reviews

Chota’s newest wading boot, the Rock Loc boot, is the latest rubber soled model to hit the market. Since the rubber soles have become popular, I’ve tested a pair from about every major manufacturer that has arrived at the shop. Before I hit the river in these I wanted to ask Mark at Chota how they settled on this design. Mark relayed to me a lengthly process of testing, over a year’s time, before they got the shoe just right. Guides and anglers from different parts of the country put in over 200 days each in these boots and the rubber compound/design changed numerous times based …

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Many thanks to Gunpowder regular Brian Walsh for his thoughts on fishing his first bamboo fly rod. Theaux, I wish to thank you for having the foresight to set aside the Little Falls for me. Something tells me that you knew I’d be back after reading A Wisp In The Wind. I’ve since blown-off both a meeting at work and a date with a beautiful girl…….. to stand in my backyard with a beer and the rod, casting to my dog’s chew toys, placed strategically around the lawn. All puns aside, I’m hooked. I also want to thank you and the guys for renewing my …

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The following is a review of the SAGE ZXL Fly Rod by Terry Newendorp. Thanks Terry! The smoothness and lightness of this rod belies the strength it has to both get your heavy, weighted nymph rig out there, and to land that 23 incher once you’ve hooked it. I have used the Sages since the SP and then the SLT series, and never thought there would be any good reason to add a new one to my inventory – but this one is so wonderful in your hand and so responsive with either size 22 dry or a nymph rig, and so powerful in the …

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Our friend Pierce Yates from Birmingham, Alabama just sent us a number of his Boogle Bugs. During an eye-opening visit, he learned some valuable lessons from Mr. Bobs poppers founder Bob Guess. They do make a wonderous noise! Pierce’s own description from his website looks like an entry straight out of Webster’s. BoogleBug® \büg´-əl -bəg\ n 1: a very attractive, most durable bass bug or panfish bug used by knowledgeable warmwater fly fishing anglers to provoke aggressive topwater feeding by their finned adversaries. 2: one very tough, good looking bug that will catch you lots of bass and panfish for fun or food. We have …

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Cloudveil’s Inertia Plus Fabric with Primeflex used on its Inertia Peak Pants and Spinner Shirts is one of the most innovative technologies offered by the major angling clothing brands. The yarns resist deformation and have NO propensity to hold water, treated with Kudos FP, 100 wash super durable water repellent. At first glance the shirts and pants appear no different than the typical multi-pocketed fishing clothing, but this fabric’s ability to repel water is closer to rain gear. Water beads on contact with the fabric and sheets off like raindrops on a windshield treated with Rain-X. The shirt and pants allow an angler to remain …

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