reviews

I was able to test a pair out for a few weeks in the Fall on different rivers in the region. These shoes excel at climbing up and down slabs, or inclined rocks, which are common along many Maryland rivers. The shoe is lighter in weight than a shoe with a felt sole when hitting the trail for long hikes. Under the water’s surface the soft rubber grips the rocks, and without the studs, allow a totally quiet approach to the “fishy” spots. I also tested the Cloudveil 8x Stealth Boot on the Salmon River in New York while steelhead fishing. The shoe worked great …

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Our first Eden Cane Rod from Builder Bernard Ramanauskas arrived this week. It is the venerable 704-Y model. This bamboo fly rod is hollow built, nodeless, and is one of 30 built for the 2008 season. It is a 7ft 4wt 2pc/2 tip rod that is a delight to hold, and is priced at $3, 950. Please call the shop at 410-329-6821 for details…Or, view a brief description online.

If you have been looking for new and innovative materials stop by Backwater Angler on your next fishing trip to the Gunpowder. We have a good mix of natural materials from blue pheasant to arctic fox, and plenty of flashy synthetics from Midge Cactus Chenille to UV Polar Chenille. Wing cutters are available in caddis and mayfly wing styles and have been a great new addition to the tying room. Use these razor sharp cutters with the winging material or ultra thin foam in stock to make consistent wings. These caddis and mayfly wings are realistic and durable. Innovative winging materials are colorfast, ultra thin …

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I make very few fishing trips a year outside of Maryland, yet I always make one that completely takes me out of my comfort zone. Bonefishing, especially self guided week long trips, can test instincts, casting and patience. My recent trip to North Caicos had the normal hurdles of winter tropical trips; a day or two of fishing lost to 30 knot winds, hours of searching flats, and intense moments. I had to deal with curious lemon sharks on numerous occasions and paddled countless miles in an ocean kayak across a lagoon to a ankle-knee deep, twenty square mile flat. I was fortunate to have …

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New lines always promise high floatation, extra distance and slickness to improve casting. One of the most recent lines to hit the fly fishing market is the Sharkskin Line in the Ultimate Trout Taper from Scientific Anglers. The blue heron colored line has a gritty feel, which is actually a precision textured pattern that raises the surface area of the line off the guides. The idea is that the less line surface area contacting the guides during casting will mean less friction and more distance. The first noticeable attribute about casting the line is that it creates a sound, as the fine grit on the …

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