News On The Fly

Many owners are surprised by the results of their dogs' DNA tests.
Photo via al.com

An interesting article on al.com yesterday highlights the increasing popularity of DNA tests for dogs. Lots of folks, like me, have mixed-breed pups about which we know very little. My dog, Pedey, was picked up as a stray. We can tell that. . .

The post DNA Tests for Mixed Breeds Becoming More Popular appeared first on Orvis News.

A coalition of sporting groups and business are rallying behind legislation that would designate Browns Canyon a national monument. “Browns Canyon is a special place for sportsmen,” said Kyle Perkins, Trout Unlimited’s organizer of the Sportsmen for Browns Canyon campaign. “We just want to keep it the way it is—wild and pristine.”

Read more in the press release below.

Research performed on juvenile bonefish in the Bahamas is helping to inform studies on preferred nursery habitats in the Florida Keys as well. The Bonefish and Tarpon Trust recently held a “Baby Bonefish Blitz” in the Keys, which revealed encouraging population results and promising habitats.

Read more in the press release below.

By now, I have a pretty simple system for rating fly-fishing products:  A “good” product is one that I think will fill a niche, or successfully replace another that’s been on the market for a while.  A money maker.

A “great” product is one that I think will actually grow sales in a certain product category within the fly world… a rod (or reel, or line, or waders, or sunglasses) that offers performance advantages so obvious, that it changes the paradigm.  A money cultivator.

But the “slam dunk” rating is reserved for products that are so good that the appeal transcends the fishing world.  A fly shop might carry this one, but the mountain biker or the skier (or the camper or the soccer mom) comes into the shop to find it.

YETI’s new “Hopper” ($300 retail)  is

The Drake magazine’s Flyfishing Video Awards have, over the years, become the premier “event within the event” at IFTD.  I know some people who go to the show just to go to the Drake Video Awards, and if you’re in town and don’t show up for this, you’re going to be conspicuously absent.

Another reason you should check this year’s show out (7 p.m., Rosen Centre Hotel, Ballroom G) Wednesday the 16^th, is because Drake publisher Tom Bie says he is more stoked on this lineup than any in the event’s previous nine years… and that’s actually saying a helluva lot.

Says Bie: “The thing is, in the nine years I’ve been putting this show together, I’ve never been more excited about the content of the awards program. Part of this is just the result of it being an especially good year for films (DamNation, Mending the Line, GeoBass, Blood Knot, Waypoints…) But also, I’m excited about

This has been a taboo subject that gets brought up, skirted around, and shelved from year to year, but we expect more serious talk on warranties at IFTD this year.

I know the retailer who sent us this chart is ready to talk about it…

Those are real sales statistics over the past 17 years.  You can see that this shop has grown sales tremendously, despite the fact that rod sales have remained flat.

Which may be okay.  Maybe rods are to fly fishing what copy machines are to Office Max… the real money isn’t in the machines, but in the ink and toner that makes them run.  Maybe that’s also

Jim Bartschi and crew at Scott Fly Rods have done it again, and it’s called “Tidal.”  Maybe not as big a splash as the “Radian,” which deservedly took “Best of Show” honors at IFTD last year, but a very compelling, smartly-conceived, well-engineered rod that fits a specific niche, and fills a good pricepoint.  This is a “great” product, and it will contend in the Best Saltwater Rod category at the New Product Showcase, no doubt.

As Bartschi explained to us:  This rod is designed to make casting and fishing saltwater class rods easier. Fly fishing in saltwater is challenging by its nature—conditions Conditions, fish, nerves—and often transitioning up from fly rods most of us use frequently (4,5, and 6 weights) just adds to the challenges. We wanted to make a rod that

Photo via Instagram

To keep abreast of what's going on in fly fishing, I get lots of Google Alerts. About 80% of the alerts for the search term "trout" have nothing to do with fish. Instead, they're about Mike Trout, the Major League baseball player, which really isn't relevant to. . .

The post Photo: All-Star Rainbows appeared first on Orvis News.

It's amazing that Ellen could even survive in this condition.
Photo via facebook

We've seen some pretty remarkable transformations in stray dogs over the years, but this one is right up there with the most astonishing. The story from the Trio Animal Foundation describes how they turned the matted monster above into the sweet pup below: . . .

The post Photos: One Abandoned Dog’s Incredible Transformation! appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Nicole Roller

Gokey® Snakeproof Boots, made in the USA

A snakebite is definitely one of the very worst ways to conclude a day in the field. If you hunt in the contiguous United States, there’s at least half a chance you’ll run into a venomous snake while you’re in the field—and, particularly if you live in the South, it’s a. . .

The post Gokey® Snakeproof Boots: “Perfect Out of the Box” appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Ty Patton, Store Manager, Orvis Deham (MA)

The trout of the Upper Delaware will test all your angling skills.
All photos courtesy Ty Patton

Here are some pictures of our hosted trip to the West Branch Angler early last month. We try to run a trip to the West Branch of the Delaware in the Catskills every year, and this year we tried to. . .

The post Photo Essay: Trying to School Educated trout on the Upper Delaware appeared first on Orvis News.

Mike Scott and his new friend at Denver International Airport.
Photo via9news.com

Here's a great story about people working together to save an animal who'd been mistreated by others. When someone abandoned a malnourished dog outside the departures terminal at Denver international Airport, the easiest thing to do would have been to. . .

The post Video: Airport Employees Care for Abandoned Dog appeared first on Orvis News.

Here's short film about Carpicide, a fly-fishing tournament that took place last month close to downtown Minneapolis. But the film is really about a lot more than the tournament. It's about why people take the time and suffer the. . .

The post Video: Ever Wonder Some Anglers Love Fishing for Carp? appeared first on Orvis News.

Duke's last day was full of Play, reflection, and love.
Photo by Robyn Arouty Photography via huffingtonpost.com

Wow. This is a really beautiful series of photographs of a beloved dog's final day. A Black Lab who had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma a few years ago, Duke had already lost a leg and was increasingly uncomfortable. So the Robertson family decided that it was time to. . .

The post Photos: The Greatest Last Day Ever, or How to Say Goodbye appeared first on Orvis News.

From Hardy:

The new Shadow® fly rod from Hardy® delivers all the control to the angler along with the perfect balance of power, finesse and durability. Slough Creek cutthroat, Boundary Waters smallmouth, the permit of Turneffe Atoll or any other hard-hitting fish are no match for the Shadow.

Nine models are available from the 8-foot, 4-weight for delicate presentations to the wind-cheating 10-foot, 8-weight workhorse.

The key to the Shadow’s high-quality feel and performance is the advanced mandrel design of the high modulus M40 carbon blank construction. Perfectly fit in four sections with

From TU:

Nation’s oldest and largest trout and salmon conservation organization sends its largest delegation ever to America’s largest fishing trade show

Trout Unlimited is sending a message to America’s fishing industry at this year’s joint-ICAST/IFTD trade show: Fishing is big business in America, and the need to protect the nation’s fisheries right now for current and new anglers has never been more important, and worthy of support.

“We’re sending our largest-ever delegation to both shows this year in hopes of working more closely with the recreational fishing and outdoor industry than we ever have before,” said TU’s Chief Marketing Officer Joel R. Johnson. “We want to help the industry make the connection

Stimpey is quite the music critic.
Photo by Nancy Owens

More than 4,500 people took part in our latest giveaway, and our randomly selected winner of a $500 Orvis Gift Card is. . .

The post Announcing the Winner of Our $500 Gift Card Sweepstakes appeared first on Orvis News.

A recent transplant to Southern California, our winner plans to spend some dough on saltwater gear.
Photo by Jason Cauwels

More than 3,100 people took part in our latest giveaway, and our randomly selected winner of a $500 Orvis Gift Card is. . .

The post Meet the Winner of our $500 Gift Card Sweepstakes appeared first on Orvis News.

Here's yet another wonderful rescue video from Eldad Hagar, of Hope for Paws. Here, poor Woody had been abandoned when his family moved away. When Eldad and his friend, Lisa, find. . .

The post Video: Eldad Hagar Rescues an Abandoned Dog, Woody appeared first on Orvis News.

The latest issue of the online fly-fishing magazine Southern Culture on the Fly has hit the digital newsstand, and it has tons of great stuff packed into. . .

The post New Issue of <em>Southern Culture on the Fly</em> appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Ted Williams

The magnificent Chesapeake Bay
Photo by Bill Portlock

In February 2014, Florida joined a lawsuit to stop the Environmental Protection Agency’s belated effort to render Chesapeake Bay clean enough to be taken off the EPA’s “impaired waters” list by. . .

The post Chesapeake Bay Foundation: Fighting for the Chesapeake appeared first on Orvis News.

Written by: Jon Hill

The rewards for all the hiking and bushwhacking are solitude and stunning trout
All photos courtesy Jon Hill

The ice took a bit longer to melt off of the lakes in the Rockies this year. The first two times I went backpacking, I got more exercise than I did fish—still better than being in the. . .

The post Photos of the Day: A Late Start in the Colorado High Country appeared first on Orvis News.

The manager of New Hampshire T.J. Maxx ordered a survivor of the Boston Marathon bombing to put her service dog in a cart or get out, stunning the 19-year-old who relies on her new. . .

The post Video: Boston Marathon Bombing Victim Harassed Over Service Dog appeared first on Orvis News.

From Simms:

On the heels of a record 2014 line launch at last years’ International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) and International Fly Tackle Dealer (IFTD) shows in Las Vegas, Nev., Simms is at it again with another ground-breaking product launch at this year’s shows in Orlando, Fla.

The company brings to Florida new gear offerings across multiple categories, including sportswear, packs & bags, footwear, waders, and outerwear.  “Our Product Team here at Simms has had an incredible year.  They continually impress with innovative products across the Fall 2014 and Spring 2015 lines of products,” says Simms President K.C. Walsh.

For Spring 2015, the Simms sportswear collection continues to bring innovation to the sport.  Leading the line is a

From Smith Creek:

Adding to its line of innovative high quality fishing accessories New Zealand Company
Smith Creek introduces two new products, the Middle Fork Fly Patch and the
Rig Keeper.

The Middle Fork Fly-Patch is the patented, extreme access, double-sided fly patch designed with exposed ribs that protect your flies from loss due to rub-offs. The Rig Keeper is the patented dropper rig system that allows anglers to easily carry multiple hook rigs.

Smith Creek’s founder and designer Wayne Smith writes: “We’re proud to add these
products to our growing line of innovative, high quality fishing gear. Both are great
products that have been thoroughly tested and are a joy to use. The designs are ergonomic, highly practical and good looking; we’ve worked very hard at getting them right. The guides and field-testers refuse to return the prototypes!”

For a definitive look, view the new demo videos at www.smithcreek.co
Smith Creek begins supplying their worldwide network of distributors, dealers, and sales
reps in mid August. Contacts and more information are available on their website.

Product Descriptions:

For my money, the folks at Quebec's Hooké are setting the standard for high-quality fly-fishing productions, and their new teaser pulls out all the stops—featuring aerial shots, cool slo-mo,. . .

The post Video: Hooké’s Killer New Teaser from the Gaspé appeared first on Orvis News.

Cats have lots of cool interactive toys to play with, but dogs usually just get things to chew on, pull on, or retrieve. Dutch dog owner Eveline Poot thought that her Belgian Malinois, Bella, would. . .

The post Video: Bella’s Excellent New Toy appeared first on Orvis News.

This feature documentary tells the story of the largest dam removal and river restoration project in history, currently taking place on the Elwha River in Washington State.

Stonefly Press has announced a partnership to co-publish and co-manage Southern Trout magazine. “We are excited to enter the magazine market in partnership with Southern Trout and we’re encouraged by its tremendous potential” says Robert D. Clouse, CEO of Stonefly Press.

Read more in the press release below. 

The Wild Fish Conservancy has announced plans to sue several federal agencies for violations of the Endangered Species Act associated with the Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery, which they cite has negative impacts on ESA-listed spring Chinook salmon and steelhead on the Upper Columbia River.

Read more in the press release below.