2021 Gift Guide | Fishpond Hailstorm Soft Cooler
Tested & Reviewed by Jim McLennan This cooler caught my eye immediately, because the outside is made of waxed cotton – that beautiful earthy fabric made famous by companies like Hardy, Barbour and Filson. Waxed cotton? For a cooler? Yes, and if that makes it an analog cooler in a digital world that’s more than […]
2021 Gift Guide | Umpqua Wader Tote
Tested & Reviewed by Derek Olthuis Rods are gorgeous, reels are exquisite, waders are rad, so it was a bit surprising to me that one of my top choices of gear would be a tote bag. However, Umpqua’s full-featured ZS2 Wader Tote just makes fishing better. The 22’x16”padded stand station makes gearing up very civilized […]
2021 Gift Guide | Sage Sense
Tested & Reviewed by Jeff Wagner A good rod doesn’t need to be expensive or flaunt unnecessary technology no one can identify. It does, however, need to be the rod that you reach for and don’t think twice about when fishing. The Sage Sense is that sensible nymphing rod. This was the primary rod I […]
2021 Gift Guide | Patagonia Guidewater Sling Pack
Tested & Reviewed by Derek Olthuis This pack is a great addition to any angler looking to go minimalist or to throw it into your larger backpacking pack as you head into the backcountry. Its compact size is large enough to hold anything you really need for a day of fishing without the bulk of […]
2021 Gift Guide | Sage Sonic
Tested & Reviewed by Derek Bird In order to better understand each rod, some feel it necessary to contrast the Sage Sonic to the Sage X. But as a person who owns both rods, I feel a side-by-side comparison does both rods a disservice because it promotes an unnecessary focus on the specific components. This […]
2021 Gift Guide – Scientific Anglers Absolute Leaders & Tippet
Tested and Reviewed by Derek Bird I’m under the impression that the less you notice leader and tippet, the better off you are as an angler. If you’re tippet is always breaking, you notice it. If your leader is always twisting and knotting up, you notice it. My summer fishing SA leaders and tippet I […]
2021 Gift Guide – Korkers River Ops Wading Boot
Tested & Reviewed by Derek Bird I’ve been wearing the River Ops all season and I’ll continue to wear them after the testing period. The Korkers team created a boot that’s impressive from top to bottom. River Ops are comfortable over long distances, they’re lightweight and they’re sturdy. Although my pair looks well-travelled now, the […]
New & Noteworthy | Outcast OSG Clearwater
No matter what kind of angler you are, at some point you’ve probably pondered buying a boat. It’s a rite of passage, really, to daydream about floating down a beautiful river with just you, the scenery, and all the fish downstream. One of the more frustrating things about purchasing a boat is that it’s not […]
New & Noteworthy | Yeti Trailhead Chair
Let’s be honest. Does anyone truly need a $300 camp chair? No. But, as always with Yeti, the Trailhead Camp Chair is another example of the company taking a simple product, over-engineering it to the max, and coming out with something that looks great, performs very well, and will stand the test of time. Falling […]
New & Noteworthy | Airflo Superflo
The new SuperFlo series from Airflo features three different tapers designed for all your trout-fishing needs: the Tactical Taper, the Universal Taper, and the Power Taper. Each is meant to solve a different problem. The Tactical Taper, available in 2- through 6-weights, features a delicate front taper and an extended rear taper, perfect for placing […]