my uber-friendly British Smallmouth Fishing Client (more on that in a future post).

Once the Axiom came along, it was all over. Comfortable grip. Lightweight. Fast action. Big stripping guides. Heck, even the components matched up with my new Tibor Backcountry. On Instagram, I called the Axiom & Tibor Backcountry combo my "one rig to rule them all."

Matched up with an Airflo Ridgeline freshwater fly line, I felt I could cast this setup until the end of time. Salmon flies, weighted bass flies or deer hair poppers, it didn't matter. It truly was one rig to rule them all.

(Cue happy, running-through-flowery-meadow music...like Ray Stevens's 'Everything is Beautiful')

Until I had to make a shot at a tailing carp, less than thirty feet away.

(Cue 'Everything is Beautiful' suddenly stopping to that record-scratching noise)

Fifteen feet of fly line did not, would not, and could not load the Axiom. It was the only shot at a carp that day.

*          *          *

A few days later I was in the Charleston area on a flats skiff with a new 8wt Airflo saltwater line for the Axiom-Backcountry rig. I figure over-lining the rod would solve the rod-loading problem. I was wrong.

Now, if I was a smart man, I would have spent some time practicing short shots in the days leading up to this fishing trip. But nobody ever said I was a smart man.

I did manage to make some shots as the afternoon progressed. But even with the Axiom over-lined with the 8wt, making short shots was extremely difficult. The rod just didn't load...or, at least I couldn't find the sweet-spot of it loading with so little fly line out of the tip.

Perhaps this wasn't the one rig to rule them all.

Note: I am not absolving myself of the blame. I'll be the first to admit I am not a great caster, and I don't practice my casting enough. Especially short, quick shots typical of sight casting. And that day in particular, this rule was made abundantly clear to me.

*          *          *

The next night I went out for a quick fish with Captain Gordon outside of Morehead City, NC. The fish were not biting, and we each only took a few casts (it was a fun detour to make, and totally worth it, fish or not).

That night I decided to use the Backcountry on my Redington CPX 8wt. My lightsaber. I truly love this rod. It's fast, but not uber-fast like the Axiom. I could feel the line load the road. My casts were going where I wanted them. I felt my casting mojo return slightly.

I hoped the Axiom was jealous.

*          *          * 

Yesterday morning I clicked over to my Google Reader feeds for the first time in almost three weeks. Amongst the 150 unread posts, I discovered this gem written by Davin Ebanks as a guest post on Bjorn's blog.

I read it twice. Lightbulb moment. Especially this part:

Here’s the straight skinny: ultra-fast rods are the worst rods for bonefishing. I say this for both the expensive and inexpensive sticks. If you can’t feel a rod with less than 30 feet of line out the tip, you’ll miss most bonefish. Bonefishing happens between 30-50 feet. That’s pretty close, and they’re usually moving toward you. You have very little time to get the fly out and feed the fish. If you’ve got to make half-dozen false casts just to load the rod, that fish will be inside 30 feet by then and you’re done. Game over. Redo from start. What you really need is a rod that allows you to cast to that sweet spot in 1-2 false casts. You should not be struggling to feel the rod, and you should be able to accurately present the fly inside 30 feet.

That's a decent summation of what happened in Charleston, except I didn't make a half-dozen false casts. I just tried to force the line. And failed miserably.

Davin's post definitely shed new light into my quest for the perfect 7wt.

*          *          *

But it's a quest that is now on hold.

I'm in one of those "be happy with what I have" states of mind. The CGR is my go-to bass rig, which I love casting & fighting fish on. I have the Airflo 7wt freshwater lines for the Axiom once I make my return to Atlantic salmon fishing next year. The CPX 8wt and the Backcountry pair up nicely, which will be my go-to rod in Belize next month.

So I guess my case of 7wt Fever has subsided....for now. There is a Redington CPX 7wt back at the shop, after all...

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Traveling Angler Tuesdays Tip #4: Carry-on your rods and reels!

Traveling Angler Tuesdays launched June 26th, 2012 on mattrevors.com. My mission is to prove the concept of fly fishing travel abroad is not just the realm of old rich dudes and magazine writers & photographers. Keep checking back regularly as I share tips & tricks to get you to fly fishing locales you dream of going to. To see past articles & tips, click here.

"32.8 million bags were mishandled by airlines globally in 2008 – an average of 90,000 bags per day,"- from What You Should Know About Mishandled Checked Luggage on Airlines

This stat surprised the hell out of me, and I already knew the numbers were pretty high. I just didn't think they were that high.

With dismal numbers like that, the Traveling Angler needs to put the odds in his favour.

Needless to say, the best way to have the odds in your favour is to have a rod and reel to fish with. You don't want to end up at your destination without a rod and reel, so carry it on.

Clothes can be borrowed or purchased, even if it's a ratty t-shirt and a pair of flip-flops from a street vendor.

Flies, pliers, nippers or knives can be bought or borrowed.

But without a rod and reel, you're pretty much screwed.

I repeat: CARRY YOUR ROD AND REEL ON THE PLANE.

Note: This applies to four piece rods. If you're traveling with two piece rods, you're on your own. I can't help you, other than to say 1982 called and they want their fishing pole back.

If you're taking only one rig, it's pretty easy to carry in a rod tube. Or maybe purchase one of these. You can get similar for two rods & reels right here.

If you're carrying three or more rods & reels, plus spools and such, I highly recommend the Orvis Safe Passage Rod & Gear Case. Mine is pictured above. It can hold up to six rods in their socks, plus their reels and spools. It is within carry-on size limits, and I've yet to have an overhead bin too small for it.

Pro tip: You can read a good review & better description of the Orvis rod case by the guys at Gink & Gasoline right here. You should also subscribe to them. They have probably the best fly fishing blog going right now.

My typical carry-on M.O. goes like this:

• In the Orvis rod case: rods, reels/spools, leaders, camera & charger, MacBook charger, phone charger, iPod cable, ebook cable, sunglasses case, toothbrush/toothpaste, Buff, sun gloves, hat (if not on my head), loose change collected on travels.
• In the Guatemalan Coffee Bag Satchel: MacBook Air, ebook reader, iPod Touch, smartphone, magazine, headphones, passport, wallet, boarding passes.

Note: Yes, that's right, I said satchel.

The above method puts me on the ground in my destination with my valuables AND my rods and reels.

Not to mention fresh breath, too.

*          *          *

KNOW THY RIGHTS

Typically in air travel, you will come across some busy-body working for an airline or even the TSA or CATSA (that's the Canadian TSA) that...interprets...the rules a little differently than what is published (or makes sense in any civil society). They will say you are not permitted to take your fishing rod on the plane due to government safety regulations.

This is untrue.

Note: I had an very cranky airline agent tell me my rods weren't permitted on the plane as per government regulations. Now if this uppity bitch model employee had told me the airline did not permit fishing rods in the cabin, that's one thing. I would have complied, as the airlines make their own policy. But she had told an untruth, so I invited her to come to the security checkpoint with me. She declined, and so on I went...with the rods.

Here's what they say. I highly recommend you print the webpages these are from & stick 'em in your satchel...or other carry-on bag...

TSA (e.g., the occasionally mean dudes in the United States airports)

• Fishing Rods / Poles: Fishing Rods are permitted as carry-on and checked baggage. However, please check with your air carrier to confirm that it fits within their size limitations for carry-on items. Ultimately, it is the carrier's decision as to whether or not it can be transported as carry-on baggage.
• Tackle Equipment: Fishing equipment should be placed in your checked baggage. Some tackle equipment can be considered sharp and dangerous. Expensive reels or fragile tackle such as fly's (sic) should be packed in your carry-on baggage.
• The website for this information is here.

CATSA (e.g., the barely-above minimum wage earning unarmed folks in Canadian airports that, in larger cities, can barely speak English and have never laid eyes upon a fly fishing rod & reel before)

• This website wasn't really friendly to copying and pasting written regulations, but here it is in screenshot-form (you can view the website here):

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MEXICO

Mexico is a crap-shoot, so it deserves extra attention. I will relate my experiences here so you can decide your own course of action.

When I flew into and out of Cancun, I had zero issues. Not even a glance at the rod case as a carry-on. I am guessing this is due to some relative amount of experience with anglers flying to and from Cancun and then moving to points further on the Yucatan Peninsula.

Flying through Mexico City just four weeks later was a clusterfuck of idiotic proportions.

I was permitted through Canadian security, as usual, and no issues through security and customs upon landing at MEX. But when I went to clear security for my connection to Guatemala City, the fun began. First there were questions, and general handling and fondling of the rods and reels. Then consultations with a supervisor began, with another supervisor coming in for moral support.

General stabbing and clubbing motions with my Redington Predator 6wt butt section soon commenced, followed by a lot of shrugging of the shoulders. Another supervisor showed up with a large binder, which drew the attention of four people. Pointing at the binder and me, and loud conversations over one another went on for about six minutes. I stood quietly with my hands folded while this went on.

With a series of head-nods, the binder was slapped shut and I was told I could go. With my rod case.

But while walking toward the gate, I was run down and scolded by a Mexican lady-hobbit in a supervisor's uniform. She brought back to the security checkpoint and told me to wait. Her scoldings then moved onto two other supervisors and the original officer that opened my rod case.

After a few minutes, an English-speaking supervisor shuffled over to me and sheepishly apologized. I had to check the rod case. I swore. A lot. Fortunately his English wasn't that good.

With four rods and reels, and all the other odds and ends I packed in the rod case, I was nervous about checking the bag. Especially in MEX. I paid the bag-wrapping dude $20US to do a really good job wrapping it. I handed over $3400 in fishing gear and accessories to the airline agent.

Fortunately it arrived in Guatemala City, and intact.

*          *          *

In conclusion, here are our lessons of the day:

1. Always carry your rods and reels with you on the plane (beware of the sky check system, too).
2. Be prepared to (very politely) argue your case. Print off the CATSA/TSA flight regulations from the links above and carry them with you to back up your story.
3. Be prepared to possibly check your bags in foreign countries, especially those lands unfamiliar with fly fishing gear .

As always, questions, comments, suggestions, or any additional tips and tricks are always welcome in the comments section.

Happy trails.

- MT

Traveling Angler Tuesdays Tip #3: Research

Traveling Angler Tuesdays launched June 26th, 2012 on mattrevors.com. My mission is to prove the concept of fly fishing travel abroad is not just the realm of old rich dudes and magazine writers & photographers. Keep checking back regularly as I share tips & tricks to get you to fly fishing locales you dream of going to. To see past articles & tips, click here.

So you, the Traveling Angler, have decided to travel for fish.

You have a passport. You have a zillion airline rewards points. And you have decided where you're going and what you're fishing for.

Now comes the fun part: planning and research.

The key thing to remember in the planning and research stage is this: Google is your friend.

The two most important questions to ask in planning your fly fishing trip are when and how.

1. When?

This is probably the simplest yet most important part of the research: when is the best possible time to go?

It is important because you don't want to spending January chasing either Atlantic salmon in the Gaspé Peninsula or migratory tarpon in the Keys.

A few keystrokes in Google or a quick email or phone call to a guide or local fly shop should tell you when to plan your trip.

2. How?

There are a few choices on how you're going to take your trip and spend your money. For most people, it comes down to cost and expectations.

The Traveling Angler has the following to choose from for accommodations and fishing:

• Lodge or camp-based, with meals and guides included.
• Guided, but finding own accommodations and meals.
• Do it yourself (DIY).
• Combination of guided & DIY.

A big part of deciding is logistics; in some locations, DIY is not practical nor cost-effective (or possibly legal). Other locations, or if traveling in a larger group, a lodge-based trip might not be possible. DIY or a combination of hiring a guide and DIY might be the cheapest and most sensible route, especially if one of the group has experience in the area you're traveling and fishing.

There are pros & cons to each but, as mentioned above, it comes down to cost and expectations:

a) How much money am I willing to part with? 

b) What is the likelihood of having a successful fishing trip?

Asking yourself (and your traveling companions, if applicable) when you're going and how you'll be fishing will set the foundation for the trip.

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Now you're ready to start researching the finer points of your upcoming trip.

The finer points, of course, are the small details that will make or break your trip. This section will help you make your final preparations. Here are a list of things to consider:

• Weather: knowing the weather conditions will determine what you pack for clothing. Too little or light, and you're uncomfortable. Too much and it's a pain to carry it around (note: I will be posting about packing in an upcoming Traveling Angler Tuesday tip).
• Gear: Are you bringing your own gear, or using gear provided by a guide? Do you have the right rod and reel setup? Your Montana trout rig will not suffice for permit fishing.
• Terminal tackle: Do you have the proper leader, tippet and flies for the species you'll be fishing? Do you have enough to last through your trip? Know that most countries outside of the US and Canada DO NOT have fly shops to top up supplies, so it is imperative you bring what you need with you.
• Technique: Are you sight-casting? Do you need to make 75' casts with 16-foot leaders in a twenty knot headwind? Are you wading? 
• Physical considerations: Are you in decent enough shape to wade all day in tropical heat? Do you have food allergies? Do you need travel vaccines? Do you need to bring sunscreen and fly repellant? Are you covered under travel insurance (note: I will be posting about travel insurance in an upcoming Traveling Angler Tuesday tip)?
• Currency: Do you need to buy the local currency? Is it cheaper or more legit to do so in the host country or at home in your local bank? And, of course, how much (note: I will be posting about budgeting your trip in an upcoming Traveling Angler Tuesday tip)?
• Accommodations: Are you staying at a lodge? Hotel? Hostel? Campground? House or condo rental? How much will it cost? Who will book it and pay the deposit, if necessary? How far is it from your fishing location?
• Food and drink: Is your trip all inclusive? Are you eating locally? How much should you expect to pay per meal? How much does a beer cost? Are there local grocery stores? Refrigerators or coolers and ice? Is the water safe to drink without treating? 
• Transportation: What happens once you land at your destination? Is someone picking you up? Do you need a rental vehicle? Does the rental company have any limitations (e.g., in Alaska, I couldn't take my rental down unpaved highways)? Do you need a shuttle service or a taxi? Is there anything you should avoid (such as any and all green cabs in Ouagadougou)? Does the lodge provide a pickup or transfer service?

These are all things that should be considered before you step out your door with your rod case over your shoulder. Preferably a few weeks before that.

If you are heading to a lodge or on a guided trip, the majority of the questions above can be answered via an email or phone call to the lodge or guide.

Pro tip: If the questions cannot or do not get answered by the lodge or guide, run the f**k away! Do not give your hard-earned cash and time to some donkey-run backwater outfit that can't tell you what leaders to bring. Book your trip with reputable lodges and guides, always!

Most of those questions can be answered with a quick Google search. More detailed information, such as fishing tackle and technique for a DIY trip, can be found with Google, too, but expect to spend a bit more time browsing web forums and blogs for this information. 

Hitting up Twitter, Facebook and Google+ and asking the right people if they or anyone they know have information might give you some leads as well. New to the social media thing? Sign up for Twitter and follow me. Then follow the fishing people I follow and politely ask us some questions. Twitter folks have all the answers.

Pro tip: Don't sign up for web forums and immediately start a new topic asking for directions to a good fishing spot. Longtime users of forums really, really dislike this.  Spend some time searching and reading through previous threads. There's usually a gold mine of info on time of day, fly patterns, techniques. If you still have questions, steer away from specific locations. Maybe ask for a recommendation for a guide or fly shop. This might be just a Northeast US and eastern Canadian thing; I'm not sure. But we don't like spot-burning on the interweb for our honey holes for stripers, salmon, trout and bass, I can tell you that.

If you have any travel companions, split the load up and assign a few research topics to each person. Google Docs or a DropBox folder is a great way to keep track of your findings.

Pro tip: cloud computing, such as Google Docs and DropBox, is the Traveling Angler's friend. More on that someday in the future.

The list of questions and tips above is by no means comprehensive, but it is damn-well close. 

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My Research at Work

I travel a fair bit for work. As such, I'm a big fan of the side trip. 

My reasoning is if I'm getting flown to some random place for three or four weeks at a time, it is my duty and responsibility as an angler (and writer) to fish there. I might never be back there again.

Of course, fishing may very well be limited by geography, season, weather, travel itineraries and, obviously, work (imagine, huh?). So research is a very big part of these side trips. 

It might mean bringing three rods and a slew of flies, such as this recent trip to Alaska with my 5wt, 7wt & 10wt in tow. Or it might mean bringing my tying material and leaving the rods at home (e.g., Nunavut in April).

Here are a few examples of how a little bit of research beforehand (and occasionally during) has resulted in making some work trips into fishing trips.

Last year I worked in Northern British Columbia for a few weeks. While there, I scoured the internet to research the best possible bang for my buck to fish once my project was completed. From what I was reading, I felt DIY wasn't going to be practical: the river system there is huge and the runoff was in full, making wading impossible...and there are big-ass grizzly bears around. 

I ended up booking a day with Derek Botchford of Frontier Farwest on the Bulkley River on my way back home. The logistics involved delaying my departure flight by two days and booking a cheap motel room. That's it. It took three emails and two phone calls to make this day trip happen.

Unfortunately the timing wasn't right for the Bulkley's famous steelhead season, but I managed to hook a chinook and a bull trout, and spend a day having great conversation with a really interesting dude while running up & down the river in a jet boat. It was totally worth it. And it wasn't that expensive.

Note: But I didn't see any grizzly bears, damn it!

On the other hand, when I found myself in Yellow Pine, Idaho for the month of October for work, it was all DIY. Within 30 minutes of my plane landing in Boise, I was pulling into Idaho Angler in my rental truck. I bought a license and started peppering the helpful staff with questions about where I was heading and what I could expect for fishing. They helped pick out a selection of flies for me and I was off. Bull trout were the order of the day (and month) and they were pretty fun.

When I returned to Boise, I popped into the shop again. They remembered my face & asked me how it was. Since I wasn't flying out until the next day, they directed me to the Boise River for rainbows and what fly to use. I had a blast.

Pro tip: Pay a visit to a local fly shop. Be friendly. Buy some flies or leader or a magazine. They should give you some little nugget of information to make fishing their area a little easier.

Here's an example of failing to research...and then researching like a man obsessed:

In Northern Saskatchewan last August, I didn't bring any fly rods with me. I only had roughly forty minutes between my flight into Saskatoon and my flight north to the project area. No possible way to buy a license in forty minutes, and online licenses weren't available there.

Once I arrived at the project site, I quickly discovered the majority of the guys were fishing obsessed. And it turned out I could buy a license, at the commissary of the aerodrome I flew into. So there I was, in big pike country with no fly rod. But the guys gave me a loaner spinning rod. And then I hit the internet.

I was up until 2AM reading everything I could find online on techniques for fishing pike. The next night I went fishing with the crew and caught one on my first cast. And then caught some more. Two nights later, I caught the largest pike anyone had ever caught on that project site. 

I'll be the first to admit it was luck of right time, right place. But the research I did online told me the structure to look for, the depths to fish at and the retrieve to use. So how much of that is luck?

Unfortunately the pike wasn't on a fly rod, so it sits on my Species Journal with an asterisk...for now...

After catching the big pike, I didn't get invited to go fishing any more. So I turned my attention to the elusive Atlantic salmon back home. Each night, after my work was done, I would read articles and forum posts about Atlantic salmon fishing, and scroll over the Miramichi River in Google Earth. Of course, I caught two on my first afternoon fishing once I returned home. Research works.

Note: Frequent readers will know my ego has since been deflated back to normal, sit-in-the-corner-mumbling levels with regard to Atlantic salmon.

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With a bit of time and effort, and some help from Google, research can and will help you, the Traveling Angler, make the most of your trip.

Questions, comments, suggestions, or any additional tips and tricks are always welcome in the comments section.

Happy trails.

Mat

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